What Wattage is Best For Vaping?

What Wattage is Best For Vaping?

By: David Dixon

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Once you get into vaping you have probably wondered what wattage should I be vaping at?


This depends on several factors, from your device's power limits, to the coil you are using and even the kind of e-liquid you are using.


In this guide I will go through the positives and negatives to low and high wattage vaping so you can make the choice for yourself.


Having said that, as with a lot of things in life, it all comes down to personal preference too!


Vaping - Wattage Explained


The wattage you vape at plays a big part of your vaping experience. Generally speaking the more wattage you are using will result in a warmer, more dense vapour production and richer flavour. But, a lot of that depends heavily on the style of vaper you are and your setup.


Wattage in vaping refers to the amount of power that is delivered from your battery to your coil. It determines how much heat is generated by your coil which again correlates to the vapour production of your coil.


How Does Wattage Affect Vaping?


Let’s look at the ways wattage affects vaping;


  • Vapour Production

  • Flavour

  • Battery Life

  • Coil Lifespan


Vapour Production: 


As I have touched on above, generally speaking the higher the wattage you vape at the more vapour you will get. This is because combining a low or sub-ohm coil with high wattage the more heat will be generated in the coil resulting in much more vapour production.


Flavour: 


As with vapour production wattage can have an impact on flavour of certain e-liquids so, try different wattage settings to find your e-liquids sweet spot so long as you stay within the maximum wattage range of your coil.


Battery Life: 


The higher the wattage you use the more it will eat away your battery life this is why for single battery mods and pods we tend to stick to lower wattage coils to reserve battery life. But, for dual battery mods you have more scope to use higher wattage coils.


Coil Lifespan: 


Running coils at very high wattages can affect the lifespan of your coils due to the increased heat and stress placed on the coil. 


Also running coils at very low wattages may result in the e-liquid not vaporising properly leading to a build up of partially atomised e-liquid which can have a negative effect on the life of your coil. 


As I have mentioned above it's always best to stick within the minimum and maximum wattage ranges of your coils for optimal performance.



Banner Image showing the effects of wattage with the title How Does Wattage Affect Vaping?

Finding the Right Wattage


So now we have looked at the reasons why wattage affects vaping, let’s look at how to find the right wattage for you.


  • Start Low

  • Experiment

  • Coil Resistance


Start Low: 


If you are unsure of what wattage to vape at it is always best to start low and work your way up. 


This is especially true for new coils, slowly increasing the wattage will help break the coil in and prolong the life of your coil. 


But, usually, if you are using stock or sub-ohm coils they will give you a wattage range either printed on the packaging or on the coil itself so always stick to this range otherwise you run the risk of burning your coil.


Experiment: 


Never be afraid to try new things, as long as you stick within the maximum wattage range of your coil you are free to try different wattages.


It’s how we find out what works for us. I myself prefer low ohm and high wattage vaping but I know that’s not for everyone especially if you prefer MTL (Mouth-to-Lung) vaping which calls for high ohm coils and lower wattages. 


It’s all down to personal preference and what works for you so don’t be afraid to experiment.


Coil Resistance: 


Another thing that plays a big part in wattage and power is the resistance of the coil you are using. 


Lower resistance or sub-ohm coils such as DTL (Direct-to-Lung) coils will allow for higher wattages whereas higher ohm coils such as MTL (Mouth-to-Lung) coils will restrict you to lower wattages. So, it depends on the kind of vaper you are.



Banner Image that explains wattage with the title Finding the right wattage

Safety Considerations


  • Stay within limits

  • Battery Safety


Stay Within Limits: It is always important to stick within the wattage or power limits of the coil you are using. When you purchase new coils you will see on the packaging what the minimum and maximum wattage ranges are for your coil. Exceeding these limits can have a negative effect on your coils lifespan and can lead to what we call; ‘dry hits’ this is where the cotton inside the coil burns which gives a nasty burnt paper/cardboard taste and no one wants that, take it from personal experience!


Battery Safety: High wattage vaping puts more strain on your battery(ies) so if you are using an external battery mod make sure you purchase your batteries from trusted retailers as unfortunately fakes do exist which haven’t passed all the relevant safety standards and can result in the battery venting or worse exploding, it's not worth the risk.


In summary, wattage plays a significant role in vaping, affecting vapour production, flavour, battery life, and coil performance. Experimenting with different wattage settings and considering factors such as coil resistance and safety guidelines can help you find the optimal vaping experience for your preferences.


Pods Kits and Wattage Explained


Most modern pod kits will have the option to change the wattage or power settings manually to cater to a wide range of vapers and vaping styles.


By adjusting the wattage you can change the intensity of the flavour and vapour production which also affects the temperature of the vapour so you can tailor the experience to fit you.


Different kits offer different features so it’s very important when purchasing a new kit that you explore all the features it has to offer so you know that it will be perfect for your needs.


There are three main components that govern the wattage you can use and they are;


  • Coils

  • Batteries

  • E-liquids


Coils: 


We have already touched on how coils play a major part in the wattage you should vape at, it’s all about the resistance of the coil. 


For MTL (Mouth-to-Lung) coils which are usually 1.0 Ohm and above you would typically vape between 10w - 30w. 


For RDL (Restricted-Direct-Lung) coils which are usually around 0.8 Ohm to 0.6 Ohm and you would typically vape around 30w - 50w. For DTL (Direct-to-Lung) coils you would typically vape between 60w - 80w and beyond.


Batteries: 


Your batteries capacity will often dictate the wattage you can vape at. 


If you have a low capacity battery you will be confined to low wattage vaping as the higher the wattage you vape at the quicker the battery will drain. 


Many pod kits will have smaller batteries than when you have an external battery mod so again you will be limited to the maximum wattage of your pod kit. 


The biggest takeaway is simple, the higher the wattage you vape at the quicker you will drain your batteries so it’s down to what you are comfortable with and your vaping style.


E-Liquids: 


Much like the coils you are using, your e-liquid plays a part in the wattage you can vape at. So, just like coil resistance e-liquids have a sliding scale when it comes to wattage. 50/50 ratio e-liquids which are more for MTL (Mouth-to-Lung) so it’s likely you won't want or need to vape at high wattages with 50/50 e-liquids.


With 70/30 ratio e-liquids we have a lot more freedom where wattage is concerned, generally I would recommend you can vape 70/30 e-liquids between 30w - 80w which is usually the around the wattage range of most modern pod kits when using either an RDL (Restricted-Direct-Lung) or DTL (Direct-to-Lung) coils.


80/20 e-liquids aren’t as common as 70/30 and are only really suitable for low or sub-ohm coils of 0.3 Ohm and below and not really suitable for pod kit users but, they allow for higher wattages and will produce the most amount of vapour out of the three e-liquid types.



Banner image explaining pod kits and wattage with the title Pod Kits and Wattage Explained

Your Personal Vaping Experience


As you start your journey into vaping, finding the right hardware for you is key. 


If you are new to vaping you will likely want to start off on either a disposable vape or a simple pod kit.


These kits are ideal for delivering a satisfying vaping experience and offer a range of coil options that are suitable for both nicotine salts and freebase nicotine e-liquids alike but, you are restricted to the wattage you can vape at which is usually around 10w-30w.


If you aren’t a new vaper or you want to transition away from disposables and pod kits you will open up the door to explore more of what vaping has to offer. 


There will be a wider selection of coil options available to you plus you are free to explore different ratios of e-liquids and depending on the hardware you have you can usually expect to vape anywhere from 30w-200w with larger dual battery mods.


It’s all down to personal preference, you may be happy to continue to vape disposables or small pod kits and that’s totally fine, it’s what works for you that’s all that matters at the end of the day. 


Whether you like a more compact and more stealthy vaping that disposables and the best small and compact vape kits offer - or if you prefer higher power with larger clouds, the most important thing is you’re not smoking tobacco products.


For additional help and advice head on over to the Ecigone Facebook group which is filled with group experts and like minded people who will only be too happy to offer advice and tips.


Then there is the Ecigone website itself that has well written descriptions of all of our products - but if you need to speak to someone you can call: 01246 260010 or visit the Contact us section and send us a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.


We hope you enjoyed our vaping wattage guide! 

Ecigone Contact Details


Ecigone

Unit 1 park road

Holmewood industrial park

Chesterfield

Derbyshire

S42 5uy


Email : info@ecigone.co.uk

Tel: +441246 260010