If you've been in the vaping community for a while, you've probably come across temperature control vaping or TC mode. This is a setting on some vape mods that allows you to customise your vaping experience by setting a limit for the coil temperature.
But how does temperature control work? What are the benefits of TC vaping? And which devices offer it?
Read on to learn everything you need to know about temperature control vaping and how to get started with it!
What are the benefits of TC vaping?
Extend your coil life
Temperature control prevents your coil from getting too hot, reducing the dreaded dry hits and helping your coil last longer without burning out. With TC mode preserving the longevity of your vape coils, you can save money by not having to buy replacement coils as frequently.
Customise your vaping experience
TC vaping gives you the freedom to customise the precise experience. Low temperatures allow you to enjoy a cool and long inhale, if this is your preference, while high temperatures provide a more powerful vape in a shorter burst.
Enhance your e-liquid
Vaping with temperature control allows you to experiment with different temperatures and e-liquids to find their optimal performance. Changing the temperature can unlock complexities in your e-liquid that you previously missed, or highlight particular notes.
More consistent vaping
TC mode also allows you to enjoy more consistent vaping. Usually, when taking longer drags, the vape will get hotter. In contrast, TC mode allows you to keep the temperature constant even during long drags.
Longer battery life
Temperature control mode can also make your battery life last longer because it limits the power output to only that needed to maintain the right temperature.
How does temperature control vaping work?
Temperature control mode on your mod allows you to set a maximum temperature for your vape coils. After your coils reach this temperature, the vape kit will reduce the power levels to ensure that they do not exceed the temperature limit.
Here's the really clever part. The vape mod can't actually measure the temperature of your coils. However, it can track the changes in coil resistance. Because coil resistance increases as the material heats up, your vape mod can relate this change to temperature increases and understand how hot the coils are.
What hardware do I need for temperature control?
A TC mod
The most important thing you need is a vape mod with temperature control mode. Most advanced vape mods these days include temperature control, but here are some of the best that will show you the real potential of TC vaping.
The Yihi SXmini SL Class V2's name might be a mouthful, but it provides a seriously impressive TC vaping experience. Powered by a single 18650, 20700, or 21700 battery with a maximum 100W output, this mod provides all three modes: temperature control, variable wattage, and variable voltage. This is thanks to the Yihi SX730 chipset which makes it a powerful and customisable e-cigarette mod. If you're interested in experimenting with TC and VW or VV modes, this is the box mod for you.
One of the best temperature control mods in the game is the Thelema Solo DNA by Lost Vape. Using the Evolv DNA 100C chip, this provides extremely precise temperature control with up to 100W of power thanks to the single 18650 or 21700 battery. The temperature range is from 200 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit (93-313 degrees Celsius), allowing you to get amazing performance from your coils and e-juice. It can reach your determined temperature quickly and flawlessly, providing a consistently excellent vaping experience. Furthermore, we love the 'Replay' feature which allows you to enjoy all the flavour and vapour of your perfect puff every single time.
Compatible coils
Not all vape coils are compatible with the temperature control feature. Because TC modes measure the change in resistance of a coil, they need to be used with vape coils that change in resistance as they heat up. This means that stainless steel (SS), titanium (TI), and nickel (Ni) are all suitable coils because they change resistance as the temperature changes.
However, kanthal coils are not compatible with temperature control. This is because the resistance of kanthal does not change as it heats up. As the majority of vape coils are manufactured using kanthal, vapers must be careful to ensure that they choose TC-compatible coils.
A vape tank or rebuildable tank
Finally, you'll need a vape tank or rebuildable tank such as an RTA or RDTA to house your coils and e-liquid.
How to use the temperature control setting
Attach your tank of rebuildable atomiser to your mod, and make sure that your device's wattage is compatible with your coil's limits. Switch to TC mode and select the type of coils you are using. Because different materials change resistance at a different rate while heated, it's important to select the correct type of coil.
Make sure that the coil is at room temperature by not vaping for a few minutes, allowing the mod to read the current temperature and calculate resistance based on this. Then, you can set your temperature limit and start vaping!
What temperature limit should I set?
This will depend on your coils, mod, and personal preferences. Commonly, vapers will set the TC limit between 200 and 250 degrees Celsius. However, we recommend starting at a lower temperature than you think and experimenting until you find the optimal temperature.
Is temperature control compatible with MTL or DTL devices?
Temperature control is a feature often found on more advanced mods which are often associated with Direct-To-Lung vaping. However, some of these TC mods can also be used for Mouth-To-Lung vaping. Lower temperatures are suited to MTL devices with plus-ohm coils.
Temp control mods vs variable wattage mods
Temperature control and variable wattage are two modes that some vape mods may offer. What's the difference between the two, and which is better?
Variable wattage is another type of mode that most mods offer to enhance your vaping. As the name suggests, this wattage mode allows you to adjust the power of your vape by the number of watts it is operating at.
Like temperature control, variable wattage also allows you to fine-tune your vape to your preferences and achieve the best performance out of your coils and e-liquids. However, only some coil types are compatible with VW. For example, kanthal coils can only be used in VW mode, and some stainless steel and nichrome coils are also compatible.
There are pros and cons to both temp control and variable wattage modes. Some vapers find that variable wattage leads to dry hits too often because the coils get hotter with each hit, and therefore opt for TC which prevents those dry hits. Others might find that variable wattage modes are more user-friendly and convenient because they are compatible with a wider range of coil materials. At the end of the day, it entirely comes down to an individual vaper's preferences.
Coil materials explained
Let's look a little closer at the different coil materials and their uses for temperature control or variable wattage vaping.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is the only wire type that is compatible with both temperature control and variable wattage vaping. The most common type of stainless steel wire for vaping coils is SS316L.
Kanthal
A common vape coil material, kanthal is only compatible with variable wattage mode. This is because one of its properties is that its resistance doesn't change with temperature, meaning that TC mods are unable to adjust their power accordingly.
Titanium
Titanium grade 1 is only suitable for temperature control mods, although it runs a risk of overheating.
Nickel
Only compatible with temperature control devices, nickel is now less commonly used because some people are allergic to it.
Conclusion
Helping vapers extend their coil and battery life and enjoy a customised, consistent vape, temperature control is one of the best vaping innovations of recent years. Although it may seem complicated at first, TC vaping is easy and enjoyable once you get the hang of it.
Interested in trying your first temperature control mod? Browse our full range of vape mods to find your perfect fit.
