Battery Connectors
 

Hi there
What Battery connectors do people suggest using between the battery + ESC (4S to a MMM w/ 2650kV in 1/8 Buggy). Polarity 'protected' preferably, but not really important.

Thanks
Simon

You should use deans, ec5 or 6.5mm bullet connectors.

How do Deans stand up, because I've heard that they can be a little small for BL conversions?

THey are fine, most peopple us them


As stated EC5's are good or 6.5mm bullets. also TRX connectors are good from what i hear

I don't like traxxas connectors. They seem bulky, lots of extra plastic.

I think I'll have to give the Losi connectors a go - they seem good, and I like gold tubes, just I need something that's quick to change, and if they can't be plugged in wrongly then that's always good!

Ok. Let us know how they do.

45A powerpoles. i used them even in 1/18 but switched to much smaller deans, but in 1/8 trucks connector size is not really an issue

sounds like you have been listening to some boaters....I have had debates with some guys on the boat forums they say they will only use bullet connectors. I have used Ultra Deans, they are rated @ 75 amps and I have put over 120 amps through them before with no problems. One thing about boat setups though is if they race they are limited to 4s and so they have to use a high turn motor which will draw a lot of amps

I know for a fact that people have seen amp spikes double that run through deans with no problems :yes:

been using deans since they came out with the ultra plug, they work great and are capable of mass amounts of current. i ran both my 4 wheelers on 7-9 turn motors and lipos, then later 3.5's and gtb's with no problems at all. pretty sure those setups were in excess of 75A regularly. plus they are REALLY hard to dead short your battery as opposed to bullets...... dont ask how i know.

Anyone got pictures of their batteries with connectors fitted?

Some of the 25C and 30C higher capacity batteries have some big wires to try and solder onto the Deans connectors.

What I would like to see is something like the deans but twice the size for easier fitting/soldering as well as current capacity. The extra weight will not matter on 1/8th or trucks.

Brow

+1!

I've been saying that for a while now, except just around 40-50% bigger. Deans are good, but some of today's more powerful BL setups would probably work better with larger contacts. Another gripe about Deans is the small finger pulling area (esp on the male side). Hobbycity has imitation Deans that have a larger grip area, but those aren't available locally.

And while we're wishing, how about a three pole Deans? Would be nice for the motor connection.

No matter what, a polarized solution is needed on the battery to prevent accidental reverse polarity. Also, a captured method is needed so they don't short together if a stray metal object on the bench happens to touch them. Even heatshrunk, bullets are still a little too exposed for batteries IMO. The motor wires are no big deal since they are "omni-polar" (lol, I think I just made up a new word! :smile:).

Ok, we obviously have enough pull, generally as a hobby, to get stuff like 1\8th brushless RTR and kits/conversions so how do we get our 'bigger Deans' ?

Maybe Lutach can chime in here as he seems to be good at getting alternative equipment that we need and want.

Googling Omni-polar only pulled up stuff on Omnipolar without the hyphen so I think we can give you credit BrianG for naming our brushless motor connections. lol.

Brow

Personally I'm a fan of the Traxxas connectors. I've sldered 10ga to them without much of a problem, 12ga is better though. I use the Deans Ultra plugs on my 1/18 scale car, much better than stock and allowed for racing but PITA to solder!

There is sort of a trick to soldering deans. Add a small amount of solder to both sides of the tabs, put a small amount of solder flux on the side that you will be attatching the wire to. With the pretinned wire in place, apply the soldering iron to the other side of the tab, and there should form a continuous bond between the wire and the tab after the flux sizzles and boils away. Works every time, even with 10 gauge wire.

Good to know!

I can solder up Deans in half the time it takes to solder and assemble a Traxxas connector. 10ga. isn't a problem with Deans, and I'd hate to try 10ga. myself with the Traxxas connectors.

It's surprising that W.S. Deans Co. has not put out a larger Deans plug. Even if it is not really needed, I'd bet that most people running HV or 1/8th applications would switch - that would help them sell more product. And as I'm sure all of us know, switching connectors often is a massive undertaking. Lots of plugs to change. Lots of money to be spent.