What is "temperature control"?

Temperature control is a solution used in modes to eliminate the so-called - a burnt taste that appears sometimes during vaping, and to obtain a consistent liquid taste. The user selects the temperature limit, typically between 100 ° C and 315 ° C (300 ° F and 600 ° F). The power transmitted to the heater is then automatically adjusted to keep the heater at the set temperature.

For the first time, temperature control appeared in Evolv devices powered by a DNA chip. This took place in 2014. Previously, it was only possible to regulate the watts. Currently, the TC mode is present in most devices that also offer power regulation.

How does temperature control work?

TC works because the material some heaters are made of predictably increases resistance as it warms up. Currently, the most popular material for the construction of heaters is kanthal. Its resistance does not change regardless of the heater temperature, therefore it is not used in TC mode.

When using the temperature control mode, only wires that have a known increase in resistance are used. The mod checks the heater resistance at room temperature and then monitors it during a puff. The change in resistance is converted into an increase in temperature and the mod adjusts the power to maintain the imposed temperature. It's a bit like using the cruise control in a car - to maintain the same speed, more power is needed to go uphill and less power to go downhill.

What do you need to use temperature control mode?

The first and most important thing is the mod that supports TC mode. Devices with DNA and Yihi chipsets have been very popular for a long time. Their main downside, however, is the high price. On the other hand, there are mods at a much lower price than Aspire or Vaporesso that have TC mode and work well with it.

The second issue is the right resistance wire. Four types of wires are used for temperature control:

• stainless steel - very popular and widely available. The most common type is SS316L. It can be used for both TC and watt control.
• nickel 200 - known more widely as ni200. It was the first material used in the construction of heaters used in temperature control. At the moment, it is rarely seen because it causes allergic symptoms in some users. It can only be used in TC mode.
• titanium - abbreviated as Ti. Works well for temperature control, but you have to be careful not to overheat.
• an alloy of nickel and iron - abbreviated as NiFe. It can be used for both watts and temperature control. Currently, however, it is almost unavailable.

How to vape in TC mode?

Set the mod to TC mode, choose the material the heater is made of, and make sure the mod and evaporator are at room temperature. It is best not to use the e-cigarette for several minutes.

Some mods allow you to adjust watts and temperature, others adjust power automatically. If you are using stock heaters and can set watts, set the lowest power listed on the heater. Mods that work well in TC mode automatically limit power when set temperature is reached. In this case, the change in watts will primarily affect the heating-up time of the heater.

Optimum temperature for vaping

The most common range is 200 ° C to 250 ° C (390 ° F - 480 ° F). The quality of vaping is improved mainly by the possibility of taking long puffs without worrying about the burning sensation and the shooting of the liquid. As with the watts control, here too the sweet spot is a subjective matter.

Advantages of using TC

• You avoid burnt flavor - there are tons of other ways to prevent it from forming, but the advantage of temperature control is… this mode does it for you. If there is not enough liquid in the evaporator and the cotton dries, the temperature will start to rise. Then the protection will work and cut the power supply to even out the temperature. Instead of burning, you will notice a significant drop in the amount of steam.
• You extend the life of the heaters - avoiding puffs due to burning means that the heater does not overheat and there is no scorched cotton.
• You extend battery life - by using the power needed only to heat the heater to a certain temperature, you can use up to 1.5 times less energy than in the watt control mode, achieving a similar result.
• You get the same flavor with every puff - this is especially useful for long puffs. Controlling the watts increases the temperature, and the taste of the liquid changes with it. Heating the liquid to a certain temperature will allow you to get exactly the same taste, regardless of the length of the puff.

Disadvantages of using TC

• It can be complicated - especially in the beginning; watt control is much simpler and more intuitive.
• Hardware limitations - Not every mod comes with a temperature control mode.
• Limited to a few types of coils - Most stock coils are made of kanthal which is not used for temperature control. If you are not interested in RTA / RDA / RDTA evaporators, the possibilities are very limited.

Summary

Temperature control can be a good solution when dealing with a burnt flavor, too hot steam, or shooting liquid. It also gives you the opportunity to enjoy the unchanging taste of the liquid. However, it is still not as popular as the power control.