How hot does your connectors get?

[ggouveia]

Hi all,
have a questions regarding how hot do your connectors get on a 550. Im running EC5 connectors. After a flight when disconnecting them they are quite hot. I know that on peaks am pulling over 120amps according to Castle log. Should they be getting quite hot,is this normal,or have I got another problem in the wiring? Batts and ESC are OK temp wise.
Thanks,
George

[CyprusFlyer]

Difficult to say without looking, mine dont get hot, could be a bad solder joint causing a high resistance, doesnt take much at those current levels.

[mmjl_]

I have EC5's also and they don't even get warm. Neither do the wires. My battery only gets warm. I think I'm only maxing 80 amps.

With that said, I'm not doing anything crazy either... Just you basic sport flying I guess.


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[shein95]

it really sounds like a bad solder joint. current should flow good enough to not get warm. i run xt60 connectors and at a 60amp rating they don't get warm at all.

[gehrbox]

Originally Posted by ggouveia

Hi all,
have a questions regarding how hot do your connectors get on a 550. Im running EC5 connectors. After a flight when disconnecting them they are quite hot. I know that on peaks am pulling over 120amps according to Castle log. Should they be getting quite hot,is this normal,or have I got another problem in the wiring? Batts and ESC are OK temp wise.
Thanks,
George

Mine do not get warm at all. I'd suspect a bad solder joint as mentioned on a previous reply.

[1004ron]

+1
My EC5's never get warm - must be a bad solder joint.

[bad007]

Heat = high resistance

[ggouveia]

Hi all again,
how do you guys solder your EC5 connectors? I have a CC100, the wires just fit into the EC5 plugs.
I fill the connector with solder,then I heat it up again so I can insert the ESC wire into it. You can't add solder around the top of the plug as it will stop the bullet from going into the plug housing.
Do you guys just put the wire into bullet then add solder,or do it like me?

[chrismechanic]

i use 4mm bullets...tin the wire...then the connector. then add heat to join...i have a 175 watt iron so its not a problem.
some smaller irons may have trouble jointing these connectors.
my connectors are cold on landing...7:30 min flight times
chris

[horigan]

You need to plunge the tinned wire end in to the molten pool of solder in the connector and keep the heat applied until you see the solder on the tinned wire melt and get fully integrated with the connector solder. You'll know when this happens when you see it. Just plunging the tinned wire end in to the connector solder and removing heat will not provide a good joint.

[CyprusFlyer]

I have been professionally soldering electronics etc for 30+ years(old git I know), there is a knack but not difficult, most has been mentioned but to clarify:

Tin wire and connector, I shake out excess from connector.
Vital point, use a jig, or anything to position the pieces so the cannot fall appart or move.
Vital point, You must heat up the connector AND wire enough for solder to flow, add only a little to the soldering tip to help the heat transfer initially.
After a few seconds you should be able to melt in the required amount of solder in one go, fill up the connector "bucket" around the wire.
The parts must not move for a few seconds, the joint should appear shiny.
Only exception to this, with EC5;s I hold the wire about 2mm out, then quickly push in and then leave it for a few seconds after the main solder flow stage so that the there is minimum wire showing.
It is difficult not to get some solder on the outside of the connector, just scrape off quickly with the hot iron tip until its smooth.

PS Filling the bucket with solder, heating then adding the wire is not a good idea, you need the heat, included solder flux to get it all flowing in one go for best results.

[ggouveia]

thanks for the replies guys,will try and resolder connectors again as suggested.
George