First time using a box mod? Confused by all the settings? Don’t worry, we’re here to help with tips on the best wattage for vaping and help with things like temp control…
If you’re new to vaping, a box mod can seem pretty complicated.
Most modern vape mods run on a vape chip and software, just like a smartphone.
Vape mods also have a user interface, buttons, and a display. In fact, they’re probably closer to a mobile phone than a cigarette in this respect.
Please though, DO NOT be put off by ALL the settings and bells and whistles inside your box mod.
Chances are you won’t need (or use) half of them; I seldom do, anyway.
And if you are struggling to understand how your vape works, be sure to check out our Vape Mods Resource Page — it covers everything you need to know about using your vape mod!
This guide is ALL about the basics, a primer on how box mods work and how to get the most from them from the get-go.
I’ll cover off temp control vaping at the end, but again, it’s not something you need to worry about right away.
Personally speaking, I never use temp control; I’m a wattage boy through and through. Here’s everything you need to know about vaping at the right wattages on your vape mod…
Box Mod Wattage Explained: Best Wattage For Vaping
The science of vaping can be pretty detailed and complicated. You’re dealing with Ohm’s Law, batteries, power output, and resistances.
To be 100% honest with you, I’m not an engineer, so I’m no expert on any of the above.
But what I do know is how to get the most out of vape mods (and what all their settings do).
The wattage of a box mod, in layman’s terms, is essentially the amount of power you send from the mod’s battery to the atomizer (AKA your vape tank).
Higher wattages equal more power, and this, in turn, creates a hotter, more intense hit. And more vapor.
If you want those BIG clouds, you gotta run your vape mod at higher wattages.
The best wattage for vaping depends on two things:
- Your coil head type (what’s it’s max rating)
- Your own personal tastes (do you want a hot or warm vape?)
However, if you go too high for the coil you’re using, it will burn out rapidly and start tasting like ass – the cotton just burns up which is why you get a burnt taste from your vape.
Three Rules For Finding The Best Wattage For Your Vape Tank
- Start Low. Even If Your Tank Says It Can Handle 150W, Start At 60W And Work Your Way Up
- Higher Wattage Does Not Mean Better Vaping. I’d Rather Vape At 60W And Conserve My Coil Heads
- Most Modern Sub Ohm Tanks Will Not Require More Than 80W – Even The High-Power Ones.
Sub-Ohm Tanks vs Clearomizers
All vape tanks have a performance curve, an area where they’ll perform best.
Most modern sub-ohm tanks are rated for high wattage performance, however, I find it is best for the longevity of the coils to stick well below the advertised maximum output.
Sub-Ohm tanks are designed to produce more clouds.
They do this by having a lower resistance (0.2ohms, for instance), and this allows for less electrical resistance which in turn allows for more signal to flow to the atomizer.
This is why you get MASSIVE clouds from a sub-ohm tank and smaller, less dense ones from a standard clearomizer or MTL tanks like a Kayfun or JUUL.
Bottom line: Once you’ve primed your tank’s coil, start your wattage nice and low (40-50W) and work your way up in 5W increments until you find your sweet spot (you’ll know when you hit it, as the flavor will really pop).
Benefits of Box Mods (Why I Use Them Versus Mech Mods)
This is one area that is pretty simple. Modern box mods 99.9% of the time come with vaping chipsets (like the one you have inside your phone).
These chipsets regulate the vaping experience and stop anything bad happening, effectively – things like shorting atomizers, batteries blowing up, and all that other nasty stuff you’ve probably read about in the media.
And this is why I use box mods over mech mods; I like having all these safety features, which add a protective blanket between me and the batteries powering my device.
You also have WAY more customization options.
New Juice Recommendations
I get through plenty of vape juice each month, testing loads of different brands. If you’re interested in trying some new flavors, right now these are my current favorite vape juices:
TRAILBLAZER – I used to hate tobacco-flavored vape juices. But then I tried Trailblazer which is a tobacco flavored juice that combines butterscotch and peanut butter. It’s rich, sumptuous, and very much an all-day vape and personal favorite of mine. I highly recommend this juice.
1885 – I love a good milkshake, a classic American milkshake that’s made up of vanilla ice cream and milk. This just basically takes that classic American milkshake flavor and packs it into your vape tank. It tastes incredible and it comes highly recommended.
Jungle King – If you like smooth, fruity vape juices, Jungle King is well worth a look with its amazing blend of strawberries and bananas. It tastes unlike anything I have ever vaped before (in a good way, don’t worry) and it quickly went on to become one of my all-time favorite juices. If you like exotic, sweet vape juices, be sure to check this juice out.
Also: we have an exclusive 50% discount for our store – just use the code: BETTERYEAR at checkout to get 50% off your entire basket. And, no, there are no limits – you can buy as much or as little as you want (while stocks last).
Box Mod Vaping Modes Explained
Things like Bypass Mode, Temp Control vaping, and the ability to set wattage curves, whereby the power is delivered over an adjustable curve on a set time frame.
- Bypass Mode: This effectively turns the box mod into a semi-regulated mech mod, whereby you take the maximum output from the battery to the atomizer. This makes for a massive hit that gradually degrades as battery power drops.
- Temp Control Vaping: With temp control vaping, you can lock the maximum temperature you vape at. This ensures you never go over and, therefore, stay well with the comfort zone of your coils.
- Adjustable Curve Vaping: This feature allows you to plot a power curve over the course of 3-5 seconds. For instance, you could start low and ramp-up to quite high at the end (or vice versa).
Box mods also run multiple 18650 cells too, which means battery life is MILES better than it is on pod mods like the JUUL or single-cell mech mods like VGOD Mech Pro.
They also have displays and menu settings, where you can often play with the color options of the display and easily see what everything is doing.
It’s also a lot easier (with a display) to adjust the wattages and see how much battery life you have.
For me, a box mod is the simplest, safest, and most efficient way to vape.
You get the best overall experience, the best safety features, and a raft of vaping modes that help to really spice things up if you so wish.
Why You Don’t REALLY Need A 200W Box Mod
If you prime your coil and load the tank onto a mod and then crank it up to 200W, one thing will happen: you’ll burn the coil out instantly (and likely cough your guts up).
Most of the time, regardless of what tank you’re using, performance will likely be best in around 80-100W (tops).
Any higher and you’ll burn through E Juice and your battery life too quickly.
Plus you’ll reduce the lifecycle of the coil.
Think of it this way: your car can probably do 160MPH, right? But how often do you do that?
Probably never.
Why? Simple: it’s illegal but also, at that level, things get tricky to handle.
It’s the same with vaping; low and steady is always the best approach.
You’ll still get massive clouds and flavor. But everything will last longer, saving you money on things like coils and E Juice.
What About Temperature Control Vaping?
I don’t tend to mess around with Temperature Control vaping that much; I tend to prefer wattage mode – I just like things nice and simple.
But Temperature Control vaping is a very useful feature of a box mod, as it allows you to control the maximum temperature that the atomizer will fire at.
You can set it wherever you like, for instance, if you’re vaping sweeter E Juice, you could set it nice and low, to really juice-out the flavors.
Or, if you’re vaping a tobacco/coffee E Juice, you could have it higher to extract more notes.
You do have to run certain types of coil to do temperature control properly, so the ONLY coils you ever use for temp control vaping are Titanium, Stainless Steel, and Nickel.
Kanthal (Ka1) and Nichrome (Ni80) are hardly affected when heated, so this makes them useless for temperature control vaping.
How Temperature Control Mods Work
You have to go to Temp Control settings on the mod, and in there you will find the controls for setting your desired temperatures – usually in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
Forget Wattage, Think In Terms of Temperatures.
When you’re in wattage mode, you’re thinking in terms of power – wattages.
In TC mode, you have to think in terms of temperatures.
If you’re using a pre-made coil, find out what the recommended temp setting is (it’ll be in the manual, on the box, or etched on the side of the coil), and start in and around there.
Have a vape, see how it tastes, and then adjust accordingly.
Benefits of Temperature Control Vaping
- Better Flavor Control: Certain E Juices perform better at different temperatures. For instance: having a lower temperature might bring out the sweetness more. Or, going higher could bring out richer tones.
- Fewer Dry Hits: Because the maximum temperature is locked, you won’t get anywhere near as many dry hits – the atomizer just can’t get enough power to do it.
- Increased Coil Life Span: With the temperature locked, you’re not maxing out the coil every time you vape, which means the coil head will last longer.
- You Use Less Vape Juice: Again, with the temperature locked in, you can find a sweet spot where you get great flavor at lower temperatures (and, therefore, power). Less power means less E Juice burned.
Best Vape Mods For Temp Control Vaping?
If you’re serious about vaping in temperature control, you’re going to need a pretty good mod.
Cheaper mods tend to suck at temp control vaping, whereas the more expensive units tend to be a lot more accurate.
I tend to favor DNA mods for temp control, as they’re 97% accurate – the highest in the market right now.
I have prepared a list of the Best DNA 250 Mods you can buy right now, so if you’re interested in temp control vaping, these are the types of mods you should be using if you want accurate performance.
And if you don’t need temp control – spoiler: you probably do not – then the following vape mods are our top-rated picks for 2021 right now.
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