The world of vaping is one of the most fast-paced industries around. Each year sees the development of a raft of new products and technologies, with the latest and greatest thing quickly usurped by something even greatest-er. 2016 is set to be no different.
Temperature Control
This year we can expect a variety of new technologies to emerge, as well as seeing refinements to existing technology. The key feature likely to be found in more and more devices in 2016, however, is temperature control.
Temperature control has already been around for a while, gaining popularity in the second half of 2015. As with any new tech, however, the rush to implement the feature as quickly as possible inevitably led to some instances where ambition outstripped what was actually delivered.
If you haven't already come across temperature control, it's a feature built into the chipset inside the device which monitors the temperature of the coil as it operates. It's possible to set a maximum temperature which causes the device to automatically recalibrate in order to avoid breaching. It's a very handy feature, which is great for preventing burnt wicks.
The drawback of the technology as it stands at the moment is that it requires a specific coil type (Ni-200 or titanium) in order to work, though there are new stainless steel coils available which should also be suitable. Traditional kanthal coils aren't currently compatible with temperature control devices.
This year, you can expect to find temperature control in many more devices. We ourselves have been monitoring the technology, with an eye on future product development. Only now is it at the point where it offers the performance and reliability we demand in order to implement in our own products.
SERIES-B Tilt
Here at JAC Vapour, we're always looking to offer the latest technology in solid and reliable products. Our SERIES-B Tilt is one such example.
Released in August 2015, the SERIES-B has been a big hit around the world and has consistently been among our best-selling products since its debut. It offers up to 40W of power, works with coils rated as low as 0.2Ohm and is packed with safety features, all in a very small device.
For new users, or those looking for an upgrade to their existing kit, the SERIES-B is a perfect choice. Despite it offering a range of advanced features, it's incredibly easy to get to grips with even for those with no prior experience of variable wattage devices.
This year we already have plans in place to update the SERIES-B, increasing its specifications and offering some new features. Keep your eyes peeled.
Alternative Coil Technologies
One area in which we can expect to see a lot of development in 2016 is in alternative coil technologies. Until recently, the vast majority of coils were made using kanthal wire. As temperature control has become more commonplace, however, we've also seen a rise in the use of Ni-200 coils (nichrome) which are necessary in order for temperature control to function.
Recently, there have also been attempts at making stainless steel coils viable for use with temperature control, which is likely to become more common as we move forward. Until temperature control tech can be made to work with kanthal, Ni-200 or stainless steel are likely to grow in popularity.
Ceramic is another material which is gaining ground at the moment, as both a porous wick or as a heat plate. This could potentially spur on the need for devices offering greater power levels, given that ceramic needs more power to heat up as quickly as other coil materials.
We're also beginning to see the birth of supposed 'coil-less' tanks which replace the traditional removable spool of wire which heats up in response to power being supplied from the battery. Instead, a plate of resistance material is used, which works in a similar fashion, but is supposed to last much, much longer before it eventually burns out.
This tech is still in its infancy, but it will be interesting to see how it develops in future.
There are also new tanks coming into the market which use push-fit coils, such as the Esige Everest. These make coil replacement a very simple task as well as introducing an additional level of control over the e-liquid feed.
Dual Battery and 26650 Mods
Finally, 2016 is likely to see an increase in the number of dual 18650 devices, which use two removable 18650 IMR cells. This setup has the advantage of effectively doubling the available battery capacity, which can be very important when vaping at sub-ohm levels or high wattages. What can be a disadvantage is that the two batteries may drain at different rates which can lead to problems down the line.
One alternative to this is a device which uses 26650 IMR cells instead. These larger batteries typically have a much greater capacity than 18650 cells, which means that only one is required, which resolves any risk of uneven discharge rates as well as conserving space. We're already seeing a number of 26650 mods appearing on the market, and it's likely these will become more common going forward.
Safety First
As always, it's important to treat new technologies with caution. While it's only natural to seek out exciting new features, in some cases these are being rushed out to market without adequate testing.
When we look at what technologies to adopt in the products which we develop, we place the utmost importance on safety and will only implement new features once we're satisfied that they are both effective and safe enough for us to support.
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