So ive been wondering about this for a while , but i would be interested to see the results in ramp up time between nichrome and SS of the same gauges , i usually use a nichrome and stainless mix for my aliens (nichrome cores and stainless outer) but im curious to see the difference between an all nichrome build verses a mix of the two materials
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Nichrome vs Stainless Steel 316l Ramp up time
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I have been using SS for a couple years now but recently got a few pairs of nichrome aliens from a friend. I’m using one now in single coil mode and I’m not a fan. I feel like SS ramps up quicker and taste better. Maybe it’s just the way I vape (under 50 watts) and they perform better at higher wattages? I’m not sure but I’ll definitely continue to use SS.
I like Nichrome much better than SS 316l, I think 317l has a lot more to offer for my style. And I care 70+
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With the same wire gauge (diameter), coil size, and voltage (such as with a mechanical mod), Nichrome will ramp up faster simply because it has a lower resistance thus more power to the coil and a higher heat flux- (Power = Voltage(squared) / Resistance).
With the same wire gauge (diameter), coil size, and Power (regulated mod on Power mode, wattage), in theory ramp up should be the same since the power to the coil is the same, same heat flux, etc. You can test this out by setting up your coil parameters, then vary the wire type in steam engine Wire Wizard, and see heat flux stay the same (Heat flux per Watt of power).
http://www.steam-engine.org/wirewiz.html
In practice I find this appears to be true, I use the same power settings for the same gauge wires and coil size, whether kanthal or nichrome, or SS.
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The biggest factor in ramp up time is actually wire gauge, larger diameter wires (lower gauge #) will heat up slower for the same Power level, since the heat flux (mW/mm²) for bigger wire will be lower for a given power due to the larger mass that has to heat up.
Not considering ramp up time SS316L is the answer to those seeking the perfect vape. Once I started using SS coils with factory made or my builds there is no reason for me to use anything else. Just my opinion from my personal experience.
Short answer: two wires same size, NiCr ramps faster than SS.
Supercwazy
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I dig this question! I've honestly been wondering about this for quite a while now and I'm really glad that somebody started a thread for this topic.
Here's the problem...
If you have two identical looking builds, one with nichrome and the other ss, and apply the same wattage to both, it won't be a fair way to determine which has the quicker ramp up. Due to nichromes higher resistance and quick ramp up, it's going to ramp up quicker than ss.
The other method is to build so that both coils have an equal resistance. But here again, the ss coil will have more mass, hence again, a slower ramp up.
So there has to be a kinda tradeoff between mass and resistance to really get to the bottom of this, else nichrome will win every time.
Honestly, I haven't tested this practically yet, so all this is just theoretical and presumptive, but perhaps one of you will be willing to do this experiment, just for interest sake...
Build two identical coils, one nichrome and one ss, and fire them in the same rda. I'm almost certain that nichrome will ramp up quicker, but the question is...
How much quicker?
Then we need to do a mathematical calculation, taking into account the ramp up time and resistance of each coil...
That ratio will tell us which has the quicker ramp up.
Unfortunately I'm too lazy to do this, but if any of you have the gumption, I'll be very keen to know the result.
Here's the problem...
If you have two identical looking builds, one with nichrome and the other ss, and apply the same wattage to both, it won't be a fair way to determine which has the quicker ramp up. Due to nichromes higher resistance and quick ramp up, it's going to ramp up quicker than ss.
The other method is to build so that both coils have an equal resistance. But here again, the ss coil will have more mass, hence again, a slower ramp up.
So there has to be a kinda tradeoff between mass and resistance to really get to the bottom of this, else nichrome will win every time.
Honestly, I haven't tested this practically yet, so all this is just theoretical and presumptive, but perhaps one of you will be willing to do this experiment, just for interest sake...
Build two identical coils, one nichrome and one ss, and fire them in the same rda. I'm almost certain that nichrome will ramp up quicker, but the question is...
How much quicker?
Then we need to do a mathematical calculation, taking into account the ramp up time and resistance of each coil...
That ratio will tell us which has the quicker ramp up.
Unfortunately I'm too lazy to do this, but if any of you have the gumption, I'll be very keen to know the result.
This is the Cliffnotes.
I think that's backwards; SS has a much lower resistance than n80 nichrome, all other factors being equal
I believe they're testing using Watts, in that scenario Kanthal would ramp up faster than either.
SS does ramp up faster due to lower resistance, to test it use Voltage.
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Yeah know what you mean, myself it's NiChrome that has the funky taste.
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I've found that mixing SS with kanthal removes the taste somehow - I can only vape Kanthal though because the nickel in nichrome and SS makes me ill
I've found that mixing SS with kanthal removes the taste somehow - I can only vape Kanthal though because the nickel in nichrome and SS makes me ill
Hmmm. Very interesting. I will have to give that a shot. Kanthal core, or wrap? Or does it matter?
I ignore the wrap wire, I tend to vape 40g and above for clapton wrap
A mix of SS and kanthal cores - like SS frames around kanthal ribbon, or alternating kanthal and SS round wire cores
Correction: I've had staggered clapton with SS wrap that tasted fine, but havent tried full stainless wrap on mixed cores yet
When I get 40g SS in, I will give it a taste test
I've always liked the idea that SS, in theory, has a little bit of a ramp up effect, since the resistance rises with temperature.
Apply a given voltage to a coil with a given resistance. As the coil heats up the resistance rises, and since the voltage stays the same, that means the power (or wattage) will drop. It's not very noticeable in everyday usage though.
Really the only time I notice any effect from it is when using SS on a mech. I tend to build a little bit lower than if I was using kanthal or nichrome, to get the same amount of power during the actual vape. If I like the power from a .11 ohm coil, I'd build at .1 or .09 so that when the coil is hot it's at .11. This basically has the effect of lowering the ramp up time.
Apply a given voltage to a coil with a given resistance. As the coil heats up the resistance rises, and since the voltage stays the same, that means the power (or wattage) will drop. It's not very noticeable in everyday usage though.
Really the only time I notice any effect from it is when using SS on a mech. I tend to build a little bit lower than if I was using kanthal or nichrome, to get the same amount of power during the actual vape. If I like the power from a .11 ohm coil, I'd build at .1 or .09 so that when the coil is hot it's at .11. This basically has the effect of lowering the ramp up time.
I've built exclusively with SS 316L for the past two years. I build fused claptons in 28/36 and 26/36. I used these for everything from mech, unregulated mosfet/bypass, straight regulated, and TC.
Just recently switched to Ni80 with the same exact builds. The resistance comes out to almost double that of its SS counterparts and the ramp up is MUCH faster. I didn't want to believe it. I must not have that nickel sensitivity bc the flavor is excellent.
So now I've decided that 316L will be reserved for TC (or Replay which is the only way I'll do TC these days. So easy!) and Nichrome will be for unregulated and power mode.
But yeah, Ni80 ramps up way faster than SS.
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Just recently switched to Ni80 with the same exact builds. The resistance comes out to almost double that of its SS counterparts and the ramp up is MUCH faster. I didn't want to believe it. I must not have that nickel sensitivity bc the flavor is excellent.
So now I've decided that 316L will be reserved for TC (or Replay which is the only way I'll do TC these days. So easy!) and Nichrome will be for unregulated and power mode.
But yeah, Ni80 ramps up way faster than SS.
Sent from the Death Star
Are you comparing them by Watt's or Volt's?
Interesting, so what's the build?
SS 316L 2x26/36 fused clapton, 6 wrap, 3mm ID. Reads at 0.21ohms
Ni80 2x26/36 fused clapton, 6 wrap, 3mm ID. Reads at 0.36 ohms
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That's very interesting while I haven't vaped much on NiChrome (don't like the taste) it appeared that SS was more responsive. Which logic would dictate due to it being lower resistance.
You've got me intrigued, I'll have to get a couple of spools of NiChrome and check it out for myself.
I believe it's actually the opposite. If you think of resistance being like a river, lower resistance allowing more current to flow through, then a lower resistance demands more power to flow through it.
However, if the resistance is too high like with Kanthal, it actually constructs the flow of current.
The way I see it, and I very well may be wrong, Ni80 is the most efficient in balancing current flow.
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Could be, for me I balance it by using smaller gauge SS. For around 0.25Ω builds I'll use around 29g or 30g for my core wires with around 40g wrapping wire.
Yes
I make a triple 26 with 2 n80 cores and an ss core in the middle wrapped with 36g ss. Vapes quite nice.
This here.
I've been vaping ss 316l coils for a few years. I've always loved the flavor and the heat but I hated how they turned brown so quickly. I know that's kinda silly but it is what it is. I also learned to build with ss but recently I made some n80 and n90 aliens. The n80 coils just taste like metal..but the n90 tastes very clean. And on a mech triple 28 n90 aliens hit like quad cores.
nadalama
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Yup. This. ^^^^^^
Yeah n80 I can’t stand the metallic taste of it and pretty much stick with 317L SS. Fairly recently I tried n90 and I have to say I really like it. Coils seem to last longer both in overall life along with they don’t seem to gunk up as fast. Then they seem to hit better than SS, rather shocked on that one. Anyway looks like I’ve become a fan since n90 does have just as clean of a taste as my 317L SS. Hell I’ve got a rather large stockpile of 317L from 24G to 44G
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From what I’ve found is n90 does have a bit higher nickel content.
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