Best Connectors?

[domp444]

By the way. I use these saftey caps over the male plug coming out of the battery when you are storing and transporting. They fit perfectly over the 5.5's.

http://kintecracing.com/Electrical.html

Safety Caps Reusable rubber caps that keeps your bullet connectors from arcing to each other or any other metal object.
Approx 1 3/4 long. .75 cents per pair, or 16 caps for $5.00.

Yup, I'm ordering those as well! They should come in handy while transporting. I'm actually getting all of my plugs and shrink wrap from Kintec.

[tharmer]

I had all my plugs covered but it's amazing that it can still happen. Another tip...don't ever be talking when hooking up your batteries!
T

[electric]

I had all my plugs covered but it's amazing that it can still happen. Another tip...don't ever be talking when hooking up your batteries!
T

Chuckle. Been there. You only have to experience that POP and the arc weld that occurs to your connector a few times to get your attention. That noise will stop all conversations dead in their tracks...

[egneg]

Oh alright, thanks. Much better than spending $80. Haha.

Can I use this solder...

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062712

And also, the Team Checkpoint one comes with that sponge thing, do I need one of those or not?

That solder is fine. The sponge is used to keep the tip clean, I just use an old piece of scotchbrite when the tip is warmed up.

[forescott]

Use these and you will have no problems. No shrink needed. Just solder and snap in. Easy to remove and re-use too. HK has em for a couple of bucks a pair. EC-5 connector

[BHChieftain]

Oh I see. Now I get why it's important to cover the whole female end with shrink wrap.

And with shrink wrap, can I simply use a hair dryer to shrink it?

I have a gas burning stove and hold the wire with the wrap about 6 inches above the flame, passing it back and forth... just be careful not to burn it...

Chief

[BHChieftain]

Another tip on soldering bullet connectors-- get a piece of wood and drill shallow holes in it that are just big enough to hold the connectors with about 1/2 of the connector sticking up above the hole. Enables you to easily solder with just 2 hands...

1) tin the wire
2) put the connector in the wood jig, and cut a piece of solder and put it in the bottom of the bullet connector
3) using plyers, hold the wire on top of the connector with the piece of solder in it. don't worry that it won't fit yet... just make contact so the wire will absorb heat from step 4...
4) heat the side of the bullet connector (not the wire)-- the solder will melt, and the solder from the tinned wire will melt, and you can then press the wire into the connector. Keep the heat on for a few seconds to ensure all the solder has melted in the wire to avoid a cold solder joint
5) remove the heat and hold it really still for a minute


happy soldering,

Chief

[domp444]

Use these and you will have no problems. No shrink needed. Just solder and snap in. Easy to remove and re-use too. HK has em for a couple of bucks a pair. EC-5 connector

I'm going to be wiring the batteries in series, so wouldn't it be better (with less resistance, I think) to just use 5.5mm bullet nuts?

I have a gas burning stove and hold the wire with the wrap about 6 inches above the flame, passing it back and forth... just be careful not to burn it...

Chief

That'll work. But, can I also use a hair dryer? I think it would be easier for me.

Another tip on soldering bullet connectors-- get a piece of wood and drill shallow holes in it that are just big enough to hold the connectors with about 1/2 of the connector sticking up above the hole. Enables you to easily solder with just 2 hands...

1) tin the wire
2) put the connector in the wood jig, and cut a piece of solder and put it in the bottom of the bullet connector
3) using plyers, hold the wire on top of the connector with the piece of solder in it. don't worry that it won't fit yet... just make contact so the wire will absorb heat from step 4...
4) heat the side of the bullet connector (not the wire)-- the solder will melt, and the solder from the tinned wire will melt, and you can then press the wire into the connector. Keep the heat on for a few seconds to ensure all the solder has melted in the wire to avoid a cold solder joint
5) remove the heat and hold it really still for a minute


happy soldering,

Chief

I think that's how it was shown in a YouTube video I saw. Only they filled the inside of the bullet plug with hot solder, then they got the wire, reheated the solder and pushed the wire in. It was very similar to what you explained.

Oh and I'm gonna order that soldering station I mentioned in my first post. It looks cool and I think it'll come in handy in the future.

Thanks for all the helpful tips Chief!

[domp444]

I had all my plugs covered but it's amazing that it can still happen. Another tip...don't ever be talking when hooking up your batteries!
T

Got it, no talking while plugging in 5.5mm plugs. Haha

Chuckle. Been there. You only have to experience that POP and the arc weld that occurs to your connector a few times to get your attention. That noise will stop all conversations dead in their tracks...

It's happened before, when I first got my batteries. I soon learned that the two tips of the battery should not come in contact. It did not look good. And scared us all. So now I know not to let those touch.

That solder is fine. The sponge is used to keep the tip clean, I just use an old piece of scotchbrite when the tip is warmed up.

Alright, sounds good. I'll pick that up when I get my solder.

Thanks for all the tips guys!

[BHChieftain]

I think the hair dryer should work too. Can also use a lighter in a pinch...

[oscarel]

Yup, I'm ordering those as well! They should come in handy while transporting. I'm actually getting all of my plugs and shrink wrap from Kintec.

I use the female bullet for the positive and use "ClosetMaid End Cap for Maximum Load Wire Shelving" from Lowes to cover them, Item #: 116167 | Model #: 93578 and you get about 20 for less than $4.00. Also for a heat gun if you have a Harbor Freight close they almost always have one that's very good for less than $10.

[domp444]

I think the hair dryer should work too. Can also use a lighter in a pinch...

Yeah I don't see a problem with the hairdryer, as long as it heats it right?

I use the female bullet for the positive and use "ClosetMaid End Cap for Maximum Load Wire Shelving" from Lowes to cover them, Item #: 116167 | Model #: 93578 and you get about 20 for less than $4.00. Also for a heat gun if you have a Harbor Freight close they almost always have one that's very good for less than $10.

Thanks! I think I'm just gonna get the plugs from Kintec with all the other stuff I order. And as for the soldering iron, I'm gonna get the one from Radio Shack, it looks good enough to me. Also, no Harbor Freight around. Haha.

[domp444]

And so that bring me to my next question...

Which plugs on positive and which on negative?

Female bullet on positive and Male on negative?

[BHChieftain]

And so that bring me to my next question...

Which plugs on positive and which on negative?

Female bullet on positive and Male on negative?

Convention is for Battery side, female is positive, male is negative.
You are asking most of the questions I asked about 4 months ago...


Chief

[domp444]

Convention is for Battery side, female is positive, male is negative.
You are asking most of the questions I asked about 4 months ago...


Chief

Thanks! Haha, yeah I'm just starting to really get into this hobby. I've had my SV27 for a while now, but never really worked on it or changed anything. I would pull it out of the water, drain my NiMH batteries and the inside of my boat, and go for another run. Ahaha, I've learnt that that isn't a very good way of running it.

So on the ESC side it would just be opposite, correct? Red wire would be male, and black would be female.