​What is the optimal voltage for THC carts?

What is the optimal voltage for THC carts?

With the explosive growth of vaping and the enactment of new laws related to marijuana and THC in many regions, it's no surprise that vaping THC is gaining popularity.

Most disposable vapes and simple reusable vape pens have a fixed voltage setting. However, nowadays, vapers also have various device options, including 510 batteries, dab pens, and vape mods that offer adjustable voltage or wattage settings, which allow users to customize their experience.

How does voltage change your THC vaping?

Before we discuss how to find the perfect voltage for vaping THC, let's take a step back and consider why we need to ask the question - how does voltage change your THC vaping? 

For simplicity's sake, when vaping THC, using a higher voltage setting means that the THC product you're vaping will heated to a higher temperature. This, in turn, will increase the vapor production and the amount of THC consumed but also combust more terpenes and produce a harsher vapor that could be more irritating to the throat and lungs.

In general, lower voltage (and therefore lower temperature) equals a smoother, lower vapor production but with a more prominent flavor due to the retention of the delicate terpenes.

However, it also means smaller vapor clouds and, crucially for many, less THC inhaled per puff.

Personal preferences - and other variables

Finding the perfect voltage for you is largely a matter of personal preference, and there is no objective answer to the question of perfect voltage.

Instead, to some extent, finding the optimal voltage will involve a certain amount of experimentation, as you need to find the right balance between flavor, smoothness, and potency to enjoy the best THC Vaping experience.

However, things are a little more complicated than that - because every vape user is different, there are also big differences between vape devices.

One important variable is the resistance of the vape coil/atomizer. Since resistance varies from device to device, the same voltage in two coils with different resistance levels will cause the coils to produce different heat levels.

Therefore, using the same voltage on two devices may result in a completely different experience.

This means that to find the voltage that gives you your favorite experience, you'll have to experiment a little, adjusting the voltages and trying different cartridges on the vape.

There are still some guidelines to be aware of when vaping with different THC products.

Optimal voltage for absorbing THC oil

Perhaps the most popular way of vaping THC is to use a prefilled cart filled with THC oil. A voltage range of about 2.5-3.3 volts is considered normal when using regular THC oil, and a voltage range of about 3.0 volts usually provides a good balanced experience.

When using a new device or cart, the best advice is to start at the low end of the range and adjust upwards until you find the best balance of flavor, cloud, and effect. 

When using a thicker THC oil, you may need to use a higher voltage of up to around 4.0 volts. So if you have a thicker oil, you can start with a voltage a little higher than regular oil and work from there.

Optimum voltage for waxes and semi-solids

THC waxes and semi-solids require a higher temperature to melt and vaporize. If you use these products, you can start with a higher voltage than with THC oil and adjust the voltage accordingly after. 

Optimum voltage live resin

One of the more recent forms of cannabis concentrate to emerge is live resin, which is extracted from fresh cannabis that is frozen immediately after harvest. 

This form has multiple advantages because the terpenes are well preserved and produce a strong flavor. At the same time, the THC content remains high, making live resin an effective way to consume cannabis.

However, when vaping, the temperature and voltage should be relatively low to maintain these desirable qualities. Otherwise, the terpenes will break down and you won't be able to enjoy the full flavor. 

This means that the best starting point for such products is around 2.2 volts, and you can gradually find the best temperature. 

Optimal voltage Delta 8

Delta 8 THC is an isomer of Delta 9 THC. An isomer is a compound with the same formula as another but a different structure - in this case, it makes Delta 8 slightly less potent than Delta 9. 

It is often found in cannabis products, including vape products, and is generally thought to provide a milder high. It is legal in some jurisdictions where Delta 9 THC is still illegal, so it can be an excellent option for people living in those places. 

However, when it comes to vape temperature and voltage, it behaves much the same as regular THC, so you can start with around 2.5 volts and then adjust the voltage until you find the perfect balance.

Optimal voltage Distillate

Distillate is a more viscous concentrate, and you need to use a higher voltage. to smoke it 

Many people find that using a setting around 4.0 volts is best for such products. Still, if you are trying to figure out what voltage is best for you, it is recommended that you start at around 3.0 volts and work your way up.

Optimal voltage for CBD oil

CBD is another cannabinoid that is also found in cannabis. While it doesn't make people high, it is thought to provide users with various health benefits. 

One way to use CBD is to vape it, for which you need to set the e-cigarette to a higher temperature than when you smoke THC. As always, the ideal setup may vary, but most people find a voltage of around 3.3-3.8 volts best. 

It's best to start at around 3.0 volts and work your way up from there.

Devices with wattage displays

As we have already mentioned, even if you know the optimal voltage for using a particular cart with a vape device, the situation may change if you switch to a different device or cart.

To get around this, some devices display power output in watts, and then when you change the cart, the device can calculate the voltage needed to produce the same vaping experience you're used to by taking into account the resistance of the coils. 

With this sort of device, you still need to experiment in the same way to work out your favorite setup for different types of THC products. Still, the advantage is that it's easy to enjoy consistency when swapping between different carts. 

However, the main thing to remember is that increasing the wattage has the same basic effect as increasing the voltage, namely increasing the heat - so the best advice is always to start with a lower setting and then increase it until you find the wattage you prefer.

Basic equipment

Sometimes, the most basic THC vaping devices don't allow you to change the voltage Settings at all - often, they have relatively low voltage settings, as this is what most THC vaping enthusiasts prefer. 

The advantage of using a simple device is that you don't have to worry about confusing the setup, as you would with a regular vape - although you can't customize the experience.

Is the voltage set too high?

As we've mentioned many times in this post, using lower voltages will give you more flavor but less THC per puff. In comparison, higher voltages will give you bigger clouds and more punch but at the expense of flavor.

However, some vapers more interested in efficacy than taste may turn up the voltage from the start to get the strongest hit.

The terpenes will be the first to get fried and lost as temperatures rise. Then, as higher temperatures are reached, the oil (or other THC products) also begins to degrade - meaning that beyond a certain point, you will begin to lose potency as the heat burns the THC before it can turn into vapor. 

When it comes to smoking THC, there's a sweet spot - which can be different for everyone due to personal preferences - but if you crank it up too much, you could end up with an unsatisfying experience.

In addition, turning the voltage up too high can even damage the wires in the coil, making the cart unusable - so in short, always start with a low voltage and gradually build up.

Experiment with your vape to find the voltage that works best for you

As we have seen, there are several reasons why it is impossible to give a simple answer to the question of the optimal voltage for vaping THC. There are too many variables, including the vaping device you use, the ohms of the cartridge or atomizer and the type of concentrate or wax you use. 

In this article, however, we've provided some guidelines that should give you a starting point - after that, it's all about trying to find a voltage that produces the best combination of flavor, vapor cloud, and THC that works for you.