Variable Voltage vs. Variable Wattage in Vape Pens

The vast world of vaping can be pretty daunting regardless of whether you’re using e-cigs for juice or wax pens for cannabis concentrates. There are some pretty large differences between e-cigs and vape pens designed for concentrates but one similar and seemingly complex concept the devices share is variable voltage (and, therefore, variable wattage). It all pretty much comes down to power, which directly ties into your vaping experience. So what’s the difference when it comes to watts vs volts? Let’s get into it.

The Formula for Resistance

They say that within every great vape pen you’ll find a great coil. While this is true, the coil of your vape pen creates a resistance factor that you have to overcome to achieve your optimal vaping experience. The coil’s resistance can be measured numerically in ohms. When you adjust voltage or wattage, you are basically trying to overcome this resistance. You’ll often find the force required to overcome the coil’s resistance expressed as power. It all comes down to a fairly straightforward equation:

power = volts²/ohms

Or, spelled out in words, the amount of volts squared, then divided by the amount of ohms equates to the power. If you don’t know the ohms of your coil and your vape pen doesn’t have an ohm gauge, you can use an ohm tester that features docking stations for vape cartridges as well as readings for wax pen batteries. Since there are notable differences between e-cigs and vape pens, you just want to make sure that your choice of tester is compatible with your device. Voltage and wattage pretty much go hand-in-hand so that if you adjust voltage, the wattage will change accordingly. However, variable voltage and variable wattage are not the same thing.

Variable Voltage Allows for Manual Control of Vape Pen Power

Many of the old school vape enthusiasts prefer the hands-on approach and heightened user control of adjustable vape pen voltage. If you’re using a vape pen with adjustable voltage features, you’re going to want to get well acquainted with the power formula above. That’s because variable voltage vape pen models require you to calculate the voltage you’ll need to achieve your preferred vape power. Different coils offer different resistance, so anytime you’re switching out a coil, you’ll need to run this calculation and adjust the voltage accordingly.

Why would anyone want to deal with all of that? The number one reason is control. You can easily tweak your experience to fit your preferences like a glove. If you’re swapping out coils pretty often, chances are that you know each one pretty well and can experiment, fine tune, and tailor your voltage to make sure you get the right amount of vapor and flavor. Devices like the G2 adjustable voltage battery allow you variable voltage features for wax pens that may not have been previously designed with adjustable voltage. There are hazards that come along with adjustable voltage vape pens that often find rookie vapers steering clear. Adjusting the voltage too high can result in dry hits with charred, burnt taste and, in a worst case scenario, can even pop your coil. Vaping is all about avoiding combustion so make sure you know your calculations before bumping up your variable voltage vape battery.

Variable Wattage Presets Your Vape Power

By comparison, variable wattage is a much more user friendly feature. With adjustable wattage, you can basically set the wattage to your preferred vape power and it will automatically adjust the voltage upward or downward to compensate for varying resistance. No matter which coil you choose, the adjusted wattage will remain the same. Those completely new to vaping may only use one coil and have no urgent need for variable voltage or wattage. But if you’re accustomed to vaping enough to be switching out coils, yet still feel daunted by the responsibility of calculating and setting adjustable voltage each time you switch out your coil, then adjustable wattage is your best choice. Whether you’re using e-cigs, wax pens for concentrates, or even dry herb vape pens, the principles of vaping power remain the same. Understanding your preferred vape power is often integral to a quality vaping experience. Otherwise, you’re just taking a stab in the dark and that can lead to people giving up on vaping without having truly experienced it at its full potential. If you’re ready to hone your vape sessions to perfection, it pays to explore vape pen options and vape batteries with variable voltage for aficionados and variable wattage for those who prefer the automatic approach.