When people think of vaping, they usually think of a chemical package inside a vaping mechanism, which is activated by inhaling. However, there’s much more tech going on inside the unit that folks need to notice. Temperature control is one of those factors that makes a big difference in how a vaping experience occurs and delivers.
Temperature control (TC) assesses the actual temperature of the coils to give you the best vape experience, including avoiding dry hits and extending battery life. To use TC, you will need a TC-compatible vape and compatible coils, such as SS coils or those made from titanium wire.
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How TC Makes a Difference?
For anyone who has used a pipe, the longer you inhale, the hotter the intake gets. This process happens because you suck up the room temperature air in the pipe first, and then the subsequent air moves through the hotter tobacco and embers as you pull oxygen through. As a result, you end up experiencing higher temperature air as the temperature rises, which damages the smoking experience and causes you to stop pulling.
The pipe heats up because of how normal airflow mechanics and physics work. Temperature control mode in TC vaping, on the other hand, keeps the temperature of the air the same from the beginning to the end of the intake. Doing so makes the overall vaping experience far more pleasurable.
But, How Does Temperature Control Work?
If you have a coil temperature control device, the vape has a limiter that you can set within a range of your desired temperature. As you intake on the vape, the coil adjusts and re-adjusts to lower the heat to maintain a steady outflow and prevent you from getting too hot vapor. All of this temperature and wattage control happens electronically via computer chips within the vape device.
This regulation that prevents you from getting a dry hit is similar to how cruise control in your car keeps you at a certain speed despite changes in the roadway.
Along with variable wattage mode, TC is an excellent way to measure energy in your vape easily. Additionally, TC takes care of variable power, also called variable voltage, to optimize the temperature of the coil head.
The particular adjustment culprit used in TC mode is a chip first sold by Evolv back in 2014. The chip itself did not come stock with the vape. Instead, it was a modification chip that could be added to an existing unit if compatible.
The first modification chips were so successful that they still have a reputation of providing the best temperature control technology, even though vape devices today include output management features.
Before Evolve, people had the same problem in vaping that occurred with traditional pipes and even cigars. Too much airflow for too long created a hot, negative sensation that ruined enjoyment. With pipes and cigars, users puff, compensating with fresh air to offset the hot air.
But with a vape, that’s not entirely practical. So, people had to take shorter breaths, reducing the enjoyment of the equipment. The Evolv chip dramatically changed everything about vaping.
Suddenly, with the temp control modification, people could enjoy vaping with long, drawn-out breaths and in relative safety. Fast-forward to the new decade, and temperature control vaping and TC coils are standard.
The Modern TC Mode in a Vape
The mechanical feature of temperature control vaping occurs by controlling the power sent to the coils within the vape that heat up. However, the metal coils themselves increase in resistance to that power flow as heat increases. Vapers realize the change throughout the vaping experience.
However, other types of metal don’t change much at all, like stainless steel and nickel, so vapers generally prefer these metals.
Unlike a standard vape chip, modification chips, or vape mods, monitor the coil temperature as the vaping occurs. The vape tracks the baseline resistance as well as changes to that baseline during use.
When the vaping starts, the chip allows more power to heat the coil. However, to maintain temp control in TC vaping, the mod lowers the power flow when in heavy use because the radiant heat from the coil is already doing the job. The result is a reduction of heat in temperature control coils but a consistent output.
Basic Requirements for Temperature Control Vaping
For the user, the choice in vape matters. Not every vape takes a modification chip. Many are simply basic units that don’t allow changes. So, a vape kit with a specific temperature control mode is a must.
Box mods, in particular, tend to set a temperature limit and adjust to your target temperature for ideal comfort and vapor production. Using a regulated mod with one of the compatible coil types will also work well.
Second, the mod itself doesn’t always include a TC feature by default. Again, folks have to specifically look for this feature and ensure that the modification chip they obtain matches their vaping interests correctly.
The levels of TC quality in a TC vape are where things start to get a bit tricky. Evolv and later another company named Yihi set the standard for high-quality TC in a vape. However, to enjoy that level of tech reliability, folks end up paying quite a price.
There are less expensive options, especially budget choices that won’t break the wallet and provide considerable heat management and maximum temperature controls that meet most people’s expectations.
For example, companies like Aspire, Innoki, Vaporesso, and Smoant have provided reliable mods that perform well without burning a hole in your pocket.
Coils for Temp Control
With the modchip taken care of, the vaping wire for the coil is the next step. Four types of wires are available. The default is stainless steel (SS). Titanium (TI) and nickel coils are also common, but you’ll need to refrain from dry firing them for extended periods. Finally, there is nickel ferrous, which isn’t easy to find.
You can also use Kanthal coils, but most mods can’t use TC mode with these coils. With this type of coil, you’ll probably have to use VW mode or power mode.
Because the metals of each coil are different, the wires don’t perform the same when it comes to heat and resistance of power output through the wire. The particular math is known as the temperature coefficient of resistance or TCR. While it might seem like heady math, the modchip must be compatible with a wire’s given TCR. Otherwise, it won’t manage the correct power flow through the coil.
Just remember that not all mods can handle all types of wire. The most popular coil wires are generally covered, but if a user gets their own coils with a new wire type, there’s a good chance that their TC mods won’t be familiar with them.
The solution for the above variance tends to be an adjustable vape mod. You can set this modchip to match known wire types or tweak it to deal with a new kind. To use these chips, you need a good understanding of metal wire resistance and temperature value, so you can figure out the right setting to match the two.
Use and Application
Starting off with a new modchip and wire in a vape, you’ll need to calibrate them before regular use. You’ll also have to install the modchip into the vape with a temperature control or TC mode set.
Then, knowing the coil wire you’ll use, the TC mod also needs to be set to the wire type it will work with before enabling temperature control.
Next, let things sit for about five to ten minutes before using the vape to settle the ambient vaping temperature fully. The modchip will start with an appropriate baseline that is then far more accurate.
You may find that a bit of experimenting and work is needed to zero in on just the right setting for your tastes. In most cases, the ideal setting tends to be between 390 degrees and 480 degrees Fahrenheit. Folks tend to find the sweet spot by starting at a lower temperature and adjusting in 10-degree increments (or 5-degree intervals if working in degrees Celsius).
When set correctly, your vaping experience should notably improve. You should be able to take a long breath off the vape without any heat sensation or painful intake or without the vape itself suddenly getting too hot.
With some testing, folks will find different vaping experiences with either a cool sensation or a hotter one. Overall, the whole TC feature opens up new variances in vaping.
Additional Benefits of Vaping with TC
Other benefits include being able to adjust and control the temperature to negate dry hits or that burnt feeling when the vapor gets too hot and loses its moisture. Instead, the vapor content reduces, signaling the need to replace the tank with more e-liquid. That’s a far more enjoyable experience than accidentally taking a hit on a burnt puff and feeling that acid sensation in your throat.
For the equipment, TC helps avoid premature burnout of the coil wires, which create a burnt taste and overheating. The vape battery also runs in a far more efficient mode, using less power, and lasts longer.
If you want an even greater vaping experience, you can try wattage mode on your vape as well.
Final Thoughts
When TC is on, the mod detects the temperature and resistance of the coil if it moves out of an acceptable range, so the mod can adjust to prevent dry or burnt hits. A box mod is a perfect way to get this linear relationship between resistance and temperature.