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Post by Dillzio on Jul 29, 2010 14:26:30 GMT 1
Hi gang,
Since all the batteries from hobbyking are coming with XT60 connectors now, i've decided to change over to these newer style plugs. I've now changed the plugs over on my charger, parallel charging array, double adaptor (for charging two batteries at once) and my wattmeter. I've also made an adaptor to go from the XT60 on the charger to deans. This way I can still charge my batteries with the deans connectors I'm still using on my radio, and all my other connectors for the charger connect to deans as well.
The XT60s, while slightly bigger than the deans, are easier to connect and disconnect and are also easier to solder than the deans, since the terminals are curved (like the wires), and have a cup at the base that can be filled with solder.
So, who else has made the switch?
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Post by 900dukess on Jul 30, 2010 11:37:01 GMT 1
I have been thinking about doing the swap, but might wait until my stock of deans plugs run out, those xt60 plugs do look good
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Post by Dillzio on Aug 5, 2010 10:47:43 GMT 1
Come on guys, don't be bashful. I'm interested to see if the new connectors the batteries are coming with are pressuring people to change to XT60, or if you'd rather just change the connectors on the battery.
I'm also interested to know which connector is the most popular, so please vote on my poll:
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Post by ginginho on Aug 5, 2010 11:25:24 GMT 1
Just to stop you bleating, I've voted.  Still on Dean's, why you may ask. Well, all my (bigger) packs are fitted with them, as are my models. I've not bought a pack for nearly a year. Small 2S (500-800mAh) use JST's, although I will (at some point) migrate to micro-deans, when I get a roundtuit. Why am I doing that, the JSTs are rated to 7A, I have a couple of applications that will draw about 10. What's a micro-dean? This is. |
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Post by john66 on Aug 19, 2010 10:36:20 GMT 1
Using Deans, but really not keen on how difficult they are to pull apart. Its often difficult to stop the battery getting a jolt when seperating them, I find. Which as we all know, can't be good for lipos!
John
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Post by killioughtta on Aug 19, 2010 14:37:40 GMT 1
I really hate how difficult to solder Deans are. I'm also considering XT60 and EC3. I hear those are very good. I also hear good things about APP plugs but I don't even know where to buy them or how much they are. If they're not available locally, I have no use for them since I often find myself having done something stupid like forget to order more female connectors for my batteries after the order took 2 weeks to arrive.  I'm also interested on what SCC members use and why? |
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huggy
Flying officer
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Post by huggy on Aug 19, 2010 16:20:14 GMT 1
 I'm using these XT Deans style connectors, which have better grip for connecting / disconnecting than the original. Not the same as XT60, as you can see, but very strong and effective, easy enough to solder (thanks to mrmugen's YouTube vid!) and very cheap in the UK at under £3 for 10 pairs from GiantCod.co.uk. |
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Post by Dillzio on Aug 20, 2010 5:21:09 GMT 1
I'm using these XT Deans style connectors, which have better grip for connecting / disconnecting than the original. Not the same as XT60, as you can see, but very strong and effective, easy enough to solder (thanks to mrmugen's YouTube vid!) and very cheap in the UK at under £3 for 10 pairs from GiantCod.co.uk. I think they're still called Deans plugs, i've noticed that some variants do have those grips on them |
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Post by SCC on Aug 20, 2010 7:30:49 GMT 1
Deans for me. I like how tough they are to get apart.
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Post by toff on Aug 20, 2010 17:09:17 GMT 1
I love the XT deans from Giantcod.co.uk! Easy to pull apart, and even easier to solder! If theres going to be a mass migration to the new style, I'll be at the back, as I've got loads of deans left!  |
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scott
Flying officer
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Post by scott on Oct 4, 2010 3:41:02 GMT 1
I use EC3 but I am considering changing because of how difficult some of them are to pull apart. It's hard to switch once you've committed to one style already. The XT60 is very similar to EC3 only the XT60 is easier to pull apart. EC3 doesn't require shrink tube over the connection which is good.
IMO:
EC3 - Would be the best connector if they all (some are) were easier to pull apart. You get a 360 degree solder joint on your wire because of the "cup" like connection area. Also, no need to use shrink tube because the "bullets" slide into the plastic connector and are protected.
XT60 - Same as EC3 except you need shrink tube to cover exposed wire. From what I've seen are easier to pull apart. Also uses bullet connectors for a good easy to solder 360 degree joint.
Deans - Seem to be the most popular but I think this is only due to the fact that they were here before the XT60 and EC3. If they were introduced after either the XT60 or the EC3 I don't think we would even be having this discussion. More difficult to solder. Does not have a "cup" area to easily get a 360 solder joint. You must use shrink tube to cover solder joints. Are sometimes difficult to get apart.
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Post by leisureshoot on Oct 4, 2010 4:00:36 GMT 1
There was a good "how-to"article in AMA magazine this month about a better way to solder to Dean's plugs. It uses 5/32" OD brass piece of tube from the hobby store. You make two cuts into the brass in the shape of a a "T" with a dremel, and you end up with a short piece you flatten with needle nose pliers and solder onto the Dean's bar, and the remaining tube is still a circle that you put the wire end into and solder. It was a good solution to a difficult solder job. HEre's a bad picture of one that I found online at a hobby store that is selling them:  Here's a quick photoshop, showing how you cut the pipe. The cut half goes over the Dean's post and gets flattened.  |
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Post by killioughtta on Oct 4, 2010 5:51:25 GMT 1
I switched to XT60s last month. Best decision yet. The ONLY precaution I have to have when working with XT60s is to be careful not to keep the iron on the plug too long or it will melt the plastic a little; just enough to soften the bond or hold on the metal plug and it will slide out of place and render the whole plug useless.
They are almost as hard to pull apart as Deans Ultras but have a grip. Soldering is very easy, too. And they're dirt cheap and available locally -- my LHS buys them from HK and sells them here o.o
While on that note: My LHS buys GravityHobby batteries and sells them for the same price as GravityHobby.com. The way the can do that and still make a profit is that they have a reseller deal with GH, who is from Miami, too! So they pick up directly at the GH warehouse so they don't pay shipping either. Great deal for us since GH batteries, while not cheaper than HK, are still d**n cheap compared to TP and PZ batteries.
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Post by dazedandconfused on Oct 4, 2010 22:28:31 GMT 1
The ONLY precaution I have to have when working with XT60s is to be careful not to keep the iron on the plug too long or it will melt the plastic a little; just enough to soften the bond or hold on the metal plug and it will slide out of place and render the whole plug useless. This was one of the reasons I switched to EC-3 Plugs. You solder the wire into the brass fitting and let it cool before you insert it into the plastic plug. (No Melting) SC still has a Deans plug on it but I just use an adapter to go to EC-3s |
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Post by iflyforfun on Oct 5, 2010 3:57:55 GMT 1
The ONLY precaution I have to have when working with XT60s is to be careful not to keep the iron on the plug too long or it will melt the plastic a little; just enough to soften the bond or hold on the metal plug and it will slide out of place and render the whole plug useless. This was one of the reasons I switched to EC-3 Plugs. You solder the wire into the brass fitting and let it cool before you insert it into the plastic plug. (No Melting) SC still has a Deans plug on it but I just use an adapter to go to EC-3s I am EC3 all the way. A short video of how I solder my EC3's  |
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