The Scoop on Variable Voltage or Variable Wattage Vaping

What's all the fuss about? Why do people choose to use Variable Voltage batteries? 

Just when you thought you had it all sorted out, the industry comes along and throws another thing into the mix and now there's even more new terminology to get to grips with.

Well, variable voltage batteries allow the vaper to increase the power that is applied to their atomisation device. 

This atomisation device might be a cartomiser or clearomiser, dependant on what you use. Most batteries are dual threaded accepting both the Ego and 510 connection threads and so whichever device you prefer you can be sure that if it has one of those connections, which are widely used in the industry, it will fit and work well with a variable voltage battery.

What does having more power do?

Having more power means that your coil gets hotter. This increase of heat produces more vapour and can also alter the taste of your liquid making the flavour stronger. In a sense, vaping with higher power could mean that you can achieve greater amounts of vapour with a smaller inhale. Think if you will of the difference you might experience if drinking through a thin or a fat straw. You suck with the same force but the thinner straw delivers less liquid than the wider straw.

So a person with a battery that has the capability to deliver more power can achieve more vapour volume.

What else should I consider? How will this affect my equipment?

The voltage setting you choose must be within the limit of the capability of your device. A device that has a coil with a resistance of 1.8oHms requires with less voltage than a device that has a resistance of 2.8oHms. 

There are charts available by doing a simply web search for 'variable voltage chart'. These show the safe voltage setting ranges for coils of different resistances. I like this one: Variable Voltage chart

Setting your battery to a voltage setting that is too high for the resistance (ohms) can result in burnt wicks or liquid and can burn out the coil. Setting it too low will produce no vape at all.

Increased voltages and therefore vaping at higher temperatures will shorten the lifespan of your coil or atomisation device. However many people find that this is acceptable and liveable with if they are getting more satisfaction from their vaping.

Exhale advises that you increase the voltage by small increments only and test to see if you have hit your personal 'sweet spot'.

It is advisable that you reset your battery again when changing to a new device or coil because the resistances can vary between them even if it is the same device.

I've seen devices that are Variable Voltage and also Variable Wattage, what's the difference?

Well, with setting the voltage you are setting the power output to the device you have on the battery. This voltage setting may not be right for each device or coil fitted to it which is why Exhale advises that you always reset the voltage to normal levels when you have changed the coil or fitted a different atomiser. If you have one it is worthwhile checking the ohms reading of an atomisation device/coil before using it so that you know you are setting your battery to voltages that are within safe levels. Unless you are someone who understands and can work out the mathematical formulas involved, you can check this against one of the many charts available. 

With a variable wattage you are setting the battery to the heat you like. The battery has circuitry inside it which knows the heat you the user has set it to and it will reguate itself to that heat regardless of the device attached to the battery. So if you choose a battery with a variable wattage feature and experiment a little to find the wattage you like to vape at you will find that whatever you use you will always vape at that temperature. Many vapers prefer this and are happy to spend the extra money that a battery with this facility will cost.

Exhale's Variable Voltage and Variable Voltage/Variable Wattage batteries

Exhale supplies batteries that are variable voltage or variable voltage/variable wattage. You might choose the Amego Twist, which is most like the standard Ego battery with its pen shape profile. There is a dial on the base which you turn to alter the voltage output from 3.2 up to 4.8v. You might also like the ePower which is a sleek and smart 'box' shaped battery which is also a powerbank and with settings from 3 - 5v. For those who want a battery that is both variable voltage and variable wattage you have a choose of the pen style 800mAh Innokin iTaste V.3 (pictured) capable of 3.3 - 5v or 6 - 11watts or the box shaped 2600mAh Innokin MVP V.2 capable of voltages from 3.3 - 5 and wattages of 6 - 11w which like the ePower can also be used as a powerbank to recharge or boost the charge in your iPod or mobile phone.