What's with the Flightpower wires?

[warpspeed]

Is there some reason both battery wires can't come out the SAME side? (Like on the Evolite 1320, or any TP pack) Just noticed the insulation on one of my 2100's has been cut through and even though that's easily fixed you lose a large part of the effective length of the wire having them sticking out of both sides and pulled up to the connector. It also takes up A LOT more space. I was thinking of replacing my recently deceased TP5000 with an FP5000 but not with that alien antennae thing going on.

[beeflyer]

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=40245

[warpspeed]

Ah, thanks Beeflyer. Didn't know this had already been brought up.

This is apparently FP's official stance:

Our wiring is done that way for strength so that it is possible to yank a pack out of a model by the wires without injuring the internal tabs, plus it helps prevent accidental short circuits with bullet connectors which are more popular in Europe because the wires don’t rest in close proximity. It is also a distinctive feature of the world’s most popular battery packs. If we really are getting a general consensus in the States (perhaps because of the popularity of Deans connectors there) then we can take a serious look at this, but it’s a major departure and we need to know we are doing the right thing for the majority of users. I’d appreciate more feedback from users of cars, boats planes and so on before making that call

Since this is a "non-issue" and "unimportant" then I will assume they feel the same way about earning my business.

"A distinctive feature of the worlds most popular battery..." BWAHAHAHAHAHA! That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

I'll be sticking with Thunderpower from here on out.

[Skiddz]

It's a "non-issue" for me as well... I think the phrase "...we need to know we are doing the right thing for the majority of users." pretty much sums it up. They're not going to change how they do things for 1 or 2 people.

Maybe I should boycott GY401s 'cuz the signal wire is too long..... :roll:

[warpspeed]

Golly gee gosh I've offended the fanboi's.

I'll go flog myself in front of the FP shrine and beg for forgiveness.:whip

[Skiddz]

Not offended in the least, just pointing something out and following up with a sarcastic remark...

As for flogging yourself, whatever melts your butter.... :)

[warpspeed]

I know.
And I was just being equally sarcastic.:flamedevil

I suppose if you just fly heli's it's probably not an issue, but I have several planks that run on 2100 sized lipo's and with the FP arrangement they just won't work.

I WANT to use them, I really do-the evolite's are otherwise perfect and priced right. But those bug antenna's just won't fit.

[mjws]

Apogee did the same thing early on and got RAKED over the coals. Their approach was:

'The builders made a mistake. We don't know what they were thinking. We'll fix it.'

I like that approach better instead of marketing drivel. That being said if I ran bullets I might like the seperation. But over here its typically deans or PP both of which are much cleaner to install with the wires exiting beside each other.

The packs are great, but if both were sitting on a shelf I buy the ones with wires together all day long. I believe these are the ONLY modern packs configured like this. The comment about Apex and Hyperion being similar certainly isn't the case with my packs or the ones on the shelf here. There are plenty of pics online.

Mike

[Skiddz]

Ahh, the ability of a text based medium to project emotion and feeling.. :)

None of my FP packs run in planks, but I share the 3S TP packs I have with a couple planks and my helis and I can see where having the wires come out the same side make it easier to hook things up in the planks.

How are the 6S TP packs wired? Don't they have that wierd "jumper" wire on the back end that you have to connect to make 'em work??

[warpspeed]

Not sure about a jumper across the back, unless it's under the shrinkwrap? (Never really noticed on the two I've destroyed since at the time I wasn't willing to get that close a look at 'em)
If you mean the balance wires, they exit the same end as the leads to the esc, opposite side.
I suppose with the FP packs if one wire runs up the side and then folds over the top it wouldn't be a big deal to cut off the shrink, pull the wire over and re-shrink.

There's just something about inserting sharp metal scissors into a $300 flying bomb that kinda scares me a little:wink:

[Skiddz]

Guy I used to fly with ran TP packs on his 600 and all of 'em had large gauge wires across the back end with bullet connectors on 'em. You had to connect 'em up to get the juice to flow out of the business end of the pack..

I don't blame you for keeping sharp objects away from the packs...