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View Full Version : Connectors / In-car charging?


Alacrity
06-25-2001, 03:39 PM
Hi guys,

I've read lots of old posts about the various pluses and minuses of using battery connectors vs. hard-soldered terminals. I understand the trade-offs, but I have a few questions.

Since I'm running a relatively powerful setup (3000mah packs in a TC with a quantum comp. and an 8x2T orion chrome) and I'm not averse to soldering, I was going to just hardwire everything.

However, will I need to unsolder the batteries to charge them? My charger uses clips and I could make the connections without unsoldering, but that seems sketchy to me in terms of the ESC and motor. I have read in old posts some vague anecdotal accounts that people have charged hardwired batteries in-car "for years" but what's the official word? Also, during competitions do people really unsolder packs in the pits betwen races? I'm perfectly comfortable with soldering, but geez, resoldering the battery connections in between each run could get to be rediculous.

I think my solution will be to go with Astro Flight connectors for the battery packs. These are outrageously expensive but appear to have the lowest resistance available, and the highest quality housings and contacts. I'm aware that the powerpole connectors are quite good as well, but if I'm going to have connectors at all might as well go for the best.

I'd appreciate any thoughts or feedback on the in-car charging issue and feedback on using astro flight connectors in cars. Besides being expensive the astro flights are usually out of stock most places...

Thanks!

nsane
06-25-2001, 09:14 PM
As far as charging while wired goes, I wouldn't, just because its hard to say what doing it for a prolonged period of time might do to an ESC.

As far as soldering and unsoldering in the pits for big races, they absolutely do :) It seems kinda tedious, but when you are running in a big race you want every last bit you can get from all of your gear; ESPECIALLY running on-road. Once you get in the habit of doing it, it doesn't take much longer than using plugs :)