Deans or Powerpole connectors

[eVaDeR85]

Out of the above connectors which do you guys recommend the most? Which one might have the least resistance.

[dalejrfan8]

The deans are a lot smaller than the powerpoles but the powerpoles are easier to pull apart, I think. There probably isn't much difference in the resistance. Both are zero loss and the difference won't be noticeable if there is any.

[redheat8]

Personally I like Deans, been using them for some time now and have been very happy with them, RED

[Cain]

I have used both. Deans are a pain to assemble. Probably why there pigtails are popular. You will run more wire with deans just by the nature of the connector ( both wires to one connector.

Power poles are bigger than deans. You don't have mail and female connectors so you can just buy a batch and go. You can run shorter connections as each connector goes to each wire and they don't have to be joined together. Very easy to assemble.

I run powerpoles over deans unless its a micro vehicle. And then i just use regular deans.

If this is for a motor connection however, I do prefer to run deans as they stay together better. Right now however, I don't use any connectors to the motor but those who like to swap them out fast will do this.

[eVaDeR85]

Ok thanx guys I think im going to go with the powerpole connectors. I can get them off tower hobbies for $3.49 for 4 of them so im going to get 8 connectors. This should cover my battery connections, and my charger wires. As for the motor im probably going to hardwire it for the time being.

[Cain]

I think tower has a deal on 10 connectors. Check and see, may be a bit cheaper and you have some spare connectors if necessary.

[RCHavok797]

Another vote for Powerpole connectors but either is a good choice.

[ducati777]

I just started to use deans, I've had powerpole on everything before. Problem is my LHS doesn't have powerpole, so time to switch up.

Powerpole:Good design, big plug. Cool that you can use them for 1 to many wires in a single plug, and you build them like legos. They're easy to pull apart, and when you solder them, they're outside the plastic housing. Thats nice, since you can get nutters with the solder and not damage the housing.

However, they're not very reusuable. With a lot of work sometimes you can, but I've had problems. usually I just use a new plug rather than try and reuse an old one. They're also really good for hooking up to anyone's charger that has alligator clips. If your charger fries, you can likely use a buddies if you have to.

Now....

Deans: Been using them for about a week. Difficult to solder IMO, and I burnt my fingers a couple times. Also, when you solder the metal is in the plastic housing, and while it seemed to turn out okay, I like to really heat things up when I solder.

They're a bear to unplug. But the plug is smaller than powerpole, maybe I'm using small ones, don't know really... and they make a tidy clean package. Without any measurement, the look like they provide a better connection due to higher surface area between the plugs. I've got the female end on the batteries, I'm not sure if there is any standard to whether the battery is male or female, but it seems like a reduced short hazard to make the battery female. I can't charge with alligator clips, so I keep a spare male handy.

If they made smaller powerpoles, and my LHS carried them, I'd probably be all over it. For now I'm using a deans... hope this helps.

[eVaDeR85]

Well ive already ordered some Powerpole connectors, enough for my battery, motor and charger plus I wont have to worry about changing them over to something else very much seeing as how im just a back-yard basher as of right now.

[hooligan1]

i like the powerpoles

[thedominator]

I also like powerpoles. I noticed that if you use them apart that it is easier for them to come apart during a really hard wreck. Connecting the two together seems like it helps the plugs from coming apart.

[Battlepack]

There is also a 45amp version that has a better terminal for lower resistance.
thanks
Steve
www.battlepack.com

I also like powerpoles. I noticed that if you use them apart that it is easier for them to come apart during a really hard wreck. Connecting the two together seems like it helps the plugs from coming apart.

[paulct]

My son and I share batteries. He can't pull apart the Deans. We went with powerpoles. They are incredibly easy to assemble compared to the deans.

If you are using the really soft wire (like Wet Noodle) it can be hard to insert the powerpole connector in the plastic housing. The wire just smushes up on you. Get the right size small screwdriver, and gently push on the metal part as you insert.

One other warning on the powerpoles. During assembly, sometimes you get the "click" and think its in. But check the front, the rounded end MUST be over the flat metal piece that is in the plastic housing. I had one back off during a race because it did not click all the way in.

The resistance difference between the two probably is negligible, and that has been discussed a zillion times.

Paul

[Ragin Cajun]

I actually like the deans. I read how hard they were to pull apart and I bought some because my lhs had em. They are easier IMO than the stock rc18t plugs to get apart. I also found that, with a little flux, they solder incredibly easy. Im a newb to soldering and got 4 pairs together in a matter of 20 minutes.

[henry_huckem]

yeah whats all this about deans being hard to pull apart?? I think they're pretty darn easy actually... just a quick tug and they're apart. are you guys crimping yours or something?? lol

[Pro3/nmt105]

Deans aren't hard to pull apart, especially after you use them several times. People heat them up too much when soldering and the metal pieces move in the plastic, so they dont line up as well and are harder to pull apart.

[Ragin Cajun]

Deans aren't hard to pull apart, especially after you use them several times. People heat them up too much when soldering and the metal pieces move in the plastic, so they dont line up as well and are harder to pull apart.


I definately think thats the problem. As long as u dont get them to hot they should be fine. Use a heatsink if need be. I use small aligator clips and they suck up some of the heat before it gets to the connector.

[LasagnaCat]

Or just attach the plug you're soldering on to a mating plug end, which will help draw some of the heat away AND keep the plug perfectly aligned if you tend to overheat plugs while soldering - just be sure to let it cool completely before you unplug it. I keep a short (2-3 inches) length of wire in our pit box with a male Dean's plug on one end and a female on the other, that way I always have a mating plug handy when soldering. Aside from the perks mentioned above, it makes the plug it a little easier to hold on to for those of us that are too lazy to buy a 'third hand' for soldering and end up using our side cutters as 'plug holders' on a routine basis. ;)

[HammerTime2K4]

My deans are a pain to pull apart. My heatshrink is pulling away from the base of the plugs from me pulling on the wires. I can't get a good grip on the plugs themselves, and I don't even have that big of hands...

My dad taught me to heat up the part you want to solder to for a solid connection...I don't know how you guys are doing it...
~Cody

[SS Pede]

I believe technically deans have a TINY bit less resistance...but when I move on to no-loss connectors I'm probably going with the Powerpoles because of their ease of use. I have also heard of people crimping the powerpole contacts onto the wire. You can't reuse them this way, but supposedly it works just as well if you do it right. Might save a little time and be easier than soldering...not like it's a big deal though.

[dhutch]

i use powerpoles for the battery, and bullets for the motor.

[Cain]

I have put the deans ends together fresh out of the package and they stuck together more than I would have liked.

to each his own. If they did make smaller powerpoles, that would be ideal. Great connectors though.

[tadium54]

Mathematically, using equal brand and length of wire, deans have less resistance, but its not by much. Unless im mistaken, Powerpoles- .000010, Deans- .000009. Deans are also a pain in the butt to assemble and can warp if you use too much heat. Powerpoles can be soldered and resoldered if needed, somethign that the deans can't do.

[Ragin Cajun]

If your deans are hard to get apart, then try this. Take a pair if needlenose pliars and on the male connector just firmly grab the connector and squash the little silver tab down against the other tab. Do this on each positive and negative side. It will make it easier to get apart.

[LasagnaCat]

Deans are also a pain in the butt to assemble

Powerpoles are a pain to DISassemble. lol

They're both fine, it's really a matter of size and personal preference. If people are having issues with Dean's Plugs while soldering, that's usually just a reflection of their soldering proficiency and not an issue with the plug itself - I bought a large number of Dean's at a LHS that closed shortly after they came out, we're still using that same batch of plugs several years later. Take care of them and they're fine. Take care of the Powerpoles and they're fine. Red or Blue, McD's or BK, this or that. <shrug>

For what it's worth, we also use a handful of KO plugs (so the wife physically can't hook anything up that shouldn't be.. lol) that are a knockoff of the Dean's plugs, those are also fine. Now if I had a quarter for every time someone said "Hey, you dyed your Dean's Plugs BLACK!?" when referring to the KO plugs... and if it hasn't been mentioned, the Race Prep plugs are ALSO fine.. as are countless others. Avoid the Tamiya plugs and just about ANY plug is fine, and has been fine the last thirty times this type of thread has been started. ;)

[HammerTime2K4]

Isn't the tight fitting connection the reason they are no loss? That's what I always thought...
~Cody

[eVaDeR85]

Well not really its, its mostly has to do with the amount of surface contact between the pins and the materials they are made of. Dean are pure copper, power poles are made of a silver alloy or silver plated if im not mistaken. Also its the consistency. Since the deans plug have specific tolerances that they fit into each other with, they dont wear out, also the powerpoles has spring-loaded terminals so theyre not going to deteriorate either. Tamiya plugs are just bad because after theyre unplugged and plugged back in a few times they lose their tight connection and basically lose contact area between the pins causing a higher resistanceso as you can tell, they ARE NOT consistant where as deans and powerpoles are due to different circumstances but both are excellent long lasting connectors.

[oggydog]

I like powerpoles

[murphy3688]

ive used deans (changed over the second i got my first elec truck) since i started. i like em cause they dont come apart, and becuase i didnt know how the powerpole worked. im usin the corally connectors now. accordin' to rcca theyre "the next best thing to hard wiring." might have to give powerpoles a shot

[Hard Core RC Guy]

If your deans are hard to get apart, then try this. Take a pair if needlenose pliars and on the male connector just firmly grab the connector and squash the little silver tab down against the other tab. Do this on each positive and negative side. It will make it easier to get apart.

Another idea is to get a small zip tie...slide it between them leaving enough room for a loop to get your finger thru...this will leave a small gap, but when you pull them apart it's much easier.

j :cool:

[Courtney]

Okay here is my hint for using Deans. I had a difficult time pulling them apart the first few times so I had to come down with a techinique to do the job easier because one time it took so much force that I accidentlly ripped my ESC out of my TC3 because my hand flew apart with such force.

When pulling my Deans apart I actually place both hand on the wires below the heat shring then place my opposing thumbs together. I then use the force from my opposing thumbs to pull the plugs apart. I really give me a bunch of control and makes seperating the deans much easier.

[ducati777]

I really like the zip tie loop idea. If dean's were on top of it, they could machine a small hole into them roughly in the middle for exactly that purpose... wonder if I could drill em....

[henry_huckem]

Okay here is my hint for using Deans. I had a difficult time pulling them apart the first few times so I had to come down with a techinique to do the job easier because one time it took so much force that I accidentlly ripped my ESC out of my TC3 because my hand flew apart with such force.

When pulling my Deans apart I actually place both hand on the wires below the heat shring then place my opposing thumbs together. I then use the force from my opposing thumbs to pull the plugs apart. I really give me a bunch of control and makes seperating the deans much easier.

good idea courtney, thats how I do it too now that you mention it.

[eVaDeR85]

Okay here is my hint for using Deans. I had a difficult time pulling them apart the first few times so I had to come down with a techinique to do the job easier because one time it took so much force that I accidentlly ripped my ESC out of my TC3 because my hand flew apart with such force.

When pulling my Deans apart I actually place both hand on the wires below the heat shring then place my opposing thumbs together. I then use the force from my opposing thumbs to pull the plugs apart. I really give me a bunch of control and makes seperating the deans much easier.

Hmm this is also a good way to test if the solder joints are good hehe. :p ;)

[LasagnaCat]

If the solder joints are good, nobody has to be worried about the plugs melting and/or disfiguring. ;)

[Hard Core RC Guy]

I really like the zip tie loop idea. If dean's were on top of it, they could machine a small hole into them roughly in the middle for exactly that purpose... wonder if I could drill em....

Yes you can, but not to the female connector if it's already hooked up to a battery, one false move and ......I've actually wanted to try it myself, you just need really small zip ties. I think deans would have done well to mold a slight flange on the ends to give your fingers just a little bit of staying power....think I'll contact them!!

J :cool:

[RH Customs]

Personally if you have to I guess run the Deans connectors because they are at just about every LHS. I use the Trinity R- Connectors work great only thing is the male ends need to be replaced every 6 months as they become to compresed and don't hold very well. But even with that said ther are the best connectors I have used.