Voopoo coils explained, codes, values and wattage

The code on a box of Voopoo coils is only a few characters long, such as PnP-VM1, PnP-TW20 or PnP X 0.3. It is tempting to assume the number is the resistance, or at least a rank within the range. That only holds for part of the catalogue, and a quick misreading ends with a coil that never behaves the way you expected. Before choosing a value for your draw and your wattage, it pays to know what the code actually says.

What the code on Voopoo coils tells you

A Voopoo coil code has four parts. The prefix names the platform, PnP or PnP X. On the PnP platform it is followed by a family code (VM, TM, TW, DW, M, R or TR) and a number, and that number only gives the resistance in the TW and DW families. On PnP X the family code disappears and the value is printed as it is.

The draw style and power range printed on the box complete the picture. The table lists the PnP codes exactly as Voopoo publishes them on its platform page.

Code	Value	Draw stated	Published range
PnP-VM6	0.15 Ω	DL	55-70 W or 60-80 W
PnP-TW15	0.15 Ω	DL	55-70 W
PnP-VM5	0.20 Ω	DL	40-55 W or 40-60 W
PnP-TW20	0.20 Ω	DL	40-55 W
PnP-VM1	0.30 Ω	DL/RTL or DL	28-36 W or 32-40 W
PnP-TW30	0.30 Ω	DL/RTL	28-36 W
PnP-VM3	0.45 Ω	RDL	25-32 W or 25-35 W
PnP-VM4	0.6 Ω	RDL	18-23 W or 20-28 W
PnP-DW60	0.6 Ω	RDL	18-23 W
PnP-TM1	0.6 Ω	RDL	20-25 W
PnP-M2	0.6 Ω	RDL	20-28 W
PnP-DW80	0.8 Ω	MTL	12-16 W
PnP-R1	0.8 Ω	MTL	12-18 W
PnP-TM2	0.8 Ω	MTL	12-18 W
PnP-R2	1.0 Ω	MTL	10-15 W
PnP-TR1	1.2 Ω	MTL	10-15 W
PnP-VM2	1.2 Ω	MTL	9-12 W

The draw labels are Voopoo’s own. DL means direct lung, RDL restricted direct lung and MTL mouth to lung.

Reading Voopoo coils one element at a time

Each part of the code answers a separate question. Taking them in order avoids the most common mistake, which is reading a family number as a resistance.

The prefix, PnP or PnP X

Voopoo describes two main coil platforms, PnP and PnP X. Its FAQ adds that compatibility ultimately depends on the tank or cartridge, and points you to that part’s instructions. So the X comes first when you read a box. A pack marked “PnP X 0.3” and a pack marked “PnP-VM1” share a value without belonging to the same platform.

The family code

VM, TM, TW, DW, R, TR and M name families of coils. Voopoo does not publish what the letters stand for. Its detailed coil cards do, however, list VM, TM and M2 as mesh coils and R and TR as conventional wire coils, which the brand calls “Regular”.

The number, where the trap lies

This is where quick readings go wrong. In the TW and DW families the number is the resistance multiplied by a hundred, so TW15 is 0.15 ohm, TW20 is 0.20 ohm and DW80 is 0.8 ohm. In the VM family it has nothing to do with the value. VM1 is 0.30 ohm, VM2 1.2 ohm, VM3 0.45 ohm, VM4 0.6 ohm, VM5 0.20 ohm and VM6 0.15 ohm.

In the R and TM families the number simply rises with the value (R1 at 0.8 ohm, R2 at 1 ohm, TM1 at 0.6 ohm, TM2 at 0.8 ohm). That logic feels odd if you come from Geekvape, whose codes carry the value itself, as our Geekvape coil compatibility table shows.

The draw and range on the box

Finally, the box states a draw style and a wattage range. Voopoo’s PnP page sometimes shows two ranges for one code, for example 55 to 70 W and 60 to 80 W for the VM6, or 28 to 36 W and 32 to 40 W for the VM1. The range printed on your own box is therefore the only one that applies to the coil in your hand.

Choosing a value among Voopoo coils by draw style

Once you know the platform, the value follows from the draw you want. Voopoo sorts its coils into three groups and, for PnP X, also publishes a recommended airflow opening and share of vegetable glycerine.

Tight draw, 0.8 to 1.2 ohm

PnP-R1, TM2 and DW80 at 0.8 ohm, R2 at 1 ohm, and TR1 and VM2 at 1.2 ohm are labelled MTL, between 9 and 18 W depending on the code. On PnP X, the 0.8 and 1 ohm coils fill this role at 12 to 16 W and 10 to 13 W. Voopoo pairs them with a 50% VG e-liquid and, for the 0.8 ohm, an airflow opened to one third.

Restricted direct lung, 0.45 to 0.6 ohm

VM3 at 0.45 ohm and VM4, TM1, M2 and DW60 at 0.6 ohm sit in the middle of the catalogue, between 18 and 35 W depending on the code. On PnP X, the 0.45 ohm asks for 25 to 32 W and the 0.6 ohm for 18 to 23 W, again with the airflow one third open.

Direct lung, 0.15 to 0.30 ohm

VM6 and TW15 at 0.15 ohm, VM5 and TW20 at 0.20 ohm, and VM1 and TW30 at 0.30 ohm are built for big vapour.

For PnP X, Voopoo recommends opening the airflow two thirds with the 0.2 ohm (40 to 60 W), fully with the 0.15 ohm (60 to 80 W), and an e-liquid of 50 to 70% VG. The PnP X 0.3 ohm, rated at 32 to 40 W with the airflow one third open, bridges the gap with the previous group.

Checking your device can supply the power

A value is useless if the device cannot reach the bottom of its range, or refuses to read a resistance that low. Two of Voopoo’s own device pages show this double filter clearly.

The Argus E40 delivers 5 to 40 W and reads resistances from 0.3 to 3 ohms, limits cut for its own 0.3 and 0.6 ohm cartridges. On a device held to those limits, a 0.15 ohm coil rated from 60 W would be ruled out twice, by power and by value, and a 0.2 ohm by value alone.

The Argus Pro 2, which takes PnP X coils, reaches 80 W and reads from 0.1 to 3 ohms, which covers the whole range of the PnP X 0.15 ohm.

That leaves current. The current through the coil follows Ohm’s law, I = √(P ÷ R), which gives 20 A for a 0.15 ohm coil at 60 W and 23.1 A at 80 W, 11.5 A for a 0.3 ohm at 40 W, and about 3.2 A for a 1.2 ohm at 12 W.

That is not the figure to compare with the continuous discharge rating given by the battery maker, though. On a regulated mod, the current drawn from the battery depends on the power, not on the coil, and it peaks when the battery is nearly flat. Taking 3.2 V under load and a 90% efficient chip, two common conservative values, 80 W asks a single battery for about 27.8 A, more than the 23.1 A flowing through the 0.15 ohm coil. The parallel coil calculator on our home page shows both figures live, with the coil count set to one.

FAQ

Five questions that come up when reordering, beyond reading the code itself.

Which coils fit a Voopoo Drag?

It depends on the generation. The Drag S and Drag X appear in the PnP platform lists, with VM1, VM3, VM4, R1, R2, TM1, TM2 and TR1, plus the VM5 for the Drag S and the VM6 for the Drag X. The Drag X2, Drag S2, Drag 4, Drag 5 and Drag M100s are listed by Voopoo as PnP X devices.

How do you change a Voopoo coil?

PnP coils push in without screwing, and Voopoo says a change takes a second. After fitting, its FAQ says to fill the cartridge to about 70%, wait 5 minutes before vaping and start at a lower wattage.

Does the PnP X MTL cartridge take every PnP X coil?

No. Voopoo limits the PnP X MTL cartridge and the PnP X MTL Pod Tank to the PnP X 0.3 and 0.6 ohm coils, while the DTL versions take the whole PnP X range.

What do UK nicotine limits change for Voopoo coils?

Some Voopoo coil cards suggest nicotine ceilings of 25 or 35 mg. UK law caps nicotine e-liquid at 20 mg/ml, so those upper figures do not apply here, and the choice of coil rests on draw style and power. The PnP X cartridges also come in 2 ml versions to meet the UK tank limit.

How long do Voopoo coils last?

Voopoo’s FAQ suggests changing the coil after 5 to 6 refills, and the brand says a PnP X coil lasts up to 100 ml of e-liquid. The two figures are not in the same unit, and neither replaces keeping track of your own use.

Buying Voopoo coils with the code in hand

Reading a Voopoo code starts with spotting the platform, then treating the number with suspicion, because it only gives the value in the TW and DW families. The draw and range printed on the box do the rest, provided the device reaches the bottom of the range and can read a resistance that low.

Keep the empty box, or take a photo of the coil before binning it. Your next pack of Voopoo coils can then be ordered on the full code, rather than on a number that, with this brand, may mean something other than a resistance.

More coils to know

Written for adult readers only. Vaping products usually contain nicotine, which is addictive, and they are not for sale to anyone under 18 in the UK. Nothing in this guide is a buying recommendation.