On brushless, can you use deans 3 pin plugs?

[bob2300NX]

Hey everyone, on the wires can I but a deans 3 pin plug? That would make it easyer to swap the motor and what not. I plan on getting a Feigao/nemesis 5408408S and a UF, what all do I need to get it runing? Basicly what plugs I need and anything else needed.

[DaFF]

I don't think so.

The deans 3 pins connector Amp rating should be very low looking at the size of the pins. I think below 20 Amp, which means BBQued in less than a second on a short burst of a brushless :D

FYI, the U-Force have connectors to the motor, which means there is no need to additional connector because you'll be able to swap motor with this esc. The UF use 3x PK 3.5 gold plated conector.

DFF

[mtrsprt]

If I am correct. Even though the pins do not look wide enough, they are a solid square block of gold plated pins, that if flatened, would have the same surface area of the Ultra connector(which is wide, but thin, if you look at it). I thought I read somewhere that they flow the same amount as Ultra connectors, but allow use of wiring with three connections.

[DaFF]

They are rated to 18 Amp indeed. See it here:

http://www.parkflyermotors.com/secure/shop/item.asp?itemid=149&catid=24

BTW, the ultra dean have rectangular section with a spring while those around round ( small round bar ).

DFF

[mtrsprt]

So much for those!!!!!! Like you said, he shoudn't need them anyway.

[Intellion]

I have a different opinion...

I've been using the Dean's 4 pin plugs on my battery/ESC connection for around 6+ years now. I have used them with stock motor setups, as well as 9 turn modified motor setups. Here's a few observations and facts/logic.

1. The current between battery and ESC is ALWAYS HIGHER then the current between the ESC and motor. Because the current from the battery to the ESC includes the motor current and the radio electronics current.

2. I have never, during any point ever noticed low current to my motors due to my battery connector. Nor has the battery connector ever heated up in any way. This shows me the current in my setup was not too large for those connectors, and negligible power was lost in the connector.

3. The 9 turn motors would draw FAR MORE current then 20-40 amps when the throttle was punched from a dead stop. This was a peak current situation and the connector I used never bottlenecked my performance.

4. I connected 2 wires to the +, and 2 wires to the - on my battery/esc connection. The 4 pin Deans connector looks similar to the 3 pin connector, just with one less pin. So I had 2 connectors for each wire to share the current load. With the brushless, 2 wires out of the 3 at any one time have current, so a 3 pin connector in that setup will give you half of the pin connection that I have used in my setups, this is worth considering. But my personal opinion is that it would work fine as long as your connectors have a solid connection, I.E. not worn out.

I would bet there is a good chance it's fine to use Dean's 3 pin and the 20 amp spec is for continuous current (not the typical case in cars). Brushless motors are more efficient, that means they MUST use less current overall then brushed. The battery is the same voltage, so the longer run time must be attributed to lower overal current usage.

[TheSteve]

I think DFF called it, the U-Force already has PP 3.5 connectors - use them, they are great. Do take care when soldering on the males though - remove the little spring barrel and then pop it back on after you've soldered and cleaned the plugs. No sense in spending good money on a brushless system only to give up performance with a poor connector choice or poor solder connections.
Any connector not rated at atleast 50 amps constant will add measurable loss...