OK, things have been a bit too calm here lately, might as well see if we can get a bit of lively discussion going on :)

In the past oval racers never used plugs on their packs because there was this never proven conception that using plugs caused a performance penalty. Now using plugs is an accepted practice that no one complains about.

Why aren't racers clamoring for a direct solder solution? Battery manufacturers could, if they wanted to, supply packs with direct solder connections on their packs..... just a solder tab on the outside of the case instead of wires sticking out. Why aren't races soldering their packs directly to the ESC instead of going through a plug? Wouldn't this give you a performance advantage?

I was advised of certain DANGERS in direct soldering to a LIPO pack, although I've seen a few guys make solder tabs on a 4mm plug (which I think is silly)

a NiMh wasn't dangerous if it went DEAD, where a Lipo can be, so a direct solder that is left in the car and hooked up that MIGHT be discharged would/could RUIN a battery, or worse.

I always hated DEANS plugs, but my first orion pack I did a DEANS Plug adapter...then stopped and just put the 4mm's on the ESC wires. I generally change them at least twice a year because they do get worn.... I also put a RED Label on the + side of the pack so it's a little more obvious as to the correct polarity.

Now I find it so simple... just unplug ONE wire, no IRONS... and as long as everybody has to do the same thing, and use the same types of connections...there are no advantages for anyone...so a little resistance won't matter!!

heck, I was at a race last week and no one even had a iron with them! packs are better, motor are better. Plugs are better.

It is just that simple.

here is another helpfull tip.... if you use the 4mm plugs, and cross the battery leads { like i have being an idiot and not paying attention} you will smoke a speedo, so to save your self from doing that, make the positive lead or the neg. lead not be able to connect to one another, shorting one so it will not plug into the other polarity lead will help prevent you from smoking a speedo....

OK, things have been a bit too calm here lately, might as well see if we can get a bit of lively discussion going on :)

In the past oval racers never used plugs on their packs because there was this never proven conception that using plugs caused a performance penalty. Now using plugs is an accepted practice that no one complains about.

Why aren't racers clamoring for a direct solder solution? Battery manufacturers could, if they wanted to, supply packs with direct solder connections on their packs..... just a solder tab on the outside of the case instead of wires sticking out. Why aren't races soldering their packs directly to the ESC instead of going through a plug? Wouldn't this give you a performance advantage?

Lol thats the best ya got? has been relatively peaceful around here lol

When Lipo first came out, some of the fast guys started hardwiring them right away. The BRL quickly adapted the "must run plugs" rule, so for the tracks around this area which follow BRL rules, it kinda nipped it in the bud right away.

I wouldn't trust 75% of racers to hard wire a lipo anyway.


I guess thats a reason!

I haven't taken an iron to the the track for months.... please don't wreck that! :)

I've always used plugs, even for NiMH.

My reason: I'm not good enough to notice the difference afforded by hard wiring, so why go to the trouble?

For me, it's just the easier. I run the same car in 2 different classes and it makes changing the motor out quicker and easier.
I hard wired everything when running carpet oval with nimh but at that level of racing, I really don't think it makes that much difference, not that i could see anyway.:woohoo:

...........

Why do you now use plugs?

Cuss "Stone Cold" said so!!! :p

what!

You gotta be a Wrastling Fan to get that one! lol :thumbsup:

same reason i use tape....a flaming lipo comes out alot faster with a plug and tape.

Thats the best answer I've read so far. :cool:same reason i use tape....a flaming lipo comes out alot faster with a plug and tape.

Probbaly bacause plugs coming out now have such a high current flow. You will really never notice the difference. 7.4V running through is 7.4V a connector isn't gonna loose a significant voltage.

Deans plugs have been available for 15+ years.

Hard wiring is a safety issue. If anything goes wrong you can unplug power before it gets worse. I had a speedo melting down and I quickly unplugged the battery which stopped any further damage to my chassis or other adjacent electronics. I was a hard wire dude until I realized the positives of a plug.

Wait a minute........hard wiring is a safety issue.............heating lipos is a safety issue.

Hard wiring makes you faster..........heating makes you faster..........hmmmmm

I bet there are some racers out there that are strongly against connectors....lol

I use plugs and have always used plugs. If one thinks that a solder joint that gets soldered over and over with a poorly maintained iron that is left on way too much has less resistance then a properly soldered zero loss connector then they're just plain crazy. The difference (which 99% of us wouldn't notice) isn't worth the hassle anyway. :thumbsup:

Keeping your wires as short as possible has the biggest benefits.

...hey, maybe we need built into a LIPO Battery a slow blow Circuit Breaker that pops at 75 amps.

Then if a battery wire short, or speed control short happens...or even a motor failure, it shuts the battery down.

:)

Both of those are what a person does when hes despirate. 9 times out of 10 a better setup and driving will out perform hard wiring and heating. Both of those are considered illegal for lipos at most places that I know so that makes u a cheater also if u do it. LOL Wait a minute........hard wiring is a safety issue.............heating lipos is a safety issue.

Hard wiring makes you faster..........heating makes you faster..........hmmmmm

I bet there are some racers out there that are strongly against connectors....lol

Isn't it required to have a kill-plug on r/c dragsters? Should the micro switch fry leving the motor running you can just reach for that wire loop solderd to deans plug. Give the wire a pull and the car goes off. That is all assuming you can chase down a 100mph car.

Found this picture of a pre wired kill plug.

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/catalog/AMHPSW.jpg

Only reason we use them is we get teched for max voltage at the tracks, and the volt meters the tracks use for tech all have a deans plug on them-:thumbsup:

Why use plugs now? Because we CAN!~ And if everyone is on the same type of plug, there's NO advantage, nor disadvantage, and it's sooo much easier and nicer to NOT have to have a soldering iron hot all the time!!

Why use plugs now? Because we CAN!~ And if everyone is on the same type of plug, there's NO advantage, nor disadvantage, and it's sooo much easier and nicer to NOT have to have a soldering iron hot all the time!!
That too- :thumbsup:

I bet my plugs have a lower resistance then your plugs ;)

I bet my plugs have a lower resistance then your plugs ;)

Trouble maker!!! LOL:thumbsup:

I bet my plugs have a lower resistance then your plugs ;)

and what type of plugs are those? They better be electrical plugs...


I use Comm drops on my plugs....it makes a nice sizzle at full throttle.

I found this on the Dean's site:

"The industry standard in high performance connectors. Rated number one by R/C Car Action, The Ultra Plug actually has less resistance, including the solder joints, than an equivalent length piece of 12 gauge wire."

This being the case I am going to solder connector to connector to connector and forget the wire. LOL