Done with Deans, but which power pole rating?

[kmfisher]

After a very frustrating night trying to solder deans I've decided to try Power Poles from powerwerks.com, but have no idea which ones to buy.

I've got a hyperion duo, align 2600 22.2v batteries and a stock align esc.

I was thinking the 75a because of the 10 gauge wire on the batteries.

Any one with experience be able to chime in?

Thanks
Ken

[beeflyer2]

Soldering is a part of this hobby, maybe you should just practice some more?

[kmfisher]

I've been soldering for about ten years now, not at a professional level but enough to know what I'm doing.

Thats not really the problem, the plugs themselves just don't fit the larger gauge wire in the high voltage systems. I know many have/do use them, I just don't want to deal with them any more.

I'm now looking for advice on what rating power pole would work best in this application.

[FlybyWire]

Ive used deans for as long as I can remember with cars..

What problems are you having with them... needlenose pliers and a rubber band go a LONG way in helping solder deans. (use as a 3rd hand, rubber band around the grip of the pliers, the deans in the 'mouth' of the pliers)

[jgunpilot]

Just get the 30 amps PowerPoles (their rating is very conservative and will handle 150-200) and a crimping tool. I use mine all the time, I'm amazed at how many PowerPoles I've bought over the last 3 years. Don't bother with the 15s - they're not any lighter.

[kmfisher]

Thanks jgunpilot, will the 30 handle the 10 gauge wire?

[mcnabbwr]

The deans are the industry standard at most all fields. If your battery goes bad or your charger fails and you need to borrow one, unless you carry adapters your out of luck and your day at the field is over..

[jgunpilot]

I have yet to borrow a battery from anyone. I carry enough to fly for as long as I need to. Then I go to nitro.

On occasion I've found that thicker gauge wire will have problems inserting into a 30 amp, but If you snip a few strands it'll fit and work fine. One nice advantage of PowerPoles is that you can put packs in series easily (2 450 packs to fly a 500, simply slade the red and black connectors apart and reconnect in series) or make your own parallel adapters.

[kmfisher]

I tend not to borrow things at the field because I typically don't carry the cash to replace things if something happens.

Connecting in series is another aspect I was looking at.

I think I'll order the 30s and a few 45s just be on the safer side.

Thanks for the help.

[ping]

Go bullets 6mm should fit 10ga wire you might need to file slightly 8mm will fit for sure. You can also install a spark arrestor with bullets, you can't with any other connector. If your serious about HV setups bullets are the way to go.

I get mine here http://www.cheapbatterypacks.com/?sid=1122953&scat=BULL&pgid=connectors

[BKF]

Radio Shack sells those goofy little double "arm" aligator clips on a stand with a magnifying glass on a 3rd pivot. I found it invaluable in helping me solder up the deans connectors.

[lodi]

BKF is absolutely right about the soldering vice. It has saved my fingers on many occasions and more importantly it has ensured good contact between whatever i was soldering.

I used Deans for the first time a couple of weks ago when I was building my 500...love em. I installed them on my 6s lipos, charger, esc.... No issues. What I like is the fact that you cannot screw up the polarity.

The process I follow when soldering is...tin the wires and the tabs on the Deans. Tinning is when you heat the the wire or surface you want to solder with your soldering iron and apply solder. The solder is applied to the wire/surface, not the iron. The iron just heats things up. Then, using the soldering vice, hold the wire to the tab on the Deans. Heat the tab until the solder on both surfaces melts. You're done! I found that after I tin the wire if i compress it a little with some pliers I get a slightly flatter joint. Don't forget heat shrink tubing.

If you cannot generate enough heat with your soldering iron or if your surface is dirty/greasy, attempting to solder can be miserable. Also, make sure you are using electrical solder.

Good luck.

Dave

[LoveMyTrex]

go with power poles, they rock. I am using 45 amp connectors on mine because of the large wire gauge. the 30s and 45s will both handle 100amps plus. get a good crimper too. you will love these connectors they are way better than deans. in the northern VA/DC area almost every one uses power poles, its great.

[sgrim80]

I love me some powerpoles!

[kmfisher]

I ordered a 10 pack of 30s and a 10 pack of 45s, they should be here in a few days. I also got a crimper. :)

[futurase]

It is the best decision you ever made on batteries. I HATE deans. We all use PP at my field and I have the West Mountain Radio crimper. It does a marvelous job. Crimping is so much better than soldering deans it isn't even funny.

Power Pole 15A are made 20-16 guage wire.
Power Pole 30A are made for 16-14 guage wire
Power Pole 45A are made for 12-10 guage wire

Been using PP for over 10 years. NEVER one problem due to PP except before I had the crimper about 3 years ago when I soldered a 30A connector on and after about 150 flights it came loose. I cut the other off crimped a new set on and put back in the same housing and fly it to this day.

Norman Ross Jr.

[2jet]

I've been looking for a good alternative to deans and you guys just sold me on the powerpoles.

I don't mind the soldering, but solder is inferior to a good crimp joint and the deans suck anyway.

[tkbr0wn]

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

[futurase]

Efficiency has nothing to do with it. There is no enough difference in the efficiency between the two to make a difference at all. If someone says they get 5 more seconds flight time from on over the other they are absolutely nuts.

Here is why I went to PP 10 years ago. they are DESIGNED to be plugged and unplugged WITHOUT have to pull on the wires of the battery. The crimper makes connections as good as a machine EVERY time. PP can be stacked for polarity protection and series connections are easy and require NO bridge connectors.

Norman Ross Jr.

[rupps5]

I allways solder my PP but that is just my preferance.

[8-Ball]

Where can I buy these power poles? sounds intreresting

[futurase]

powerwerx.com

[sgrim80]

I ordered a 10 pack of 30s and a 10 pack of 45s, they should be here in a few days. I also got a crimper. :)

I prefer to solder them. Easy as pie and they hold excellent then. All you have to do it tin the wire, heat up the metal insert from the powerpole and fill the hole with some solder and then push in your tinned wire and then after a few seconds remove the heat. SIMPLE!

[vicrc]

Ive used deans for as long as I can remember with cars..

What problems are you having with them... needlenose pliers and a rubber band go a LONG way in helping solder deans. (use as a 3rd hand, rubber band around the grip of the pliers, the deans in the 'mouth' of the pliers)


Heheh so funny this is exactly what I do as I need a good strong third hand. I also use another plier to hold the would be very hot wire.

[Bigdipper]

Hmmm....I've been using so called 'Power Poles' since they were first named 'Sermos'...waaayyy back. They work rather well. Crimping tool?....Just solder them! Come on!