PSA from Holmes Hobbies Regarding Direct Powered Servos

[Benp]

I found this HH post on the Book of Faces. I just took a screenshot instead of linking for those that don’t have facebook.



Good info. I was not aware of this and it makes sense.

[soze]

I saw this as well.

I have a few direct power servos that I'll be using soon. I plan to just hook them up like I do with the BEC's on the power leads of the ESC.

[HumboldtEF]

I've always though it was asking for trouble hooking anything (other than a charger) up to the balance leads. Nice to know some details behind it.

Now stop being lazy guys, learn to solder already!

Its also kind of shocking that the balance connectors are only rated for 30 unplug cycles, thats way lower than I would have expected.

Thanks for sharing this BTW

[Topher Builds]

Agreed on all fronts ^^

[Panther6834]

All of it makes sense...except point #3 ("balance taps are only rated for 30 unplug cycles"). Every time you charge your battery, you are plugging-in, and unplugging, the balance connector. By point #3, or airways to be indicating that a battery would only be able to be charged 30x, before the balance connector 'fails', and needs to be replaced...unless I am misunderstanding what point #3 is indicating (and, if so, please explain the "correct meaning" of point #3).

As for using external BECs, the ONLY way I install them is by soldering directly to the ESCs battery connector, and then connect to the RX & servo via a HH Rx Bypass Adapter (Rx dual servo bypass adapter in my Class 3 4WS rig).


~ More peace, love, laughter, & kindness would make the world a MUCH better place

[Topher Builds]

Rated for 30 cycles does not mean guaranteed to fail at 30 cycles.

I’m guessing you’re unlikely to see failure that soon but may observe some wear and a looser connection after that much use.

[Panther6834]

Originally Posted by Topher Builds

Rated for 30 cycles does not mean guaranteed to fail at 30 cycles.

I’m guessing you’re unlikely to see failure that soon but may observe some wear and a looser connection after that much use.

Thank you for the clarification. As for "looser connection", is that referring to the wires going into the balance connector? Or the balance connector going into the balance board?

If the first one, I probably don't have to worry much about that. I've installed "balance connector protectors" on almost all my batteries (the ones not-yet-done will be done soon enough...just need to find where I placed those 6S protectors). When pulling the balance connector from the balance board, I'm not tugging on any of the wires, as the protectors clip directly to the balance connector, and provide a much larger "grab" area (compared to just the balance connectors plastic).


~ More peace, love, laughter, & kindness would make the world a MUCH better place