If you’re getting harsh, metallic hits from your rebuildable atomiser despite having fresh e-liquid and cotton, you’re probably dealing with coil hot spots. The good news? You can fix this problem in just a few minutes with the right technique.
Hot spots occur when certain parts of your coil heat up faster than others, instantly burning your e-liquid and ruining your vaping experience. This guide will show you exactly how to identify, fix, and prevent these troublesome spots.
TLDR
- Hot spots are sections of coil that glow bright red before the rest, causing burnt hits
- Fix them by strumming the coil with ceramic tweezers whilst pulsing at low power (not metal)
- Prevent them with proper coil spacing and secure post connections
- The goal is an even glow that starts from the centre and spreads outward
What Are Vape Coil Hot Spots? (The 60-Second Answer)
A hot spot is a section of your coil that glows brighter and hotter than the rest. This happens when the electrical current takes a shortcut through touching wraps or encounters resistance from a poor connection. The result? That one overly-hot spot instantly vaporises your e-liquid, creating a harsh, burnt taste that ruins your entire hit.
The fix involves adjusting your coil whilst pulsing power at low wattage. You’ll use ceramic tweezers to gently manipulate the wire until the entire coil heats evenly from the inside out. Once you achieve this uniform glow, those nasty burnt hits will disappear.
A Step-by-Step Guide: How to Fix Hot Spots on an RDA Coil
1. Safety First
Install your atomiser on a mod or ohm reader. Set the power to 15-20 watts. This low wattage gives you control without damaging the wire.
2. Pulse & Observe
Press the fire button for 1-2 seconds, then release. Watch carefully for any spots that glow bright orange or white whilst other areas remain dark. These are your hot spots.
3. Strum the Coil
With the fire button released, gently scrape across the coil surface using ceramic tweezers. This “strumming” motion helps the wraps settle into position. Work from one end to the other. ENSURE you use ceramic tweezers; metal ones will cause electrical issues while pulsing power through your coil.
4. Pinch & Squeeze
Pulse the coil again briefly. Release the fire button, then whilst the coil is still warm (not glowing), gently squeeze the wraps together with your tweezers. This compression helps create consistent spacing.
5. Repeat Until Perfect
Continue pulsing, strumming, and pinching until the coil glows evenly. You want to see the glow start in the centre and spread smoothly toward both ends. This process usually takes 2-3 minutes.
6. Final Check
Once you achieve an even glow, pulse one more time at slightly higher wattage (25-30W) to confirm the hot spots are gone. The entire coil should light up uniformly.
What Causes Coil Hot Spots? (Top 3 Reasons)
Understanding why hot spots form helps you avoid them in future builds:
Reason#1 Uneven Spacing
When coil wraps touch in some places but have gaps in others, electricity flows unevenly. The touching spots create shortcuts for current, causing instant overheating.
Reason#2 Loose Connections
If your coil legs aren’t properly secured in the post screws, you get poor electrical contact. This resistance creates heat at the connection point, which travels up the coil leg.
Reason#3 Wire Debris
Tiny wire clippings or oxidation can create bridges between wraps. These microscopic shorts cause localised heating that appears as hot spots.
Essential Tools for Fixing Hot Spots In Your Vape
Here are some essential tools needed for fixing your coil hot spots. With these bits of gear, you’ll be much better equipped to quickly and safely handle any hot-spot issues.
Ceramic Tweezers
This is an extremely important tool that you can use to manipulate and flex your coil. You MUST NOT use metal tweezers on coils connected to a battery, as this can short your mod and cause irreparable mod and battery damage.
Coil Jig
This is a short rod that you’ll use to both wrap DIY coils and keep them stable while being moved or worked on. Typically a coil jig with have dimensions of 2.5mm – 3.5mm. Don’t worry, many vape retailers stock these.
Flush Wire Cutters
You will need these to trim the coil legs down once they’re secured in the posts. Long and uncontrolled coil legs can very commonly lead to hot spots. Ensure you get wire cutters that are flush and allow you to clip *right down* to the post.
Ohm Reader
While slightly less needed than the other three items on this list, an ohm reader is a very helpful tool that you can use to both hold your RDA/RTA in place while performing maintenance, while also being able to check the electrical health of your coil before you even connect it to a mod.
3 Pro Tips to Prevent Vape Coil Hot Spots
Build Spaced Coils
Instead of tightly compressed contact coils, leave a small gap between each wrap. Spaced coils rarely develop hot spots because the wraps can’t create electrical shorts. Use a coil jig or wrap around a drill bit to maintain consistent spacing.
Dry Burn at Low Wattage
Start at 10-15 watts when checking a new build. This gentle approach lets you spot problems before they become severe. You can always increase power once you confirm the coil glows evenly.
Check Post Screws Again
Heat causes metal to expand and contract. After your initial pulsing and adjustments, give those post screws another quarter turn. A secure connection prevents hot spots from developing during regular use.
The Key to a Perfect Glow
Mastering hot spot removal transforms your vaping experience. Remember these key points:
- An even glow starts in the coil centre and spreads outward uniformly
- Low wattage and patience prevent wire damage during adjustments
- Proper technique eliminates harsh hits and brings out your e-liquid’s true flavour
With practice, you’ll spot and fix hot spots in under a minute. Your reward? Smooth, flavourful hits from a perfectly functioning coil that lasts longer and performs better. Take your time with the process—rushing leads to damaged coils and frustration.