We are all enjoying some incredible features in today's mods but sometimes I'm asked what's my favorite between variable wattage vs temperature control and the answer is not that simple. Variable voltage and variable wattage have been around for some time now but when it comes to temperature control, things are still at the beginning and improving gradually.
How variable voltage and wattage got introduced to vaping
The first variable voltage device was the Buzz and then came along the eGo Twists, small pen shaped batteries which offered its users the possibility to adjust the output voltage (usually from 3.3V to 4.8V) via a dial at the bottom. This greatly improved the vaping experience because people were more in control over their gear and could find a sweet-spot that was previously unavailable.
In 2010 a company called EVOLV released the Darwin and it was the world's first ever variable wattage mod. It could reach a maximum of 12.7W and at the time it was the most technologically advanced vaporizer on the market. Soon after, the majority of ecig manufacturers decided to implement the variable wattage technology and leave the variable voltage behind. But since many vapers like variable voltage, we ended up with numerous personal vaporizers featuring both the technologies and offering users the choice of switching between them.
The close link between variable voltage and wattage
Variable voltage and variable wattage are closely linked together, and a value in watts for instance, is like a translation of the same value in volts for a given setup. This is why switching between these two modes was simple to implement and why many of the modern day mods come with both options.
Variable wattage then quickly became incredibly popular with vapers, and companies started dueling for supremacy by releasing newer and far more powerful devices on the market. We went from 20W to 30W, then 50W, then 100W, 150W, 180W and even 200W. However, these sorts of values don't appeal to everyone because most users are probably not even go over the 30W limit. They did play an important role in developing the cloud chasing subculture and they are still favored by those who enjoy puffing out massive clouds when sub ohm vaping.
But then, in 2014, the same company – EVOLV – introduced a revolutionary new board on the market and despite it only being a 40W model it has a very interesting and technologically advanced feature. It was the world's first temperature sensing board and the DNA 40 devices were the first temperature control mods.
Temperature control with Nickel or Titanium
Temperature control works only with certain type of wire, mainly Nickel and Titanium. These materials have a very special property that makes their resistance change as they heat up. By knowing the resistance of the wire at a certain temperature the device 'reads' that resistance and automatically knows the temperature it's at. This is basically how temperature control works in today's mods and the only thing required is 'reading' the resistance at room temperature before using it.
Temperature control, like the technology implemented on vape mods like the Vaporfi VOX 60w TC, is designed to prevent 'dry hits' (any vaper's nightmare) and also to keep the coils and vapor under a certain adjustable limit. With these new generation mods vapers can set a maximum temperature of 400F for instance and the device is never going to go over that value. This translates in a lower battery usage and a greater lifespan for the coils. Also it makes it possible to blow out massive clouds of vapor without the heat of variable wattage alone.
TIP: We recently created a list of the current highest rated vape mods. This list includes the best vape mods for Clouds, go check it out.
Choosing between variable wattage vs temperature control
People often ask me to help them choose between variable wattage vs temperature control mods, but the thing is the majority of temperature control mods are also variable wattage. To be able to choose the best e cigarette you will need to know the exact specifications of that specific device. The istick 40W TC for instance; It sells for around the same price as the iStick 30W, but the first also comes with temperature control. Thus you have the benefits of both variable wattage and temperature control with the same mod.
But variable wattage on a temperature control mod works differently. Phil Busardo made an analogy once that temperature control is like the cruising speed on a vehicle and the variable wattage is like the acceleration. If you set a higher wattage, the device will reach the desired temperature faster, and once it doe so, will automatically regulate (lower) the wattage to maintain that temperature.
The only thing you need to keep in mind when using a device with temperature control is that the option can be usually disabled from the menu, and this is where you need to be careful. Nickel and Titanium can release hazardous chemicals is heated over a certain temperature and this is why it's not indicated to use them in simple variable wattage mode. For variable wattage/voltage always use Kanthal or Nichrome wire.
