Sub Ohm Vape Coils
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Help & advice
Sub Ohm Vape Coils guide
Explore the details and find answers to common questions.
Lower Resistance, More Power
The number on a sub ohm coil tells you how much power it wants. A 0.8 or 0.6 ohm head is the gentle end: 15 to 30 watts, a restricted lung draw, and a coil that suits sub ohm pod kits like the Smok RPM and VooPoo PnP ranges. Around 0.3 ohm you are into 30 to 60 watts and proper tank territory, the Vaporesso GTI, Smok TFV and GeekVape Zeus heads. At 0.15 ohm the coil is built for 60 watts and beyond, and it drinks liquid and battery to match.
Two rules keep any of them happy. Stay inside the wattage range printed on the coil, because below it the flavour is muted and above it the cotton burns. And feed it thick liquid: 70/30 or higher VG at 3mg or 6mg. A 50/50 10ml floods these wide ports and spits, and a 20mg salt at this vapour volume is unpleasant.
Priming a New Sub Ohm Coil
Sub ohm heads hold a lot of cotton, and firing one before that cotton is soaked through is the single most common way to ruin a coil in its first minute. Drip liquid onto the exposed cotton in each side port until it darkens, add a few drops down the centre, then screw the head into the tank and fill it. Leave it standing for five minutes. Thick 70/30 liquid needs that long to reach the middle of the wick.
Take three or four slow draws without pressing the button to pull liquid through, then fire at the bottom of the printed wattage range for the first few puffs and work up. A coil treated this way lasts one to two weeks of normal use. Skip the wait and you will taste burnt cotton on the second puff, and no amount of soaking afterwards brings it back.
Signs It Is Time for a New Coil
Burnt taste
The cotton has scorched. Change the coil straight away; the flavour will not recover however long you leave it to soak.
Weak clouds
Gunk on the mesh is choking the coil. This is usually the first warning, arriving a few days before the taste turns.
Gurgling or spitting
A worn wick is flooding. Clear the chimney and turn the power up a touch; if it comes back, fit a fresh head.
Dark tank liquid
An old coil has caramelised the liquid in the tank. Rinse the tank, fit a new coil and refill fresh.
Sub Ohm Vape Coils FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a sub ohm coil?
Any coil with a resistance below 1.0 ohm. Most on this page are between 0.15 and 0.8 ohm and use mesh rather than round wire, which heats evenly and gives more flavour at high power.
How do I know which sub ohm coil fits my tank?
Coils are made for a specific tank or pod family, so check the device name on the pack or use the Coil and Pod Finder, which lists every compatible coil for each device we sell.
How long does a sub ohm coil last?
One to two weeks for most vapers. Very sweet liquids, chain vaping and running above the printed wattage all shorten that. Priming properly and staying in range is what stretches it.
Can I use nic salts in a sub ohm coil?
You can, but keep the strength low. A 3mg or 6mg salt in a 70/30 blend is fine. A 10mg or 20mg 50/50 salt is far too strong at this vapour volume and too thin for the wide wicking ports.
What wattage should I run a sub ohm coil at?
Every head has a range printed on its side. Start at the bottom of it with a new coil and settle where the flavour is fullest, usually the middle. Going above the range is the quickest way to burn the cotton.
