There’s No Place Like Sub-Ohm
Sub ohm vaping is a huge part of the vaping world today, it was only a few years back that this style of vaping was accessible to the DIY coil builders but an increasing number of sub-ohm tank options have since arrived making it easily accessible to all.
So, if you are reading this you are likely asking the question “What is sub ohm vaping?”. This is exactly what we will tell you with our Sub Ohm guide. Read on!
What Is An Ohm?
Just as electrical current is measured in amps or length measured in meters, the measure of resistance of a coil is in ohms, sometimes seen as the symbol Ω.
Most standard replacement heads for mouth to lung (MTL) vape tanks/clearomizers are between 1.2Ω to 2.0Ω. Some vapers now refer to this as ‘plus-ohm’.
The term ‘sub-ohm’ is used when the resistance of a coil measures less than 1 ohm.
What Difference Does A Sub-ohm Coil Make?
As the resistance of a coil reduces it allows more electrical current to flow.
Higher current means more energy is getting to the coil, faster. This results in a coil heating up quicker and reaching a higher temperature.
Hotter coils lead to an increase in e-liquid being vaporized which, when combined with an increased airflow, increases the clouds produced as well as the flavour.
Mouth to lung or lung inhale?
One issue you might have with a Sub-Ohm tank is that a lot of them require you to make direct to lung (DTL) inhales.
Learn More: Check out our MTL vs DTL guide for more information.
It is strange initially to get used to since when we smoked we all did mouth to lung inhales.
You do get used to it but if you are the kind of person that doesn’t want to inhale hard on a tank then it may not be for you.
There are Sub-Ohm tanks that let you do both so you can choose your own preference.
One such example is JAC Vapour S22 Tank.
So, I Need A Sub Ohm Tank Then?
If you are happy with what you have then there’s little reason to change – but you may wish to explore this type of vaping all the same.
Others seek more ‘hit’ from their vape and an increase in the volume of vapour will lead to an increase in nicotine per puff.
Reducing Your Nicotine For Sub Ohm Vaping
If you have been using mouth to lung vape tanks or e cigarettes then you are likely using a higher nicotine content in your e liquid or nic salts. This could be anywhere from 11mg-20mg (max is 20mg in the UK).
When sub ohm vaping it’s recommended to reduce the percentage of nicotine that’s in your e juice.
This is for the simple fact that sub ohm vaping provides a bigger ‘hit’ when you vape. If you vape 18mg juice MTL then using this for sub ohm vaping will likely be too strong.
For most, sub ohm vaping with high nicotine will be near on unbearable!
I personally vape at 12mg mouth to lung but when sub ohm vaping I reduce my nicotine to 3mg and on occasion 6mg.
So please, just keep this in mind.
If that is what you are looking for then you can also see what our top choices for sub ohm tank are.
E-Liquid: PG / VG Ratios Best Suited For Sub Ohm Vaping
In addition to your nicotine percentage the PG/VG ratio in the e-liquid you use for sub ohm vaping also needs to be taken into account.
Sub Ohm vaping is perfect for higher VG e-liquids due to the larger coil sizes. The higher VG also provides a smoother vapour which is definitely a plus when vaping at a higher wattage.
We have an in depth guide to PG vs VG in e-liquid here
Do I Need A Special Vape Mod To Use A Sub-Ohm Tank On?
There are a number of different devices. Mainly falling into the following categories:
- Mechanical mods
- Regulated Mods (Available with integrated batteries and replaceable, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries batteries)
Mods that have integrated batteries recharge by plugging in a USB cable. Whichever you decide on you need specific cells that can cope with the current a low-ohm coil allows to flow.
One very important thing we will say is if you are going for a mechanical mod you need to have a sound knowledge of battery safety and ohms law. Mech Mods are NOT regulated and can be very dangerous if used incorrectly.
With that in mind, if you are new to vaping we recommend sticking to the regulated variety.
These do not work with coils under 1.0 Ohms. Just be sure to double check what resistance coils the sub ohm tank you go for comes with. It has to be said though, the majority of the latest vape mods on the market today cater to the sub ohm vaper.
High current can damage battery cells and lead to accidents or simply fail to work at all. It is important to use the correct battery or device.
What Batteries or Mods Can I Use With a Sub Ohm Tank?
There are simply too many devices on the market now to list them all, but here are some things for you to think about:
Regulated devices (adjustable power)
The first consideration will depend on which size of atomizer you are using. Some people like a flush fitting appearance; others are not too bothered with the atomizer overhanging the mod. The size is usually referred to as diameter with most tanks sitting around 22-25mm.
Many regulated devices will list the lowest ohms they can power – if it doesn’t list it on the mod specification the safest solution is not to use it until you have confirmation it’s safe from the vendor or manufacturer.
All of the main e cig manufacturers produce sub ohm capable mods. Brands such as Aspire, Innokin, Wismec and Jacvapour (to name a small selection) are all trusted suppliers that continually produce high quality products.
Mods using genuine DNA chips in the circuit boards will all be able to handle the demands the atomizers place on them.
Check out our guide and recommended DNA Mods here.
Again, some of the above will only be compatible with 0.5Ohm resistance coils, some will be compatible with resistances down to 0.1 Ohms.
Just be sure to check the mod and the tank, if buying separately, are compatible.
A reminder of what to look for:
- The coil resistance ie; 0.2Ohm / 0.5ohm
- What coil resistance the vape mod can handle. This will be in the specs for the mod.
When using these atomizers on mechanical mods the warning is: do not use cheap or counterfeit cells. The other warning is, know 100% what you are doing!
Most Ebay vendors do not purchase their cells directly from companies and there are many clones about. Avoid all cells that have the word ‘fire’ in the name.
It is worth looking at this video about fake cells on Ebay.
The universal rule with batteries is: You get what you pay for. We have a separate guide on batteries for sub ohm vaping here.
Sub-Ohm Tanks and Temperature Control
One great advantage of Sub-Ohm tanks is that some of them can be fitted with Nickel (Ni200), Titanium (Ti) and Stainless Steel coils designed for use with Temperature Control devices.
For many people who really don’t want to mess around making Nickel coils for their RDA’s and RTA’s this makes things extremely convenient.
In my experience so far I have to say that the right Sub Ohm tank with a Nickel coil gives an absolutely cracking vape but again this isn’t for everyone.
Find out more with our Temperature Control vaping guide.
So, you are all fired up and want to take your vaping to another level. But, to do it as safely as possible you need to be aware of the following:
If your wick is not wicking juice fast enough it will dry out quickly due to the low ohms, it is vital that a wick remains moist to avoid dry hits.
This is especially important if you begin to build your own coils and wicks in a rebuildable atomizer. These you will see referred to mainly as RDA’s, RTA’s and RDTA’s.
Dry hits not only taste unpleasant but Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos is currently carrying out a research study investigating what toxins are produced by coils at elevated temperatures.
Lower ohms leads to a faster current running through the circuit, this will also run your battery cell down faster – an important consideration if you are wanting an all-day vape for work or leisure.
Have a Question About Sub Ohm Vaping?
Not sure if sub ohm vaping is for you? We realise all this terminology will be alien if you are new to vaping or starting out your research in the best vape for you.
So, if you have any further questions or want any advice please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below. We will do our best to guide you in the right direction!
Happy vaping ☺