Watts, What Are They For?

Ramping Up the Power

Since the very first e-cigarettes appeared, both the kit and the way we vape have been constantly evolving. Indeed, for several years now manufacturers have been working harder than ever to offer users ever more powerful and high-performance products (100W, 200W, 300W…), and new ways of vaping have emerged. But just how useful is all this power, really?

Sub-Ohm

One of the first things that catches my attention when it comes to the usefulness of high power is sub-ohm vaping. It comes with some undeniable advantages, but also a few drawbacks.

A lower resistance combined with increased wattage means the coil heats up more intensely and more quickly, producing denser vapour and a stronger hit. This development offers a better quality of vape and, above all, an extra option for "semi-beginner" vapers wanting to delve a little further into the world of e-cigarettes.

On the plus side, a stronger hit gives users better control over the nicotine strength in their e-liquids, allowing them to reduce it more easily. Sub-ohm also gives vapers more choice, helping them find a vape that suits them best and making it easier to quit smoking for good.

The downside of sub-ohm lies mainly in overconsumption. Denser vapour and higher power unfortunately lead to significantly higher consumption of e-liquid and battery power.

Another point that's far from minor among sub-ohm's disadvantages is undoubtedly flavour rendering. Indeed, at high power, flavours are no longer as true to life! If you want to preserve the full flavour of your e-liquids, it's better to opt for a more classic vape with higher ohm values and, above all, a power output below 50W!

Power Vaping

For a bit of fun, the Filipinos invented "Power Vaping", or "Cloud Chasing" as our American friends call it – a technique that's all about producing the biggest clouds of vapour possible. An ultra-low resistance, a powerful mech mod or regulated mod, a 100% VG e-liquid, and off you go? No! (Although, unfortunately for some, it's already too late…)

Indeed, "Power Vaping" shouldn't be taken lightly. The compounds (PG and VG) in e-liquids, when heated to high temperatures under poor conditions, can lead to the formation of new chemical compounds that may be carcinogenic. It's recommended to stay cautious with this practice and to stick to a more classic vape on a day-to-day basis! Other complications can also arise if the equipment used (unsuitable and/or unprotected batteries, clone mods) isn't built to handle the very low ohm values this technique requires – battery venting, or even explosion in some cases. As for e-liquid, it's best to go for juices made mainly from Vegetable Glycerine, which encourages vapour production. Particular attention should also be paid to nicotine, to avoid an overwhelming hit – it's essential to lower the strength, or even switch to 0MG nicotine juices altogether!

So caution is needed – this is a technique that can prove dangerous if not properly prepared for. It's best to do your research beforehand and to have a very good understanding of the equipment required. Today's regulated mods are a genuine alternative to mech mods; offering plenty of power with far greater safety, they're the better choice if you want to get started with "Power Vaping".

For more information on the subject, I'd invite you to take a look at Pascal's article, in which he tried out "Power Vaping" for us: "I tried power vaping"

Battery Life

When we talk about power, can we really talk about extra battery life too? Well, yes! With the rise of box mods, which have largely replaced tube mods, manufacturers are now able to offer products that house several batteries. Dual, triple or even quad-battery setups, these boxes offer astronomical wattages, but also the undeniable advantage of extended battery life when the box is used for relatively classic vaping.

Safety

Despite real efforts from manufacturers to improve the safety of the equipment on offer, this doesn't stop some vapers running into trouble when the kit isn't used properly. The ability to push wattage very high isn't without its risks – sending too much power to a coil with an unsuitable ohm value and heating coefficient will cause it to overheat and result in a dry hit. It's therefore important to make sure you get official equipment suited to the type of vape you want. Maintenance is also a key safety factor: for example, it's best to store your batteries in cases designed for the purpose, away from heat and sunlight, to replace your coils and clean your kit fairly regularly, to choose batteries suited to the coils you're using, to watch out for water (rain, splashes, etc.) and e-liquid leaks, and to keep an eye on the condition and proper functioning of your batteries, among other things.

What Vapers Think

I had the chance to ask several experienced vapers for their views. Many of them like mods that offer high wattages, for the simple reason that this greatly improves battery life. I was pleasantly surprised to find that most of them vape at fairly reasonable wattages and never go above 50W on a daily basis.

Conclusion

I've personally been vaping sub-ohm for over a year now, without ever going above 40W, and I've managed to find a vape that suits me and that I really enjoy. With the way atomisers have evolved, flavours are coming through more and more, even in sub-ohm, and that's really nice to see. I'm not particularly against boxes that offer a lot of power – it gives us plenty of choice, good performance and, above all, greater battery life. That said, I do wonder who manufacturers are really targeting… Who are these 250W boxes actually for? When will we see dual or triple-battery boxes capped at 50W, purely for the sake of battery life? I'm hoping for a more sensible direction with the next generation of box mods – ones that aren't built around sheer overpower and a race to see who's got the biggest!

That's me!

Flavien