RCCrawler Forums

shelljeep · 01-31-2010, 09:11 PM

It is damn hard to get the plugs into an EC3 connector. :?
You have to push so hard to get them to pop in that I can feel the wire spreading between my finger right where I soldered it. Can't be good for the connection.
The only thing I've come up with so far is to use a spring loaded punch, catch the edge of the plug and use that to POP(pretty brutal) it into the connector. Can't be good for the connection either.
Does anybody boil the connector to soften it before inserting the plugs?
Surely noone is soldering it together with the plugs pre-installed?

JeremyH · 02-01-2010, 05:17 AM

I would definitely insert them while the banana plugs are still warm.

What are you using an EC3 on? Deans are quite a bit easier to work with for batteries and for motors, I just use the banana plugs by themselves (if you need to switch the leads on the motor, no need to unsolder, just swap them).

shelljeep · 02-01-2010, 07:04 AM

I switched to banana (actually 3.5 M/F) on the motor leads and just run the shrinkwrap all the way up so there's no exposed metal, but LOsi uses the EC3 stuff on it's battery connections. So, not knowing any better, I just followed suit. Mebbe I should switch to Deans.
Do most people run Deans on their battery connections? How do they orient neg/pos? Would be cool to be universal with others.

JeremyH · 02-01-2010, 07:23 AM

Yeah....for battery stuff (packs, chargers and input to ESC), I use deans. Always put the female deans on the batteries themselves....male stuff on the ESC input and charger output. I use the fatter side for the positive on Deans. For motor leads and such, I just use regular banana plugs.

Here's a write-up on soldering deans connectors:
http://www.rbgrn.net/content/52-how-...s-lipo-battery

BTW, I've found it helpful when soldering deans, to plug in the opposing connector (if soldering to a female, plug the male into the female)....sometimes, if you heat the metal too long, then it can melt the plastic and the connector can move inside the plastic.

shelljeep · 02-01-2010, 07:55 AM

Thanks Jeremy. That link shows how I do it pretty much, right down to the lighter.

I need a set of helping hands though, the vice is a little overkill.
That was a good tip to use the opposite side connector to hold the on you were soldering.

JeremyH · 02-01-2010, 08:07 AM

Yeah, those helpers are nice. They sell them at Radio Shack for cheap.

01-31-2010, 09:11 PM	#1
shelljeep RCC Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Lafayette Posts: 1,077	Know a trick for popping the plugs into an EC3 connector? It is damn hard to get the plugs into an EC3 connector. :? You have to push so hard to get them to pop in that I can feel the wire spreading between my finger right where I soldered it. Can't be good for the connection. The only thing I've come up with so far is to use a spring loaded punch, catch the edge of the plug and use that to POP(pretty brutal) it into the connector. Can't be good for the connection either. Does anybody boil the connector to soften it before inserting the plugs? Surely noone is soldering it together with the plugs pre-installed?

02-01-2010, 07:23 AM	#4
JeremyH I wanna be Dave Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 16,952	Yeah....for battery stuff (packs, chargers and input to ESC), I use deans. Always put the female deans on the batteries themselves....male stuff on the ESC input and charger output. I use the fatter side for the positive on Deans. For motor leads and such, I just use regular banana plugs. Here's a write-up on soldering deans connectors: http://www.rbgrn.net/content/52-how-...s-lipo-battery BTW, I've found it helpful when soldering deans, to plug in the opposing connector (if soldering to a female, plug the male into the female)....sometimes, if you heat the metal too long, then it can melt the plastic and the connector can move inside the plastic. Last edited by JeremyH; 02-01-2010 at 07:28 AM.

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02-01-2010, 05:17 AM	#2
JeremyH I wanna be Dave Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 16,952	I would definitely insert them while the banana plugs are still warm. What are you using an EC3 on? Deans are quite a bit easier to work with for batteries and for motors, I just use the banana plugs by themselves (if you need to switch the leads on the motor, no need to unsolder, just swap them).

02-01-2010, 07:04 AM	#3
shelljeep RCC Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Lafayette Posts: 1,077	I switched to banana (actually 3.5 M/F) on the motor leads and just run the shrinkwrap all the way up so there's no exposed metal, but LOsi uses the EC3 stuff on it's battery connections. So, not knowing any better, I just followed suit. Mebbe I should switch to Deans. Do most people run Deans on their battery connections? How do they orient neg/pos? Would be cool to be universal with others.

02-01-2010, 07:55 AM	#5
shelljeep RCC Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Lafayette Posts: 1,077	Thanks Jeremy. That link shows how I do it pretty much, right down to the lighter. I need a set of helping hands though, the vice is a little overkill. That was a good tip to use the opposite side connector to hold the on you were soldering.

02-01-2010, 08:07 AM	#6
JeremyH I wanna be Dave Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 16,952	Yeah, those helpers are nice. They sell them at Radio Shack for cheap.

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Thread: Know a trick for popping the plugs into an EC3 connector?