What’s the ideal wattage for vaping?
Is it possible that you’re vaping at the wrong wattage?
As you begin to tweak various aspects of your vaping set-up, you’ll quickly learn that there is no single ideal vaping wattage that suits everyone. In fact, it isn’t even possible to identify the best wattage for a given vape mod, vape tank, coil or e-liquid as tastes vary.
There is much to consider when you try to decide which is the best wattage for your needs. Let’s explore the factors could influence your choices.
Many devices are compatible with a range of coils. Those coils will feature a variety of resistances and constructions. If you wish to fine tune your vaping experience, it is important to identify the coil that best meets your expectations. You may have to try a few coils before settling on the one that hits the spot. Check out our coil buying guide to learn more about selecting your coils.
Manufacturers of vaping products always test their coils to determine their ideal vaping wattages, and you can always see a coil's suggested wattage range by reading the etching on the side of the coil. When you examine the etching, you'll see the coil's suggested wattage range along with its approximate resistance. Although it's possible to use a coil outside its suggested wattage range, it's a good idea to use the manufacturer's suggestion as a starting point.
One thing to keep in mind when choosing your vaping wattage is that the manufacturers of vaping hardware typically use automatic puff machines to determine their coils' suggested wattage ranges.
An automatic puff machine for vaping will typically utilise a puff duration of around two seconds. For this reason, if your puffs are usually around 2 seconds in length, you'll probably experience no issues if you set your device to work anywhere within your coil's suggested wattage range.
But if you prefer your vapour to be a bit on the warmer side, are you safe to push your wattage a bit past your coil's suggested range?
Well, if your average puff duration is less than two seconds, the answer to that question is most likely yes. But if you experience a burning sensation at the end of a puff, you will probably have taken things too far. You should lower your wattage to avoid burning your coil's wick.
On the other hand, you may be the type of vaper who prefers a more leisurely vaping experience. Maybe you like to take longer and deeper puffs, pausing for just a moment before exhaling some enormous clouds. If your puffs are typically longer than two seconds, it would be advisable to keep your wattage at or just below your coil's recommended range.
No two vape coils will boast identical electrical resistances. A coil's resistance shouldn't vary from that stated by more than 10% but even 10% is a significant amount if your coil is of the low resistance variety. Just a slight variation in resistance could mean that you experience a noticeable difference in the amount of vapour your device produces and in the temperature of that vapour. Any differences you detect could result in the need to adjust the wattage of your device.
If your device detects that the resistance of your coil is dramatically at variance with what it should be, the coil may be faulty. Remove the coil and then reinstall it. If the problem persists, discard the coil and install another. Small variances in resistance are normal and your device will compensate for those but if your coil is faulty, it is best to play safe by not using it.
If your coils consistently burn out quickly, your output is likely too high. Your throat will probably give you an early warning of the issue. If your wattage is set too high, this will create a situation where your coil is vaporising more e liquid than the wick can soak up again quickly enough to prevent it drying out and then burning. You will know that this is happening because your throat will be irritated when you take a puff.
The final thing to consider when choosing your vaping wattage is the nature of your e liquid. The best setting to use will vary according to which e liquid you have topped up with. Milder flavours can demand higher wattages whereas very strong or sour flavours may become overpowering at higher settings.
It is best to take a short puff to sample your flavour and then adjust your output accordingly. You might find it helpful to record the wattages that you feel work best for particular flavours as you won't then need to experiment again when you return to those flavours.
It could be that you can’t adjust your wattage because you are using a vape with a fixed output. Many of the kits suitable for beginners boast fixed outputs or just two or three settings to choose from. If you are experiencing issues but can’t alter your output, you may need to change your e liquid instead.
If the performance of your coils tends to diminish quickly, this could mean that they are becoming clogged with e liquid residue otherwise known as coil gunk. Try switching to e liquids that have a higher ratio of PG to VG. If your coil wicking often starts to burn, take shorter puffs. But if your problem is that you can’t taste your flavour, choose something with more punch. If your flavour feels overpowering, switch to a milder blend or one that doesn’t feature menthol.
