September 8, 2026

What Is a Pod Coil and How Does It Work?

A pod coil is the heating element inside your vape pod. When the battery fires, current passes through the coil wire, it heats up rapidly and vapourises the e-liquid soaked into the surrounding cotton wick. It is the part responsible for turning liquid into vapour.

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Quick answer: A pod coil consists of a length of resistance wire (or a mesh strip) wound around a cotton wick inside a small metal housing. When the battery sends current through it, electrical resistance converts that energy into heat, vapourising the e-liquid in the cotton. Coil resistance is measured in ohms. Higher resistance (0.8 to 1.2 ohm) means lower heat, tighter draw and suits MTL pod kits with 50:50 nic salt at 10mg or 20mg. The coil is a consumable part and needs replacing every one to three weeks.

The Two Parts of a Coil

Every vape coil, regardless of type or brand, consists of the same two elements working together to produce vapour.

The Resistance Wire or Mesh

This is the metal component that generates heat. It is made from resistance wire (usually kanthal, stainless steel or nichrome) wound into a spiral or from stainless steel formed into a thin perforated mesh sheet. When current from the battery passes through this metal, its resistance converts the electrical energy into heat. The tighter the winding or the finer the mesh, the more evenly the heat is distributed across the surface in contact with the cotton wick.

The Cotton Wick

Cotton wicking material wraps around the wire or mesh and extends into the e-liquid reservoir through small inlet holes in the coil housing. The cotton draws liquid from the pod by capillary action, keeping the wire surface saturated. When the heated wire contacts this saturated cotton, the e-liquid vapourises. After each puff the cotton immediately begins drawing fresh liquid from the reservoir to replace what was vapourised. If the wick runs dry before the coil fires, the cotton scorches and produces a harsh burnt taste.

Mesh Coils vs Wire Coils

Two construction types are used in modern pod coils. Most current pod kits use mesh coils as standard.

Factor	Mesh Coil	Wire Coil
Heating surface	Large, even. The perforated mesh contacts a wide area of cotton	Smaller. Only the wire itself contacts the cotton at contact points
Flavour	Richer, more consistent. Even heating extracts flavour uniformly	Can be accurate at low wattage but less even than mesh
Ramp-up speed	Fast. Larger surface area heats and cools quickly	Slightly slower to reach temperature
Lifespan	Typically longer due to even heat distribution reducing hot spots	Slightly shorter. Uneven heating degrades cotton faster
Dry hits	Less likely. Even heat gives cotton more time to re-saturate	More likely if wicking is slow or liquid is low
Where found	Standard in almost all modern pod kits	Older pod systems. Some budget devices

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Pod kits with mesh coil pods paired with Welsh-made Celtic Vapours nic salts at 10mg and 20mg.

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Coil Resistance: What the Ohm Rating Means

Every coil has a resistance rating printed on it in ohms. This number tells you how much resistance the wire offers to the current from the battery. Resistance determines how hot the coil gets at a given wattage. This in turn determines the type of vaping experience the coil produces.

Resistance	Coil Type	Draw Style	E-Liquid	Device Wattage
1.0 to 1.8 ohm	High resistance MTL	Tight, cigarette-like MTL	50:50 nic salt at 10mg or 20mg	8W to 15W
0.6 to 0.9 ohm	Mid resistance MTL/RDL	Moderately tight MTL or semi-open	50:50 nic salt at 10mg or 20mg	12W to 25W
0.3 to 0.5 ohm	Sub-ohm RDL/DTL	Airy RDL or DTL draw	50:50 or 60:40 VG e-liquid	20W to 40W
Below 0.3 ohm	Sub-ohm DTL	Fully open DTL	70:30 VG shortfill at 3mg to 6mg	40W to 100W+

For standard MTL pod kits the most common coil resistances are 0.6 ohm, 0.8 ohm and 1.0 ohm. All three work well with Celtic Vapours 50:50 nic salts. The 0.6 ohm option produces slightly more vapour and a warmer draw than the 1.0 ohm option. Both are correct for MTL pod kit use. If your pod kit has a fixed coil built into the pod you do not need to choose. The resistance is already matched to the device by the manufacturer.

Built-In Coils vs Replaceable Coil Heads

In most modern pod kits the coil is integrated into the pod body and cannot be removed separately. When the coil degrades you replace the entire pod. Some higher-end pod systems use a modular design where the pod body is a permanent reservoir and only the coil head screws or clips in and out for replacement. Replacing just the coil head is cheaper per replacement than replacing the whole pod but requires slightly more handling.

When Does a Pod Coil Need Replacing?

Sign	What It Means	Action
Burnt or harsh taste despite full pod	Cotton has scorched. The coil cannot recover from this	Replace the pod or coil head
Muted or flat flavour	Residue from sweetened e-liquid has built up on the coil and insulates the cotton from the heat	Replace the pod or coil head
Reduced vapour from a charged battery	Coil is degrading and heating less efficiently	Replace the pod or coil head
Dark or brown e-liquid in the pod	Coil residue has leached into the liquid. The coil is near end of life	Replace soon
Gurgling sound with normal vapour	Liquid is flooding the coil. Usually caused by a worn cotton wick that no longer absorbs correctly	Replace the pod or coil head

For a full guide on getting the best coil life and the correct priming process for a new pod, read our guide to How to Prime a New Pod Coil. The Celtic Vapours Pod Vape Kit Guide covers every aspect of pod coil care. You can also browse the full pod kit range on the Pod Vape Kits page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a pod coil last? Most MTL pod coils last between one and three weeks for a moderate vaper who refills once or twice a day. The biggest factor affecting lifespan is e-liquid sweetness. Heavily sweetened e-liquids (those with sucralose added) caramelise on the coil at vaping temperatures, building up a dark residue that insulates the cotton and kills the flavour. Using less sweet e-liquids extends coil life noticeably. Celtic Vapours nic salts use natural flavour concentrates that are gentler on coils than some heavily sweetened bar salt alternatives.

Why does a new coil taste burnt? A new coil that tastes burnt has not been primed correctly. The cotton wick was not fully saturated with e-liquid before the first puff. Firing a dry or partially dry coil scorches the cotton instantly and the burnt taste persists even after the pod fills with liquid. The fix is to replace the pod and allow the new one to sit filled with e-liquid for at least five minutes before vaping. Gentle priming puffs without pressing the button, if your device allows it, also help saturate the wick before the first proper draw.

Are coils universal across different pod kits? No. Coils and pods are device-specific. Each pod kit is designed to work with its own proprietary pod and coil format. You cannot use a pod from one brand in a device from another unless the manufacturer explicitly states cross-compatibility. Always check your device model before buying replacement pods or coil heads. Most brands print the compatible device name on the replacement pod packaging.

What is the difference between a 0.6 ohm and a 1.0 ohm coil in a pod kit? In a standard MTL pod kit, a 0.6 ohm coil runs at slightly higher wattage than a 1.0 ohm coil and produces a warmer draw with marginally more vapour. A 1.0 ohm coil produces a cooler, tighter draw that more closely replicates a cigarette. Both work correctly with 50:50 nic salt at 10mg or 20mg. If you are switching from cigarettes, start with the 1.0 ohm option for the most familiar feeling. If you prefer slightly more warmth and vapour volume, the 0.6 ohm is the better choice.