If you’re building your own vape coils it’s important to test the resistance of your coils before you fire them.
To accurately test the resistance of your coils you’ll need to invest in one of the best ohm readers money can buy!
So what are the best ohm readers for testing vape coils?…
After using dozens of ohm meters over the years, we’ve narrowed it down to just five:
- GeekVape 521 Tab Ohm Meter
- Coil Master 521 Mini V2
- Coil Master 521 Plus Tab
- Eleaf Ohm Reader
- 521 Tab Mini V3
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Best Ohm Readers | The List
1. GeekVape 521 Tab Ohm Meter
0.01 – 9.9ohms | Spring Loaded 510 Connection | Test Fire Function
Powered by a single 18650 battery and measuring only 93.6 x 75.4 x 24.7 (mm), the GeekVape 521 Tab Ohm Meter is extremely compact and portable.
You can test a resistance range of 0.01 – 9.9ohms by screwing your build deck onto the meter via the gold plated, spring loaded 510 connection thread.
Like most of the best ohm readers available today, the GeekVape 521 Tab has a test fire/dry burn function so you can fire the coil and test it without having to attach it to your vape mod.
The GeekVape has a manual firing button and LED display. Personally, I’ve been using the 521 Tab for the past few months and I’d be lost without it. It feels solid and sturdy, with no wiggle or movement – perfect as a base for building and testing your coils!
2. Coil Master 521 Tab Mini V2
0.05 – 9.9ohms | Spring Loaded 510 Connection | Test Fire Function | Voltage Checker Function
The Coil Master 521 Tab Mini V2 ohm meter is made from high grade stainless steel, with a spring loaded brass 510 connection. The Mini V2 is extremely reliable and accurate, allowing you to test a resistance range between 0.05 – 9.9ohms.
Measuring only 80 x 80 x 28 (mm) the Mini V2 is small in both name and nature. Despite this it feels sturdy and provides a great base for a build deck.
Much like the other entries on this list, the Coil Master Mini V2 has a dry burn/test fire function allowing you to fire coils as low as 0.1ohms. The Mini V2 also includes a voltage checking function to allow you to check the voltage output of your batteries.
It’s powered by a single 18650 battery but unlike the GeekVape reader above, the battery can be charged directly in the device. Overall, the Mini V2 is a fantastic ohm meter and easily one of the best ohm readers available today!
3. Coil Master 521 Plus Tab
0.03 – 9.9ohms | Spring Loaded 510 Connection | Test Fire Function | Voltage Checker Function
Another entry from the much acclaimed Coil Master series, the Plus Tab version is the biggest ohm reader on the list measuring in at 130 x 130 x 30 (mm). The size and weight of the Coil Master 521 Plus Tab makes it super sturdy and really helps to reduce movement when building.
It also includes a dry burn/test fire function and comes with a detachable voltage checker which allows you to check the voltage output of your batteries.
The Plus Tab also gives you the option of using either single or dual 18650 batteries to power the reader. The batteries can be charged internally via micro USB and with the dual battery option you won’t need to recharge very often.
While it’s the most expensive ohm meter on the list it’s also the easiest to build with. Solid, sturdy and extremely reliable, the Coil Master 521 Plus Tab is definitely worth considering.
4. Eleaf Ohm Reader
0.01 – 9.9ohms | 510 Connection | Voltage Checker Function
If you’ve been vaping for even a short length of time you’re probably familiar with Eleaf’s range of vape gear. Their foray into the ohm meter world was met with largely positive reviews.
The Eleaf ohm reader is the cheapest meter on this list by far and it’s one I’ve been using for the past several years. It’s reliable and measures coil resistance from 0.01-9.9ohms. It also uses a 3 digit 7 segment LED display.
The Eleaf ohm reader measures in at only 73 x 49 x 19 (mm) making it the smallest one on the list and perfect for chucking in your vape bag. It doesn’t have the capability to dry burn coils but it does allow you to check the voltage output on your batteries.
Powered by 2 AA batteries, the Eleaf ohm reader is perfect for the beginner builder. It’s reliable and accurate and works great for such a reasonable price!
5. 521 Tab Mini V3
0.01 – 9.9ohms | Spring Loaded 510 Connection | Test Fire Function
The final entry on our list, the 521 Tab Mini V3 is another compact ohm reader measuring only 82 x 61 x 26 (mm). Like the Eleaf above this ohm reader uses a 3 digit 7 segment LED display.
It’s the cheapest option if you want an ohm reader with a dry burn function and it tests resistances ranging from 0.01-9.9ohms. It’s powered by a single 18650 battery (not included) and it’s charged via micro USB.
A slight drawback with the 521 Tab is the rubber ‘feet’ on the underside. They aren’t the best and could have been made bigger to reduce movement while building.
Overall though it still makes coil building far easier and it’s one of the best ohm readers we’ve used over the past few years.
Do You Need To Test Your Coil Resistance?
Testing your coil before you use it allows you to make the necessary adjustments to the coil before you start using it to vape.
You should never assume your coil is working right without first testing it. This is especially true if you’re using an unregulated mod (mechanical mod).
With an unregulated mod there’s no display or in-built ohm tester to tell you whether the coil you’ve installed is functioning correctly or built to the desired resistance. If you fire the coil and there’s a problem you won’t know until it’s too late!
Even on a regulated mod with in-built safety features it’s a good idea to test your coil before you wick it and apply e-juice. This way you can verify the resistance of your coil and set the appropriate wattage on your vape.
Do I Need An Ohm Reader With A Dry Burn Function?
While this isn’t a necessary feature it certainly is useful. You can dry burn the coil in your vape but having the feature on your ohm reader makes the process much easier.
You should always dry burn your coil to make sure the surface area of your coil is glowing evenly. Dry burning a coil helps to remove heat spots and improves the overall flavor and vapor produced.
Again, if you’re using an unregulated mod you shouldn’t fire or dry burn the coil in your mod without at least verifying the resistance. Investing in one of the best ohm readers on this list buys you peace of mind.
Can You Use Your Mod to Test the Resistance of Your Coil?
If the regulated mod you’re using has an accurate display that tells you the resistance of your coil then this is sufficient to verify the resistance of your coil build. While it won’t read as accurate as one of the ohm readers above it should still give you an approximate reading.
Using one of the ohm readers on this list ensures an accurate and true reading. Again, if you’re using an unregulated mod then you can’t use it to test the resistance of your coil and an ohm reader is essential.
Can You Use a Multi-Meter to Test Your Coil Resistance?
While you can use a multi-meter to test your coil this isn’t something we’d recommended. The resistance read out on a multi-meter won’t be nearly as accurate as one of the ohm readers above.
If you do want to use a multi-meter to test your coil resistance just make sure to set the meter to the lowest ohm setting (usually 20). Then test the resistance on your meter probes by touching them together.
Remember this resistance as you’ll need to minus it off the final read out when you test your coil. Next place one of the probes on the positive pin (in the middle of the 510 connection) and the other on the outside of the 510 threading.
Hold the probes in place for several seconds while the multi-meter settles. Finally remember to take away the resistance that showed when you touched the probes together from the final resistance when you tested the coil.
And that’s it folks! We hope you found our list of the best ohm readers useful. If you think there’s an ohm reader we’ve overlooked or you have any questions about testing your coils we’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.