Done with Deans, but which power pole rating?

[LoveMyTrex]

the 45amp ones would be very hard to solder, much easier and faster to crimp.

[ping]

How would the 45 amp ones be hard to solder? You don't even need to pre-tinn.

Step 1: Twist end of wire
Step 2: Apply flux
Step 3: Insert into cup
Step 4: Add heat and solder

Easy 4 step process. You can do the same on deans just twist the wire apply a good deal of flux to both parts hold both pieces together with your magical 3rd and 4th hands. With your supplied 1st and 2nd hand apply heat and solder to the joint.

[LoveMyTrex]

I was saying they would be harder to solder because they have a deferent design than the 30s, one that is more in favor of crimping, at least I think. anyways I always use my LHS's crimper.

[futurase]

The 45A connector which is what you should be using can NOT be soldered. It has to be crimped. It has big wings that have to be rolled over. You can not solder a 45A connector and it is what you need to run for this heli.

Norman Ross Jr.

[kmfisher]

Futurase ?

I saw that the 45a have the "wings" and assumed that they need to be crimped rather than soldered.

[ping]

The 45's and 75's I have here look exactly the same as the 30's just larger diameter cup.

[futurase]

Sorry about that I put crimped instead of soldering at the end. i have corrected it now.

Bottom line: You should be using the 45A connector and it HAS TO BE crimped as it has wings the crimper rolls over. It can not be soldered.

Norman Ross Jr.

[psindrup]

is that really true? I 'm no electrical engineer, but I never would have guessed that.

I am, :YeaBaby:

What makes it better? Are you saying a perfect solder joint does not conduct as good as a perfect crimp joint? Or is it another factor that makes it better?

A perfect crimp is better conducting and much better mechanically.

With solder you have a "hard edge" between the hard solder and the soft wire, and this is where the wires will break. With a crimp this "edge" is not as "sharp" and is more stable mechanically.

And then it is so much easier to make a perfect crimp compared to a perfect solder.

Peter

[jgunpilot]

I've been using PowerPoles for 3 years now. You'd think I'd run out of things to put them on, but I must have used 10 just this week. Buy them now and get a $50 crimper - it's the best tool in my shop.

[jayrok1018]

I have to agree that the 45A powerpoles with the crimper are the best thing to come to this hobby. I too know full well how to solder, and do so on plenty of TINY electronics (inside PC & laptops etc). Maybe I missed something in heating the deans connector and the wire, but the heat just doesn't seem to transfer as well into the deans connector as it does up the wire to the ESC, or worse, THE LIPO! -- ya that was a close call, and prompted the initial research into powerpoles ;)..What I found, between the two, was that there were just TOO MANY ADVANTAGES to using powerpoles over deans, so I even removed some of the deans that came on factory packs!

My only concern is do they stand up to vibration? They seem to come apart quite easily, and zipties might bind on the wire casings.. I know they sell the $3 clasps to go over, but have any of you guys found or thought of a better/homebrew solution?

BTW for those who say 'You can't swap batteries' I left 3/4" of wire on the clipped deans ends, and added powerpoles for quick/easy adapters :D... AND they're genderless (I can't think of any other place that'd be a good thing hahah):hug:

[kmfisher]

So I've been using the 45amp powerpoles for about three weeks now and I love them. Very easy to use and easy to install.

Just awsome.

[jayrok1018]

KM>> How do you keep 'em together?

[2jet]

KM>> How do you keep 'em together?

The powerpoles I received from powerwerx had a bunch of pins in the bag that you insert in the little hole (in the center of the connector) that is made when you join the two powerpoles together. They do an excellent job of holding the poles together. Not a very good description I know. I'm on the road so I can't take a pic.

BTW, I'm fairly new to these connectors as well. They ROCK! I'll never solder another Deans in my life. These should be the industry standard.

EDIT: Look at the pic in your previous post. The hole I'm talking about is easily shown. There is a pin that you can put in that hole to hold the "whole" thing together.

[jayrok1018]

2jet --> I'm using the pins, and they do create a bit more friction on the connections, but to hold the connection together (just in case)?? Deans do benefit from being VERY tight fits, +1 for deans I guess...

I'll never solder another Deans in my life. These should be the industry standard. -- Can I get a HELL YEAH!??

[jgunpilot]

PowerPoles dovetail together. I see no need to use pins, they don't come apart unless you want them to. Plus, I pull the black and red connector apart to signal that I've used the pack and that it needs recharging. I tie the wires to signify the pack is at storage charge.

As far as Deans being better because they're tight, do Deans click together when you connect them? If not score another one for PP. I've never had them come apart in flight - or even begin to separate.

[jayrok1018]

I guess that answers my question about them standing up to the vibes. You reckon the 'click' is enough? I don't have that much experience with either in flight as I used to be in planks with nitro, and am just getting into larger sized electric birds. Based on what I found that would have been the only 'oneup' for the deans, but if others haven't had a problem, then awesome, less to buy :clappp

[kmfisher]

I've had batteries knocked off of my desk by my asistants (cats) and the powerpoles still held the battery and charger connected with the battery hanging, so no problems with them holding. I would not reccomend this during flight but then again it should be held firmly by the velcro anyways.

[jgunpilot]

OK, here's my final word on Dean's connectors. They're the industry standard because you can walk out of the hobby shop for $5 with them in hand, you buddy at the field uses them, and they're technically OK.

PowerPoles require a higher initial investment. People will invest in everything else in this hobby in order to reap future rewards, but spending a few bucks on connectors gets overlooked.

I've never used a Dean's connector. I cut them off packs that come with them and put PPs on. In the several years I've had my T600, I've never noticed any deterioration from sparking. They really work. Hell, I put them on park flyers - those little red ones really suck.

[jayrok1018]

Just found this link again, quite helpful for PowerPole noobs and even shows examples of modding/shortening the PP connector housings for similar 'real estate' to deans.

--> http://www.flyrc.com/articles/using_powerpole_1.shtml

[rupps5]

I have never had the sermos connectors disconect on me in any application, and I have been using them since the 80s. Well I have had them come apart in hard copter crashes.

[t-rexn8]

Can anyone comment on using them in High amp applications like 12s .90 size heli's?

[LoveMyTrex]

if deans are suitable than power poles probably are to. I might think of using two in connectors in parallel for something that big. you could stack two sets of power poles to create a super high current power pole.

something like this, but without the large housing http://www.andersonpower.com/products/powerpak-powerpole-pak.html

[psindrup]

I have just installed the PowerPole connectors on my T-rex 500 and my Zippy-H 3300mAh batteries (but haven't flow it yet, after the change)

The crimp tool is of extremely high quality (and heavy as h...) :)

The only thing that I noticed is that the connectors are very "loose" when they connect. Not so loose that I fear that they fall apart during flight, but just "surprisingly" loose.

Done with Deans. :thumbup:

Peter

[t-rexn8]

I like the idea of the stacked connectors and it does seem like maybe the 75 amp versions would be enough alone.

What crimp tool did you end up getting? The West mountain radio?

I also thought they made a snap on locking clip or something to insure they stay together.

[LoveMyTrex]

someone does sell a clip to hold them together, but as long as the wires arnt tight, and pulling on the connectors you are fine. my LHS uses power poles on everything and I only know of one person that has had them disconnected inflight, and that was on a receiver batterie, and he was doing crazy fast piros when they came disconnected. we love power poles because they are so easy to connect and disconnect, and they just crimp on, and they are unisex connectors, so you never have to worry about male and female, and you can stack them to make an uber power pole connector.

the 45 amp connectors can handle as much current as deans, the 75 amp connectors are enormous thought, and can handle way more current than anyone would need. the 75s are easily 4 times the size of the normal power poles, way to big for modeling use.