are deans plugs the way to go

[vintagerc10]

Hello all,
I recently receieved my new promatch energ 4600 7-cell battery and had my first run on my re-buildt RC10t. I'm running a dynamite tazer 15t esc and a new 17t motor. I was maybe 5 minutes into my bashing session when the truck just stopped. Turns out one of the wire connectors (tamiya plug?) popped out of the plug and the wire was so hot it was about to melt.

I ran the same battery in my stock rustler (same connector type) with no problems.

I'm wondering if the stock connector on the tazer esc (brand new) is somehow faulty. I know the tamiya plugs have a higher resistance which can lead to heat build-up.

Is it worth the time and effort to switch my batteries and esc's to deans? Any other ideas of what could cause the massive heat build up?

thanks

[shodog]

Regardless of which plug you decide on, you have to get rid of the Tamiya style conector.

I run Deans on all my stuff and like them a lot. Other like power poles and they are a few other quality plugs out there.

[aconsola]

I run the powerpoles myself. They were cheaper than deans, and available in bulk lots from HAM radio suppliers as they use them as their standard powersupply connectors.
I like that they are genderless, so you always have the right connector. I did however one time try charging a battery in the car, and in my haste plugged the charger into the ESC. I Let the magic smoke out of the ESC with that stroke of brilliance.

The racers locally seem to all use "deans". Apparently the ultra plugs are now available from makers other than deans ie chinese knockoffs on ebay. The ebay ones as you might imagine are rather inexpensive, but they look the same. The ebay ones apparently fit together tighter than the real thing and are preffered by many as they say they are less likely to come apart on their own in a crash. I have not tried them myself to confirm.

[scr8p]

deans seem to be the ones most people like to use. i always used sermos (power poles) when i started racing (1991), then switched to direct solder shortly after. i still have sermos on evrything that isn't "racing" related.

when i get back to oval racing, the dodc spec lipo pack use deans and you cannot change them. so, i'll have to use them on those cars.

[fakiee]

You can buy the cheap ones from here: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10788

I have purchased from there before, all of the items are sourced from different suppliers so shipping can take a long time. They do have free shipping and paypal for security.

Careful though, I tend to get pulled in by all the crap they have on there and end up buying loads of stuff I didn't need!

[Bormac]

Back in my early racing days I started like most with the humble Tamiya style connector. After melting them together one too many times I decided to look into what other racers were using. I then moved onto the first version of the DEANS connector the '4 pin'. While these handled current a little better they could easily be reversed ( not plugged in) and would sometimes arc. They were small though and somepeople still like to use them today for motor connectors. Then came the DEANS 'ULTRA' plug. These are very hardy units and I am still yet to see one have any kind of problem. The plastic which the plug is molded from is very tough and while a soldering iron at full temp will melt it they dont seem to be bothered by even the highest of current draw. They are also still quite compact and in my opinion a fool proof way of keeping a good connection for your batteries etc... They also cant be reversed and damage your expensive electrics.
It depends on the application though, my saddle pack 'SUB C' packs were fitted with 'CORALLY' style brass tubes. These do away with the extra wire and plugs making for a very neat fit when room in your chassis is at a minimum.
The best way to make up your mind would be to head track side. This is a great way of learning because racers are always looking for a faster and more reliable way to do everything. No one wants to have a car stop dead on the track from a melted 'Tamiya plug'.

[aconsola]

You can buy the cheap ones from here: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.10788

I have purchased from there before, all of the items are sourced from different suppliers so shipping can take a long time. They do have free shipping and paypal for security.

Careful though, I tend to get pulled in by all the crap they have on there and end up buying loads of stuff I didn't need!

Nice!
I got come connectors, and a 6v bec, a fresh battery for my cell phone, an external antenna for my garmin gps, and . . .
lots of neat stuff on there.

[fakiee]

Nice!
I got come connectors, and a 6v bec, a fresh battery for my cell phone, an external antenna for my garmin gps, and . . .
lots of neat stuff on there.

[Bugle]

I like that they are genderless, so you always have the right connector. I did however one time try charging a battery in the car, and in my haste plugged the charger into the ESC. I Let the magic smoke out of the ESC with that stroke of brilliance.

lol i've done that too, but it didn't cook the speedo. I've also plugged 2 batteries into each other

[aconsola]

I like that they are genderless, so you always have the right connector. I did however one time try charging a battery in the car, and in my haste plugged the charger into the ESC. I Let the magic smoke out of the ESC with that stroke of brilliance.

lol i've done that too, but it didn't cook the speedo. I've also plugged 2 batteries into each other

It wasn't a total loss, I burnt out the BEC circuit. So I bypassed it and only use that controller in 4-cell cars. I Always take the battery out of the vehicle when charging now though.

[RER40]

After being out of the hobby for a number of years it blew me away that Tamiya plugs were still being utilized, but knowing that maching-crimping is more easily utilized in mass production and that the plugs are a dime-a-dozen I guess it shouldn't have surprised me.

BUT, in the same manner that nobody that upgraded anything used them 20 years ago and went instead with the original Dean 4-pins, it would be highly advisable to go with the newer Deans Ultras available today.

[catch 10]

though deans are more expensive there are better for one reason, they have the least amount of resistance of any other plug on the market and more resistance means less power and we all know what less power means!!!

[Four]

though deans are more expensive there are better for one reason, they have the least amount of resistance of any other plug on the market and more resistance means less power and we all know what less power means!!!

This is my understanding as well. I started out with the Tamiya connectors and used to melt them all the time. Then I went to Sermos/powerpole connector back in the 90s. When I upgraded to brushless I was told I would have to upgrade my connectors as well and IIRC, and please correct me if I am wrong, the Power poles will only hold about 30amps and the Deans will do around 100amps. Since upgrading, I have had no problems other than the soldering, which I stink at.

From my new found learning here and other forums, back in the day when we ran stock 27T motors, it didnt really make that much of a difference between the Power poles and the deans as we werent pulling that much current out of the batteries that either connector couldnt handle it. Now times have changed.

[Bugle]

I'm still running power poles with brushless down to 3 turns with no problems.

[MONSTER]

I "heard somewhere", that the Ultras have less resistance than Wire (just what I "heard"). I guess that would depend on the Wire, huh?

But about the PowerPoles, are the Reusable?? I have collected quite a few. Some have a little PigTail of wire still on them, and some are snipped right at the Connector. We tried to get some apart, but couldnt figure how/if it could be done. Is there a Trick, or are they "One-Time-Use Only"?

PS. If I use the PigTail ones by just Soldering the "Tail" to the Wires from an ESC or Motor, would the Resistance of the Solder Joint cancel out the Benifits of the Plug itself?