Setting up and Priming New Coils

The heating coil is responsible for two important processes that make a vape a vape. It's responsible for heating the E-liquid and forming the aerosol or vapour. A defective coil could mean a burnt aftertaste and poor performance for the device. That is why "priming" a new coil is important. Priming means preparing the new coil for use. If you're familiar with how chefs "season" their pans or woks, it works the same way. By priming your new coils, you can ensure its optimum performance.

The Heating Coil

Before we talk about how to prime a coil, let's talk about what a coil is. The coil, or the heating coil, is made up of thin wires wrapped around a cotton wick. Every time the device is fired up, the wire heats up the E-liquid soaked in the cotton wick which then produces the vapour. Take note that coils are consumable parts, meaning, you will have to replace them every now and then, usually every 2-3 weeks, depending on your use.

Choosing the Right Coil

Despite looking the same, not every coil will fit every pod system. It is not a one size fit all thing. It is important that you know the type of coil you need.

• Check what type of coil your device model requires. Make sure that you are using a coil that is recommended or matches the model of the device you are using. Using a coil that doesn't match your device could cause problems like burning, or even underperformance. Always check the label to make sure you have the right coil for your device. Always seek guidance to the store staff in case you're not quite sure.
• Check the resistance (ohms). In vaping, an ohm (Ω), is the unit of measure that corresponds to electrical resistance. It measures how a vape coil resists the flow of electricity from the battery.
  • Lower resistance coils, those around 0.2 to 0.8 Ω, allows more current to pass through from the battery to the coil, heating up the E-liquid faster and produces thicker vapour and stronger flavour. Uses up E-liquid faster.
  • High resistance coils, 1.0 Ω or above, restricts electrical current more making the coil heat up gently, giving a less dense vapour and warmer flavour. This is the typical setup for pod systems and nicotine salt-based pods.

Make sure that the coil you are buying matches the specs of the device you are using. Some devices are designed for low resistance coils and might cause problems when paired with a high resistance coil.

• Consider your E-liquid type. Now, this is very important. Nicotine salt e-liquids are mostly paired with high resistance coils, while free base e-liquids work well with low resistance coils. You can check our article about freebase and nicotine salt-based e-liquids if you are not sure which to choose.
• Buy genuine products. This is critical. Since health and public safety is a major consideration, make sure you are using genuine products. Fake products are usually of low quality and do not pass regulatory standards, which is very dangerous for you. It is a good thing that the New Zealand government enacted regulations to prevent counterfeit products to be sold in the market. Besides, fake products can damage your device.

Priming your coil

Now, let's talk about how we prime your newly bought coil. Take note that priming does not only prepare your coil, but it also protects it from damage, so priming is something that you must do whenever you replace your coil. Once you bought the right coil for you, considering what we've discussed so far, here's your next steps.

• Find the prime spot. This is the area of the coil where the cotton is exposed.
• Pour some e-liquid directly into this spot. Pour about 3-5 drops of e-liquid to this exposed part. This allows the cotton to be pre-soaked with liquid before using. A dry cotton will just be burned by the wires, so soaking it with the e-liquid before use prevents that from happening.
• Let it rest. After pouring some e-liquid, let it rest for about 10 minutes, allowing the cotton to absorb the e-liquid.
• Assemble the device. Now that the coil is ready for use, put it back into the device. Check the manual on where and how to do so. Attach the pod or refill the tank then let it rest for another 5 mins. This allows the cotton wick to be connected to the tank as well.
• Fire at low wattages first. Fire the device at low power a couple of times. This is to allow a good tank to wick e-liquid flow.
• Taste and adjust. If you got burnt taste on your first few puffs, this means that the coil isn't fully saturated. Stop using it, repeat the steps to re-prime the coil then try again.

If your new coil still tastes burnt, leaks, or won't fire properly after following these steps, see our pod not firing or weak vapour troubleshooting guide for further help.

This article is for general educational purposes only and does not promote vaping or any specific product. Vaping products are restricted to adults 18+ under New Zealand's Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act.