Sub-ohm vaping has become very popular. Vapers want to learn more. “Ohm’s Law” tells us that all electricity should be taken seriously. First, do no harm to yourself. Always practice safe vaping because an ohm after all is a measure of electricity.
Previous atomizers and cartomizers had a range of 1.5-2.8 ohms. Sub-ohm mods use atomizer coils which produce resistance of less than 1.0 ohm and produce bigger clouds, intensified flavor, and hotter vaper. Non-variable voltage sources, like a battery, produce more wattage by lowering the resistance of a circuit.
Earlier mods required using a rebuildable atomizer to produce the coils. Newer tanks allow consumers to vape at sub-ohm levels without rebuilding. Newer tanks produce the effects of a rebuildable dripping atomizer and less effort.
Back in the day, vapers had to use rebuildable atomizers so that they could devise their own sub-ohm coils from wicking materials like cotton or kanthal wire creating unregulated mods which used a 18650 battery for power and heating the atomizer coil. These days, regulated box mods and sub-ohm tanks are used instead of self builds. Regulated mods have safety restrictions that prevent them from firing an atomizer at too low of a resistance.
There are three sub-ohm vaping methods:
Rebuildable Tank Atomizers (RBA, RTA):
You can build your own coils without dripping. An RBA is a clearomizer. The user must build the coil(s) inside. RBA users can custom design any coil they desire and produce a unique vaping experience. Not all RBAs are for sub-ohming. Some do not have the airflow controls and insulation necessary for sub-ohm vaping allowing the RTA to produce very hot vapor that may burn your lips.
Rebuildable Dripping Atomizers (RDA):
Older model sub-ohm RDA tanks (drippers) were the only way to create a sub-ohm experience. They were used with mechanical or box mods. Drippers are usually smaller than tank atomizers. Ejuice is dripped onto the coil and wick, and then re-dripped every few puffs.
The Sub-Ohm Experience:
Sub-Ohm vaping is similar to RBA vaping, but uses manufactured disposable coils. There are also sub-ohm tanks that have optional RBA heads. Use pre-built coil heads or build your own. This technology is the same for the newer mods.
Not Sure?
There are pros and cons to everything. The pro’s for sub-ohming include bigger clouds, hotter vapor, and very intense flavor. The RDAs, RBAs, and sub-ohm tanks have airflow controls that cool the e-juice. This avoids injury. The juices burn hotter, but they also taste fuller, richer, and more intense creating a more satisfying vape experience.
Another negative might be the powerful mouth-to-lung hit, but some love the added ‘kick’. Another possible negative you may experience is “sneaking” a vape break at work. Large plumes are hard to hide. And, sub-ohm tanks use more e-juice, it’s more expensive.
But, newer sub-ohm tanks are safe and reliable. Those new to vaping should know what they are doing before starting. More power requires caution. Follow instructions explicitly including battery size.