Dean's suck

[Rob43]

Recall I have the Great Planes Dean's style tee connector to connect BEC, ESC to battery (sort of a junction block). Anyway, was updating firmware, recalibrating endpoints and such this weekend in the house near the computer for CastleLink connectivity, and my battery socket pryed one of the male tabs on the tee back until it shorted against the female lead. :wow2: Not good shared the shizzle right down my leg, and prompted a string of obscenities that's still hanging in the sky over my home. :lol: The wife wasn't happy :mad:, as my daughter (she's 12) had a friend over who's never been to our home previously. :...:

Anyway, I installed the tee because I hated the concept of soldering little BEC wires to big ESC wires on the side. I'd like to switch to POwer Poles if I could determine a clean looking, reliable way of connecting the Power Poles. Does anyone have any ideas on this? Clyde, I think you're using Power Poles, and soldered the BEC and ESC leads together.

[DominicD]

Actually getting the large ESC wires and the tiny BEC wires into the crimper is a PITA on the PP.

[Foxden]

Rob,

If it can wait until Friday I'd be happy to grab the camera and get some nice detail shots of Steven's 8S setup with the power poles and CC85HV

I just finished packing for a trip to Greenville SC first thing in the morning and I'm beat, I would highly recommend if your going to use the Anderson PP's you invest in the crimp tool, it makes it a snap and you don't need to solder, it actually makes a very secure connection without requiring solder the way that it molds and compresses the wires into the connector

[Rob43]

Agreed Capi. I would not attempt to splice in two pairs into a common pole. Rather, I was thinking splitter...

I was thinking of this deal here...

Splitter (http://www.powerwerx.com/powerpole-power-splitters/ps-4-inline-4-way.html)


I can wait, Foxden. No biggie. Not urgent. I just hate cobbling anything. IMHO, soldering the ProBEC leads to the ESC wires may not be that bad, but I can imagine it could become somewhat of a node accumulating some heat. I also like being able to disconnect the BEC and ESC independently, which the Great Planes adapter permits. Just not that thrilled with Deans anymore, and no one else is sharing packs with me, since I use the bricks, and am now burning nitro.

[Mecos]

I see the spliter shows a 45A max on it. Kind of low end for a system known to produce upwards of 120 Amp bursts. :shock:

I am using Deans for now, but am thinking of using the EC5 5.5mm bullets. Anyone having success with these?

[Rob43]

You're right Mecos. I read this too, but investigating a bit further, it appears they are rated to handle much more current for short pulses like we have in the helis. Foxden has been using the 45 amp version for some time now on Steven's birds with no apparent problems. I know the car racing guys used these almost exclusively when I was racing, and they were so darned fool proof. I used to solder mine, but I think I'd get the crimper and use that method. Superb "wetted" intimate contact when connecting and disconnecting. I have more problems with ocassional stubborn Dean's connections with my Spektrum radio. As I am connecting, if I don't get them perfectly aligned and plugged straight in the first try, I have to power down the Tx, flip the throttle hold off, and power the Tx back up, and flip throttle hold back on before attempting the connection again. Mostly, never an issue, but ocassionally it's a real PITA. Plus, I am not entirely impressed by other Dean's attributes either...not that easy to grip with sweaty hands, solder joints have to be covered with heat shrink sleeves...how many times have other forgot to place the heat shrink sleeve on the lead before making that perfect solder joint. The PP connectors just seem to be excellent quality and preferred for high current DC power terminations elsewhere in industry.


As for the EC5's, I am intrigued by them too. I believe they are also a nice alternative. I've not tried them either, but I may. I really liked the EC3's I've used. Very positive connections, and the leads are protected by the plastic housing.

[Mystic3D]

Started with Deans, and keep them on 450 Bird as others are too large. My gripe with Deans is just a pain to Solder. Yes I have helping hands but still a pain.
Went to Power Poles on my 500E, they work fine, got the crimper, easy, secure.
Then saw the Hobby City XT60 connectors, kind of like E3C for 5 connector pair for ~$3.49. So ordered 40 of them. Very Secure Connection, have a Hole, push wire in and solder, EASY. Never Looking back...

[jacquesjb]

+1 for XT60 connectors

[Slyster]

I am interested in those XT60s.... Exactly how do you solder on? I am trying to figure it out by looking at the photos.. these right?

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9572

[jacquesjb]

There are a hole in each connectors, you just have to push the wire in the hole and solder it. Don't forget a heat tubing. The plastic used by the XT60 is very resistant to heat. No modification up to 12 gauge wire. With my 5000mah lipos (10 wire gauge), I have to remove some stranded wire so that it can penetrate properly into the connector.

[Slyster]

How do you get the solder in there.. in the hole?

[jacquesjb]

You simply press the solder against the hole and wire together, and the solder will go in the hole by capillary action.
You'll know that there is enough solder when it'll stop to enter inside the connector.

[DominicD]

and the solder will go in the hole by capillary action.

:confused: :thinking

[Mecos]

I just changed all my connections to the EC5. I am intrigued to see that the magic spark with deans is gone when plugging the EC5 in. And I didn't even have to concern myself with soldering them since I have done so many EC3.

You just need to make sure the "capillary action" occurs between the wire and the bowl.
:tongue :YeaBaby:

Once the weather improves I will have to test these guys out.

:thumbup:

[ChrisH]

I run EC5 on my Logo 600 and like them. They are a bit bulky, but they are nice large bullets and don't get warm at all. They are just a bit tricky to solder them since you can't get any solder outside the bullet itself.

[jacquesjb]

:confused: :thinking

Once the wire inserted into the bowl (connector hole), if you heat both the bowl and the wire, while you apply the solder onto the wire, the solder goes into the bowl automaticaly like if the bowl suck the solder ("capillary action").

P/S: It is difficult to me to explain better than that because my english is limited.

[Rob43]

Just as on other similar terminals, the flux with draw the solder towards the heat.

[DominicD]

Jacquesjb solder doesn't flow due to any capillary action, solder always flows towards the heat.

[Slyster]

Same difference :) jk

I think I'll order a handful of those yellow buggers.. I am tired of deans..

[jacquesjb]

Jacquesjb solder doesn't flow due to any capillary action, solder always flows towards the heat.

You right, I just tried to explain in my words.

[Mecos]

You right, I just tried to explain in my words.

I kind of like the freshershist approach to your extraplenation, it does not diminish the truthiness implied.

But perhaps thats just me.

;)

[jewslox]

I like deans. They are everywhere and you can reuse them. Though why they can't mold grip lines on to them baffles me.

[ChrisH]

I like deans. They are everywhere and you can reuse them. Though why they can't mold grip lines on to them baffles me.
Put shrinkwrap around the whole connector and wires, problem solved.

http://helifreak.com/picture.php?albumid=2001&pictureid=14416

[corona007]

If i change over from deans I wont have anyone to charge my lipos at the field! :lol:

[Rob43]

I too have been doing the shrink wrap over the whole connector body to assist in grip...

I still do not like their contact pair. I don't like them anywhere. I do not like them in the air. I do not like how they pair. I don't like them with a grip. They will not fly one one more trip.

I will not use them in my 550. I do not think they're all that nifty. When they fail, they make me pissed. My language reflects my anger's jist. My wife barks at me, shaking fist.

What's the problem, WTF? I tell you once again, DEANS SUCK!