Vaping continues to grow in popularity, and there are still many questions that users have about the different vapes available and how they should be used. One such question we commonly see asked is what do ohms mean on a vape?
An ohm is a measure of electric resistance, but how can it affect how you enjoy your vape? You may be surprised that different ohms can make a big difference. All you need to do is read on to find out more!
What Is an Ohm and How Does It Relate to Vaping?
Electric resistance is determined by how easy or difficult it is for electricity to flow through an object. The electric resistance can be affected by a number of different factors, including the thickness of the material it is passing through.
For vaping, the ohms refer to the resistance coming from the coil in the atomizer. This is important as the heating element in the atomizer is what vaporizes your e-liquid. The thickness of the wire in the coil is an important factor in its resistance, as is the number of wraps and the length.
As you can probably imagine, the higher the resistance of the coil, the more power is needed to produce vapor. The higher the resistance of the coil, the lower the power output of the device, and vice versa.
How Many Ohms Are in a Standard Vape?
The resistance of a vape coil varies depending on the specific device and coil being used. However, the most common resistance range for standard vape coils is between 1.2 ohms and 2 ohms.
Some devices may have coils with a lower resistance, such as sub-ohm coils which can range from 0.1 to 0.9 ohms. Others may have coils with a higher resistance, such as coils used for mouth-to-lung vaping, which can range up to 2.8 ohms.
High Ohms vs. Low Ohms
When it comes to vaping, understanding the difference between high ohms and low ohms is important for achieving the desired vaping experience. Let’s take a closer look at these two different types of vaping.
High Ohms
Generally speaking, higher ohms refer to coils with a resistance of 1.0 ohms or higher, while low ohms refer to coils with a resistance of fewer than 1.0 ohms.
The different levels of ohms are used for very different things. High ohm coils are used for MTL (mouth-to-lung) vaping, which gives a similar experience to traditional smoking. However, low ohm coils are used for DTL (direct-to-lung) vaping, which produces larger clouds of vapor.
MTL vaping is often seen as a better option for those who have recently quit smoking and want a similar experience. That’s because this type of vaping involves a slower inhale and a tighter draw, which mimics the sensation of smoking.
There are other benefits of higher ohm coils too, as they require less power to operate, and therefore your battery is going to last longer. Your liquid is going to last longer too.
Low Ohms
As we mentioned there, low ohms (often called sub-ohm vaping) are better for direct-to-lung vaping. Here we see the opposites of MTL vaping as you’ll get a looser draw and larger clouds of vapor. This experience doesn’t share a lot of similarities with regular smoking.
That’s why this type of vaping is often preferred by more experienced vapers who want a new type of vaping experience. Low ohm coils do require more power to operate, which means that they are often used with larger devices that have higher wattage capabilities.
If you change out your standard coil for a low ohm coil, this does mean that it can drain the battery quite quickly. As another side note, low ohms aren’t great for discreet vaping either due to those large clouds of vapor.
When it comes to flavor, both high-ohm and low-ohm coils can produce excellent flavor, but the choice often depends on personal preference. If you’re new to vaping, we’d recommend using higher ohms, but for those looking for something different, it’s a great idea to give sub-ohm vaping a try.
Are Ohms Easy to Adjust?
You can’t adjust the resistance that is coming from a coil. Therefore, without changing anything, you can’t adjust the ohms that are produced from your device. Thankfully, you can change the atomizer head, which is where the coil is situated.
Therefore, you can experiment with different ohms and find out what’s best suited to you. As you’ll probably already know, atomizer heads are fairly cheap, and changing them is easy, so it’s a great idea to see which ohms are best suited to your tastes.
FAQs
1. What should my ohms be on my vape?
The recommended ohms for your vape will depend on the specific device you are using and what you are looking for. There is no specific level of ohms that your device ‘should’ be, but most standard vapes are around the 1.2 to 2 ohms mark.
2. What is the best ohm for flavor?
The best ohm for flavor will depend on personal preference, as well as the type of e-liquid you are using. But generally speaking, higher ohm coils tend to produce better flavor because they vaporize e-liquid at lower temperatures, which can help preserve the taste.
3. What does changing the ohms on a vape do?
Changing the ohms on a vape will change the amount of power that is delivered to the coil. This will impact the temperature and volume of vapor produced. Lower ohms require more power to heat up and produce more vapor, while higher ohms require less power and produce less vapor.
4. Do I want a higher or lower ohm?
This depends on what you want! If you prefer more vapor and a warmer vape, lower ohms may be what you’re looking for. If you prefer less vapor and a cooler vape, higher ohms may be more appropriate. The standard starting point is to use higher ohms and then experiment by going lower.
5. Are lower ohms better for vaping?
Not necessarily. It can be better if you’re looking for something new and are enticed by the idea of warmer and more vapor. But there are plenty of reasons that many prefer higher-ohm vaping. The only way to find out is by trying it yourself!
Final Thoughts
Ohms are an important factor in vaping, but there is no right or wrong answer to what the ohms of your device should be. It comes down to personal preference, so using our guide above, it’s a great idea to experiment with different levels of resistance to find your perfect vaping experience.
