electricity 101

[XLR8]

So, dumb question the first:

I need to get 8s power and there are two connectors attached to the ESC.
I have 4 x 2s batteries so I'm thinking that I can make two adapter cables as shown below.
Could someone please confirm that I am wiring this correctly? This should be simple but I've never done it before and I'd rather not burn down the house.
Thanks!!

Also, what gauge wire should I be using for these adapter cables?

thanks again!!!

[coxbros1]

correct....i would think 12 gauge would be ok

[jwscab]

can the esc handle 8s?

12 gauge is probably fine as mentioned. be sure to heatshrink and insulate every thing very well. a short circuit anywhere there could cause major issues.

[duckhead]

I need to get 8s power and there are two connectors attached to the ESC.

You can't just make this statement and not tell us what you are up to!

[XLR8]

correct....i would think 12 gauge would be ok

Awesome, thank you Derek.

I reckon someone who lives in "Energy" should know a thing or two about electricity.

[XLR8]

I need to get 8s power and there are two connectors attached to the ESC.

You can't just make this statement and not tell us what you are up to!

Oh, yes I can.

Actually, I'm working on a post for the 21st Century Modern forum. You're probably going to be disappointed as it's not a buggy or a speed run vehicle.
Anyway, I'll post something on it in the near future.

[XLR8]

can the esc handle 8s?

12 gauge is probably fine as mentioned. be sure to heatshrink and insulate every thing very well. a short circuit anywhere there could cause major issues.

Thanks Joe. Yes, Spektrum rates this Firma 160 amp ESC for 3s - 8s.
While I have you here, do you think it will matter much if my batteries aren't perfectly matched. I have a pair that's 5000mah 30c and a pair that's 5200mah 35c.
Is there a chance it could go

If so then maybe I should spend a few bucks and buy the correct batteries.

thanks Joe.

[jwscab]

Yeah that will stress the cells unfortunately. They will have a fairly different internal impedance. You should match the cells, and then balance charge them as an assembly if you can.

What will happen is the weakest most resistive cell will get heated up.

[XLR8]

Yeah that will stress the cells unfortunately. They will have a fairly different internal impedance. You should match the cells, and then balance charge them as an assembly if you can.

What will happen is the weakest most resistive cell will get heated up.

Hmmm, that's good to know.
I'm gonna need to give this more thought. I really didn't want to buy more batteries but maybe there's no way around it.
I didn't even consider balance charging them together but that makes perfect sense.

thanks again.

[XLR8]

FWIW, I just ordered a 2-pack AWANFI 5000mah, 3s, 60c from Amazon. Not familiar with this brand but plenty of good reviews so we'll see. Scheduled to arrive on Monday.
I went with 3s so I could run them in other vehicles as well.
Also noticed there's lots of Deans connectors haters out there, what's up with that? What's everyone running for battery connectors these days?

[GoMachV]

Deans got a bad rap because most of the “deans” connectors you see today are Chinese knockoffs and they melt. The ones on your awanfi will be Chinese knockoffs. I haven’t seen a real deans have a meltdown, but the knockoffs are junk.

[juicedcoupe]

Also noticed there's lots of Deans connectors haters out there, what's up with that? What's everyone running for battery connectors these days?

IMHO, there is nothing wrong with a Deans connector. I think the problems that most people have link directly back to poor soldering skills.

Then throw in cheap Chinese copies, made with inferior materials.

If you ever look closely at a Traxxas plug, it is basically a flat version of a Deans.

Now, I do think that the cupped section for wire attachment on EC and XT connectors is better. And the modular design allows the terminals to be soldered to the wires without rising damage to the housing.

Personally, I think that Anderson Power Poles (Litespeed) are the best. But I don't use them often because they are kinda bulky and troublesome to get apart. They can be soldered and/or crimped, and are available in multiple sizes.

On my older stuff that doesn't get run hard, I still use Molex (Tamiya) connectors. With the right tools, crimp installation is a snap. And nothing is easier or quicker.

[RC10th]

Chinese Deans are the problem, and like Jeff said real Deans plugs rarely have any issues. Like also mentioned a lot of problems stem from poor soldering and bad connections.

[XLR8]

Actually, I'm guessing that most of my batteries have Chinese Deans connectors (or Chin-Deans connectors? sorry, I just made that up ) and I've yet to have a problem with any of them which is why I thought it was odd there were so many complaints. To be honest however, I don't think any of my vehicles actually draw a tremendous amount of current so the connectors likely are not being taxed too heavily.
This Spektrum ESC has IC5 so I'll just go ahead and swap out the AWANFI Chin-Deans connectors when the batteries arrive. I only have one other vehicle that I would seriously consider running 3s so I can go ahead and change its ESC to IC5 as well. Also, by keeping Deans on my 2s vehicles and IC5 on the 3s ones, this could head-off any temptation I might have to run my precious RC10's on 3s. I know running 3s in a vintage buggy will break parts.

Anyway, thanks everyone for your comments, this has been very educational.

[XLR8]

So the 3s batteries arrived today. I'll get those Deans connectors swapped to IC5 next.

One of the packs came with a voltage checker:

I've been using a Hitec Multi Charger with 4 independently programable charge stations...

... that can balance charge 6 cells per station.

I prefer to balance charge my 2s packs. In fact, I've never charged them any other way.
I believe I could make a serial connector to charge both 3s packs from a single station but I'm curious about balance charging them. Is it possible to alter the charger's balance port configuration so that it can connect with all 6 cells from both packs?