Preferred Connectors

[Scotty T]

What do you guys prefer? EC5's, Deans, or what?

[satsuma]

ECs, great connectors.

[treotraveler]

Originally Posted by Scotty T

What do you guys prefer? EC5's, Deans, or what?

I prefer and use E-flight or Losi EC5s on flight packs, and EC3s on rx packs. I had a Deans fail just prior to lift off, so I will never trust a Deans connector any longer. I was real lucky the Deans failed before getting airborn....

[Geardaddy]

I've been a loyal Deans fan for years.. Never had one hiccup.. I think the trick to deans is soldering them properly, with enough heat.. That being said, I don't like the mini "nuke" explosion when I plug in my 6s packs on my TRex 500, and I've developed some pitting on the blades of the connectors. For that reason, on my 700 that I'll be starting soon, I decided to give Anderson PowerPoles a try.. Ordered 25 of them, and the crimping tool.. I've played with EC5's, and don't care for them because I have a hard time getting them apart.. I'm excited to see how the PowerPoles work..

GD

[Scotty T]

That was my concern. The EC3 are a bastard to get apart. I can't speak to the EC5's cause I never used them but based on the EC3's they were a nightmare. I felt like I had to yank too hard on the connectors / cables.

[motogman]

You still get the pitting / arcing ing the PP's also I have been using these inbetween the Positive connector use it as last heat up connection.

http://www.espritmodel.com/jeti-afc-...-8mm-300a.aspx

well not this large one they have smaller sizes but work great. I use PP's on everything from a 450 on up to a 36% 30 plank pulling 200 amps work great but yeah they pit also

[RobO]

EC5 or EC3, never a problem.

[RV_7A]

Just a quick tip on EC3 and 5s. I always just used the blue housing to hold the female connector on the battery. I then solder the male on the ESC and never install the blue housing on them. They are very easy to plug each wire in separately. Nothing is exposed that could short out. On my 700 I use the deans to connect the batteries to the serial connector and use Castle Creations 5mm connectors to energize the ESC. Works great!



Jeff B

[K2Freak]

I highly recomend using an anti-spark resistor. Your connectors will never scar again...

[Sladex]

Ec5's all the way !

[ddj74]

Never had a problems with Deans. You just need a good soldering iron. I use a 150 watt one from Radio Shack. If you use a weak soldering iron your connector is exposed to heat longer thus melting the connector a little which will make the fit loose. All my Deans connectors have always been very snug fit. Never had one fail which only reason it would fail if you did a poor soldering job.

This is what i use to soldier the connectors on. Makes it quick and easy...

[Strategist]

I know people have used Deans and EC3 connectors on 700s - they absolutely work. And yes, Deans are a LOT easier to connect and disconnect.


However ... The electrical engineer in me could never get past the idea that those connectors are usually only rated for ~60 amps ... And my 700 is constantly operating well above that level. So EC5s for me.

[EC225LP]

EC5's for the flight packs and EC3 for the rx.....

I used deans on my 550 but converted all my packs/ESC's when I got the 700. I recon the EC5's are way better for the HV set up... Deans good for 3s/450's though

[K2Freak]

I ran 200+ amps through Deans for months. Just fine.

[nightflyr]

Originally Posted by K2Freak

I highly recomend using an anti-spark resistor. Your connectors will never scar again...

+1 and APP's will last forever.

[flyinghigh450]

PRC6 connectors from Progressive RC are the best connectors $$ can buy..Also the only connectors rated to handle 200+ Amps ..

[beenflying]

I'm converting all of my larger helis over to the XT90:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s..._5_pairs_.html

I've been using XT60's on all of my smaller helis without any problems, and I was using EC5's on the bigger helis, but I like the XT90 better, especially as they take large wires well and you can use heat shrink to support the weakest point in the lead (where the solder on the wire stops).

[Skidpad]

Originally Posted by Scotty T

That was my concern. The EC3 are a bastard to get apart. I can't speak to the EC5's cause I never used them but based on the EC3's they were a nightmare. I felt like I had to yank too hard on the connectors / cables.

I think it depends on your ec3's...I recently purchased some genuine eflight ec3's and they were very difficult to pull apart initially, so I lubed them with some RadioShack contact/control electrical cleaner/lube (store brand of Deoxit) - they work great now - secure, yet come apart easier. My "clone" ec3's pull apart easier.

[Scotty T]

Originally Posted by Skidpad

I think it depends on your ec3's...I recently purchased some genuine eflight ec3's and they were very difficult to pull apart initially, so I lubed them with some RadioShack contact/control electrical cleaner/lube (store brand of Deoxit) - they work great now - secure, yet come apart easier. My "clone" ec3's pull apart easier.

Interesting, I'll have to give that a try.

[jimbo4510]

on my 700 i use ec5 for flight packs and deans for rx on my 500 and below xt60s ec5 are a pain and i have had deans melt on some of my rc cars but they where during massive amps through them