Vaper Coils Explained: Ohms, Wattage and Which One Fits Your Kit
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The short answer
The number with the Ω symbol printed on your coil decides two things: how much power it needs and how you inhale. The lower the number, the more vapour and the more watts. The higher it is, the more discreet, and the closer to a cigarette.
| Ohms | Watts | Draw | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 - 0.4 Ω | 40-60 W | Direct to lung (DL) | Big vapour, intense flavour |
| 0.5 - 0.8 Ω | 15-25 W | Restricted (RDL) | Middle ground, most versatile |
| 1.0 - 1.6 Ω | 10-16 W | Mouth to lung (MTL) | Cigarette-like, discreet |
Coming off tobacco? Start at the top: 1.0 Ω or higher.
What exactly is a coil?
It's the part that does the work. Inside there's a wound metal filament and cotton soaked in e-liquid. When you draw, the battery sends current to the filament, it heats up, and the liquid in the cotton turns to vapour.
It's also the only consumable part of the device. The battery lasts one to two years; the coil lasts one to three weeks.
What ohms actually mean
An ohm measures electrical resistance. The lower the number, the less it opposes current, the more power flows, and the hotter it gets.
Low resistance (0.2 - 0.4 Ω)
Known as sub-ohm. These want 40 to 60 W, produce a lot of vapour, and are inhaled straight into the lungs. They get through liquid and battery quickly.
In our range: VOOPOO PnP VM5 0.2 Ω (40-60 W) and VOOPOO PnP VM1 0.3 Ω.
Mid resistance (0.5 - 0.8 Ω)
The middle ground, and the most common today. Between 15 and 25 W, with a restricted draw: not as tight as a cigarette, not as open as sub-ohm.
In range: VOOPOO PnP R1 0.8 Ω, Innokin Prism S 0.8 Ω and Innokin Z 0.5 Ω Plexus.
High resistance (1.0 - 1.6 Ω and above)
MTL, mouth to lung: you hold the vapour in your mouth and then inhale — exactly the motion of a cigarette. Between 10 and 16 W, low vapour, low consumption, long battery life.
This is almost always the right starting point for someone coming off tobacco.
In range: VOOPOO PnP R2 1.0 Ω, VOOPOO PnP C1 1.2 Ω ceramic, Innokin T18E 1.5 Ω and Innokin JEM 1.6 and 2.0 Ω.
Which one fits your kit?
Coils are not universal. Each manufacturer uses its own fitting, and there can be several within one brand. Here's what we stock and what it fits:
| Brand | Coil | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| VOOPOO PnP | VM5 0.2 Ω · VM1 0.3 Ω | Drag, Argus, Vinci |
| TM1 and TR1 | Vinci, Drag, Argus | |
| R1 0.8 Ω · R2 1.0 Ω | Vinci and Drag (MTL) | |
| C1 1.2 Ω ceramic | Vinci (MTL) | |
| Innokin | Z 0.5 Plexus · 0.8 · 1.6 Ω | Zenith and Zlide |
| Prism S 0.8 Ω | Endura T20-S | |
| T18E 1.5 Ω | Endura T18E and T22E | |
| JEM 1.6 and 2.0 Ω ceramic | JEM Pen | |
| Vaporesso | OC Meshed 0.6 Ω | Orca Solo Plus |
| OXVA | XLIM 2 ml pods | XLIM Pro, Go and SQ Pro |
If you don't know which one you have, pull out the used coil: the ohm value is printed on the side.
How often should you change it?
Every one to three weeks. There's no counter — the device tells you through flavour.
- Burnt taste — change it now, it won't recover
- Flavour goes muted or flat
- Less vapour at the same wattage
- Gurgling, or liquid coming up into the mouthpiece
Very sweet liquids shorten coil life considerably: caramelised sugar builds up on the cotton and the mesh.
How to change a coil
- Empty the tank or remove the pod
- Unscrew or pull out the used coil, depending on the model
- Put a few drops of liquid directly onto the cotton of the new one
- Fit it and fill the tank
- Wait 5 to 10 minutes. This is the step almost everyone skips
- Take two or three draws without firing, to pull liquid through
- Start at low wattage and work up
Fire it dry and the cotton burns on the very first puff, leaving the coil useless. New, but useless.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a coil from another brand?
No. The thread or fitting differs between manufacturers. A VOOPOO PnP won't go into an Innokin Zenith.
What happens if I use more watts than stated?
It burns out sooner. The range printed on the coil isn't a suggestion: above it, the cotton can't rewick fast enough and chars.
And if I use fewer?
It won't be damaged, but you get little vapour and weak, cool flavour.
Is 0.6 Ω high or low?
It sits in the middle band, around 20 W. It's one of the most balanced values, which is why so many mid-range kits use it.
Can coils be cleaned and reused?
In practice, no. You can rinse the mesh, but the cotton is already saturated and the flavour doesn't come back. Replacing is cheaper than the hassle.
Why does a brand-new coil taste burnt?
You didn't prime it before the first puff. That's the cause in the vast majority of cases, and there's no fixing it afterwards.
We stock original coils in pods and refills: VOOPOO PnP, Innokin, Vaporesso and OXVA.
