First Coil Build - What am I doing wrong?

[TrackDay]

Hey guys,

I got sick of buying pre made coils and decided to start building my own. I'm using the coil master kit to build my coils using 24g Kanthal which came with the kit on a 3mm bit for a 3mm diameter with 5 wraps. According to steam engine each coil should be sitting at 0.5 ohms, but after throwing one of the coils into an RDA to read the ohms on my geek vape mini the ohms are 0.25. What am I doing wrong?

Cheers.

 

[Paratech]

If you build two .5Ω coils and put them in a RDA, you'll divide the resistance by 2.
So getting 0.25Ω is indeed correct.
If you are getting 0.25Ω from a single, that's a bit different.

 

[TrackDay]

If you build two .5Ω coils and put them in a RDA, you'll divide the resistance by 2.
So getting 0.25Ω is indeed correct.
If you are getting 0.25Ω from a single, that's a bit different.

Yeah, I'm getting 0.25 with a single coil and 0.15 with a dual build. No idea where I'm going wrong.

 

[EMusic]

Yeah, I'm getting 0.25 with a single coil and 0.15 with a dual build. No idea where I'm going wrong.

Maybe the factors you put in Steam Engine aren't 100% accurate? Give the Steam Engine page another look factor by factor and make sure. Also you can use the Wire Wizard page (which has worked for me every time) instead of the page you posted a picture of.

 

[BigNasty]

Check your lead connections also,

 

[TrackDay]

Maybe the factors you put in Steam Engine aren't 100% accurate? Give the Steam Engine page another look factor by factor and make sure. Also you can use the Wire Wizard page (which has worked for me every time) instead of the page you posted a picture of.

Just had a look and from what I can see it say's each coil should be sitting at 0.48.

Check your lead connections also,

Double checked them and they were fine. I also made sure the screws were screwed in firmly.

 

[scalewiz]

I would try pulsing the coils on a regulated mod, making sure they glow evenly and are equal in their glow intensity. Sometimes a contact coil resistance will change after they form their oxidizing coating which forms when they get hot.

 

[TrackDay]

I'm attempting to upload a picture of the coil but my phone was dead and I just threw it on charge and the damn camera won't work with low battery.

 

[EMusic]

I put in the same factors and it came out to .482 as you pretty much already said (0.5). So it's right on the end of Steam Engine. How about putting your build on a different mod or Tab to see if the results come out the same or different?

 

[TrackDay]

I put in the same factors and it came out to .482 as you pretty much already said (0.5). So it's right on the end of Steam Engine. How about putting your build on a different mod or Tab to see if the results come out the same or different?

Tried putting on my coil master ohm reader and it's the same. I've managed to get it to 0.5 which is close enough I guess, but every time I try and center the coil the ohms change... I have to be doing something wrong.

 

[TrackDay]

Dry fired the coil and the ohms are now sitting at 0.62.

 

[EMusic]

Try doing a different build and see if it comes out right. That might help narrow down what is wrong with your coil.

 

[TrackDay]

Try doing a different build and see if it comes out right. That might help narrow down what is wrong with your coil.

I tried a 7 wrap and it's sitting at 0.64 when steam engine say's it's supposed to be siting at 0.66.

 

[EMusic]

I tried a 7 wrap and it's sitting at 0.64 when steam engine say's it's supposed to be siting at 0.66.

That's close! Much closer than your original build. I would consider a build that close to be a success.

 

[TrackDay]

That's close! Much closer than your original build. I would consider a build that close to be a success.

Nice! I just put it on the ohm reader that came with the coil master kit and it's showing 0.63. Is that still close?

 

[PuffOn]

I tried a 7 wrap and it's sitting at 0.64 when steam engine say's it's supposed to be siting at 0.66.

Perfect!
Unless you start measuring leg lengths which vary.
Ohm readers can also be off.

 

[gakudzu]

Sure sounds like a bad post connection to me.

 

[gakudzu]

Sure sounds like a bad post connection to me.

LOL I'm late, as usual.

 

[EMusic]

Nice! I just put it on the ohm reader that came with the coil master kit and it's showing 0.63. Is that still close?

That still sounds close to me. Fire it up, I have a feeling you'll get the Vape you want! Just make sure you wick it well and you should have an enjoyable Vape.

 

[TrackDay]

I did another 7 wrap coil to make sure everything was working. It came out to 0.63 until I clipped the leads, then it went down to 0.51.

 

[EMusic]

I did another 7 wrap coil to make sure everything was working. It came out to 0.63 until I clipped the leads, then it went down to 0.51.

I'm not the most knowledgeable when it comes to building / troubleshooting but the only thing I can think of is that your connections aren't as tight as they should be. On at least one of my builds my ohms were all over the place because my connections weren't super tight. After tightening them the ohms settled and were no longer all over the place.

 

[EMusic]

Find a coil making tutorial on YouTube and copy them exactly and maybe then you'll have your answer.

 

[TrackDay]

I think I may have got it. I just did another 5 wrap and it's sitting right on 0.50. Lucky because that was the last of my wire. Now I've gotta ride 40 minutes in the blazing heat to pick up more.

 

[EMusic]

Great! It feels good once you get it right. At least for me it does! And then you can just sit back and Vape and enjoy.

 

[TrackDay]

I think it might have been the RDA I was using. I switched it out for a flawless we out here doe and it seemed to work fine. Cheers for the help!

 

[TrackDay]

I spoke too soon. It wasn't the original RDA as I was getting the same thing with the flawless when installing another coil. If a seasoned veteran could chime in I'd be grateful. Is it normal for the ohms to fluctuate when centering the coil or manipulating it in any way? It's strange, it seems as long as the coil was the perfect length from the posts it would have the correct ohms. Could it have been dud wire I was using? I also noticed the leads were bent and looked pinched after removing the coils, could this be the culprit because the 24g is so thin? I use 23g pre-built kanthal coils and I've never noticed any bent leads.

 

[Heartsdelight]

I think I may have got it. I just did another 5 wrap and it's sitting right on 0.50. Lucky because that was the last of my wire. Now I've gotta ride 40 minutes in the blazing heat to pick up more.

Lol!

 

[EMusic]

At least TrackDay has transportation. I have to walk because I'm on disability and don't have the money for a car (or sports bike, which I would prefer).

 

[EMusic]

Oh and I stopped replying because I'm not a seasoned veteran. I've only been vaping since November last year and building in the past two or so weeks. Maybe @Whiskey could help you?

 

[Heartsdelight]

I spoke too soon. It wasn't the original RDA as I was getting the same thing with the flawless when installing another coil. If a seasoned veteran could chime in I'd be grateful. Is it normal for the ohms to fluctuate when centering the coil or manipulating it in any way? It's strange, it seems as long as the coil was the perfect length from the posts it would have the correct ohms. Could it have been dud wire I was using? I also noticed the leads were bent and looked pinched after removing the coils, could this be the culprit because the 24g is so thin? I use 23g pre-built kanthal coils and I've never noticed any bent leads.

Minor fluctuations of .01, .02, - .04 is ok. Like stated above your leg length factors into the equation, unless u measure the legs to the exact leg length on Steam Engine, most don't bother. Actually 24g isn't that thin of a wire. The wire looking pinched after removing them is also normal & shouldn't be affecting the ohms. It could be the wire too, I've never used the spool that comes with the Coilmaster kit. Here are some good places to shop for wire online: lightningvapes.com, advancedvapesupply.com & Temcoindustrial.com

 

[Whiskey]

Oh and I stopped replying because I'm not a seasoned veteran. I've only been vaping since November last year and building in the past two or so weeks. Maybe @Whiskey could help you?

I am sooooo not an expert on dat stuff beginner builder here mostlty disposable coil user

 

[TrackDay]

Minor fluctuations of .01, .02, - .04 is ok. Like stated above your leg length factors into the equation, unless u measure the legs to the exact leg length on Steam Engine, most don't bother. Actually 24g isn't that thin of a wire. The wire looking pinched after removing them is also normal & shouldn't be affecting the ohms. It could be the wire too, I've never used the spool that comes with the Coilmaster kit. Here are some good places to shop for wire online: lightningvapes.com, advancedvapesupply.com & Temcoindustrial.com

Cheers for the reply. I've ordered some Volcano Firewire 22g Kanthal from my local B&M. Waiting on a shipment from the US would be a killer for me. Hopefully it was just the wire from the coil master kit and not something that I was doing wrong.

 

[BKTOAD]

Cheers for the reply. I've ordered some Volcano Firewire 22g Kanthal from my local B&M. Waiting on a shipment from the US would be a killer for me. Hopefully it was just the wire from the coil master kit and not something that I was doing wrong.

Just to be sure, you know that 22g wire is thicker than 24g wire?

Make sure to strum and squeeze the coils til the heat evenly to eachother and evenly inside and out. After that, your resistance should be very close to what steam engine says it should be.

Make sure your center pin is tight and secure.

Check for metal on metal conact in your atty.

Before clipping excess wire leads after tightening screws, I will take the non-coil end (the side that gets cut off) and wiggle it, looking for movement in the coil. If the coil moves, you have a loose connection.

 

[TrackDay]

Just to be sure, you know that 22g wire is thicker than 24g wire?

Make sure to strum and squeeze the coils til the heat evenly to eachother and evenly inside and out. After that, your resistance should be very close to what steam engine says it should be.

Make sure your center pin is tight and secure.

Check for metal on metal conact in your atty.

Before clipping excess wire leads after tightening screws, I will take the non-coil end (the side that gets cut off) and wiggle it, looking for movement in the coil. If the coil moves, you have a loose connection.

Yep, I know 22g is thicker than the 24g. They were sold out of 24g when I placed my order unfortunately. Cheers for all the info, I'll make sure I try everything you said once my wire arrives.

 

[TrackDay]

SUCCESS! 8 wraps of 22g kanthal came to 0.34 when installed but after firing and making sure the coil was heating from the inside out it's now sitting at 0.48! Wooooooooo. I guess it was the coil master wire I was using that wasn't working properly.

 

[Heartsdelight]

SUCCESS! 8 wraps of 22g kanthal came to 0.34 when installed but after firing and making sure the coil was heating from the inside out it's now sitting at 0.48! Wooooooooo. I guess it was the coil master wire I was using that wasn't working properly.

Yay!!! Congrats! Enjoy!

 

[EMusic]

Good to hear, TrackDay!

 

[TrackDay]

Good to hear, TrackDay!

Thanks man. I was getting super frustrated there for a while haha. Glad everything worked out with the new wire . I wonder what was wrong the the 24g kanthal coil master wire?

 

[EMusic]

I had troubles of my own today (with my atomizer) but, like you, all was fixed after not too long with some help from the outside.

I'm sure these things happen to everyone at some point!

 

[TrackDay]

Yeah, you're definitely right Emusic. Lucky I checked my mail box before jumping on my bike and riding 40 minutes in 40 degree heat to grab some wire.

 

[TrackDay]

Just did a dual build at 8 wraps using 22g and I'm getting 0.24, super close to steam engines 0.25 result.

 

[EMusic]

Just did a dual build at 8 wraps using 22g and I'm getting 0.24, super close to steam engines 0.25 result.

Awesome, TrackDay!

 

[marco67]

I spoke too soon. It wasn't the original RDA as I was getting the same thing with the flawless when installing another coil. If a seasoned veteran could chime in I'd be grateful. Is it normal for the ohms to fluctuate when centering the coil or manipulating it in any way? It's strange, it seems as long as the coil was the perfect length from the posts it would have the correct ohms. Could it have been dud wire I was using? I also noticed the leads were bent and looked pinched after removing the coils, could this be the culprit because the 24g is so thin? I use 23g pre-built kanthal coils and I've never noticed any bent leads.

24 awg,, thin? resistance is based on length & wire guage only..

 

[Canadian Vaper]

Hey guys,

I got sick of buying pre made coils and decided to start building my own. I'm using the coil master kit to build my coils using 24g Kanthal which came with the kit on a 3mm bit for a 3mm diameter with 5 wraps. According to steam engine each coil should be sitting at 0.5 ohms, but after throwing one of the coils into an RDA to read the ohms on my geek vape mini the ohms are 0.25. What am I doing wrong?

Cheers.

View attachment 71691

Did nothing wrong... You did a .25 build....