How to connect your HV ESC without sparks

[GordonFreeman]

I'm using 5S with the MM and deans ultra connectors. Sometimes it sparks pretty good (I assume the caps have drained and are now charging instantly) when I connect it up. What's a good way to not wearout your connectors while hooking up? Precharge the cap with something else with a resistor in series? Don't worry about it, replace the deans after awhile?

[kufman]

My vote would be too replace the deans when they wear out. It would be hard to charge the caps and instantly switch over to a different voltage source before the caps drained.

[mugenX5]

I'm using 5S with the MM and deans ultra connectors. Sometimes it sparks pretty good (I assume the caps have drained and are now charging instantly) when I connect it up. What's a good way to not wearout your connectors while hooking up? Precharge the cap with something else with a resistor in series? Don't worry about it, replace the deans after awhile?



Nah man, you need to do lick your fingers before plugging everything in.

There goes the warranty :wave:

[pinolelst]

Don't worry about it.If the deans start showing wear due to the spark replace them.

pinolelst

[Stuart B]

you could precharge the caps with a resistor, I guess 50 or 100 ohms (don't use a diddy 1/4 watt one though, it may get too hot even in such a short duration of curremt, I guess a few watt resistor would be safe, assuming peak current is about 0.425A (4.25V*5/50Ohms=0.425A), 0.425Ax21.25= 9Watts, that will only be a surge power, it will drop as the caps charge).
That would charge the caps in a short enough time. I guess you would have to make a lead with Deans on each end, the resistor between the pos terminals and a wire between the negs. then remove it, and put the battery on directly.

Bit of a faff though

Stu

[Demon-TC3]

if your speed controller has a switch when u turn it off, use the switch rather than unplugging the battery, that way the cap will have some juice in it when u power down and hence wont spark when you power up.

[EvaderRacer76]

Put an on-off switch on the battery... :D :wave:

[Stuart B]

Put an on-off switch on the battery... :D :wave:

good way to melt a switch lol

:)

[Demon-TC3]

no that wont work either you want something that cuts the voltage from the motor so the ESC doesnt draw anything else, when you disconect the battery the esc will still draw and hence you get the spark.

If you can find a way of cutting the draw from the ESC without disconecting the cells, problem solved!


Still its not like Deans are the most expensive cells in the world (places like china sell them for about $1.50 now and they are actually pretty good) i order them in 10's and use em whenever i feel the connections are getting loose or worn.

[pinolelst]

There was an article in this months Quiet Flyer talking about just this phenomena .The author took resistors (I think)and made a shunt from the battery to the esc that could be plugged in just before the main power wires giving the caps a lower voltage charge initially therefore making the spark less when plugging in the full power wires...too much trouble IMHO....Just develop quicker reflexes :D

pinolelst :huh:

[Demon-TC3]

Pssh now why didnt i think of that, if i could cause the plugs to become fully engaged faster than the speed of electricity then i wont get a spark...DUH! :D :p