Bob, I have used these in UPSs and heavy duty PSUs but would not use them on model boats. I think that the XT range are far better in the model boat scenario
Ed
Bob, I have used these in UPSs and heavy duty PSUs but would not use them on model boats. I think that the XT range are far better in the model boat scenario
Ed
@muddy Hi Brian,
It seems like the Anderson plugs are an entire system of plugs of different sizes and, with an interlocking facility, they are probably the most versatile plug system I have ever heard of.
Thank you for making me aware of them.
I may not be changing away from my XT plugs for my r/c models that I have now, but this plug system has a lot more uses that I am now aware of that could come in handy for some of my future (as yet unknown) projects.
…………Amateur radio did you say?……and an old friend of mine (John McLeod) was keen on amateur radio and spoke to his many friends world-wide on his most nights of the week.
John was a rep for Ripmax, and his family came from Argentina and I know his daughter set-up married life in New Zealand and his retirement plans included moving out there to join her - so goodness know where he is now?
Bob.
It seems like the Anderson plugs are an entire system of plugs of different sizes and, with an interlocking facility, they are probably the most versatile plug system I have ever heard of.
Thank you for making me aware of them.
I may not be changing away from my XT plugs for my r/c models that I have now, but this plug system has a lot more uses that I am now aware of that could come in handy for some of my future (as yet unknown) projects.
…………Amateur radio did you say?……and an old friend of mine (John McLeod) was keen on amateur radio and spoke to his many friends world-wide on his most nights of the week.
John was a rep for Ripmax, and his family came from Argentina and I know his daughter set-up married life in New Zealand and his retirement plans included moving out there to join her - so goodness know where he is now?
Bob.
Never too old to learn
@zooma .. OK Bob.. Many thanks for the kind words and it is nice to know that someone reads the notes.. lol ...
Just a further "note" a company named " Sota Beams" they are associated with Amateur radio, also sells the Anderson plugs, and forgot to mention that the insert the actual copper tinned bit/connector can be purchased in different sizes as to a current rating that you choose/ wire size.
These connectors can be used as singles or they have an interlocking facility so that a incorrect polarity or reverse polarity may not happen, but just to make sure in that instance i always use 3 connectors with the Positive in the middle and the two outer connectors as Negatives..
Regards Muddy ( Brian )
Just a further "note" a company named " Sota Beams" they are associated with Amateur radio, also sells the Anderson plugs, and forgot to mention that the insert the actual copper tinned bit/connector can be purchased in different sizes as to a current rating that you choose/ wire size.
These connectors can be used as singles or they have an interlocking facility so that a incorrect polarity or reverse polarity may not happen, but just to make sure in that instance i always use 3 connectors with the Positive in the middle and the two outer connectors as Negatives..
Regards Muddy ( Brian )
Liked by zooma
@muddy
Hi Brian (Muddy),
I have just had to take a look online to find out what an Anderson connector looks like, and I have found them and I can see that they are currently available from a number of suppliers - including the popular online Chinese suppliers and eBay etc ….but I have not seen them before!
Like yourself, I do have a number of different models, and these already have XT plugs fitted so I am not likely to be changing away from using XT plugs anytime soon, but I do agree that they can be a bit tight to plug in …..and more especially to unplug them sometimes.
This tightness can vary from plug to plug and I always plug a pair of them together when soldering wires onto them to help keep the “gold” plugs and sockets aligned with each other when the yellow plastic can get a bit warm and soft!
This soldering method can help to make them connect together more easily, but I find with use, they tend to get tighter - and not looser as I would have expected!
My hands are almost as old as yours and I probably find these XT plugs as tight to push together and pull apart again as much as you do, but I think they work well and the “gold” plugs and sockets do give a good efficient connection, and like yourself, I also prefer to solder the wires onto my plugs, and not to have to rely on crimping them.
I do not like Deans plugs as much as the XT plugs and find the Tamiya plugs to be unreliable for regular use, and unsuitable for some of the applications that I use.
Bobs Boards bring back a lot of memories (not all good!) and things have improved quite a lot since then!
It is nice to see your contribution to this thread as it has introduced me to another type of plug that I was previously unaware of.
Stay in touch,
Bob.
Hi Brian (Muddy),
I have just had to take a look online to find out what an Anderson connector looks like, and I have found them and I can see that they are currently available from a number of suppliers - including the popular online Chinese suppliers and eBay etc ….but I have not seen them before!
Like yourself, I do have a number of different models, and these already have XT plugs fitted so I am not likely to be changing away from using XT plugs anytime soon, but I do agree that they can be a bit tight to plug in …..and more especially to unplug them sometimes.
This tightness can vary from plug to plug and I always plug a pair of them together when soldering wires onto them to help keep the “gold” plugs and sockets aligned with each other when the yellow plastic can get a bit warm and soft!
This soldering method can help to make them connect together more easily, but I find with use, they tend to get tighter - and not looser as I would have expected!
My hands are almost as old as yours and I probably find these XT plugs as tight to push together and pull apart again as much as you do, but I think they work well and the “gold” plugs and sockets do give a good efficient connection, and like yourself, I also prefer to solder the wires onto my plugs, and not to have to rely on crimping them.
I do not like Deans plugs as much as the XT plugs and find the Tamiya plugs to be unreliable for regular use, and unsuitable for some of the applications that I use.
Bobs Boards bring back a lot of memories (not all good!) and things have improved quite a lot since then!
It is nice to see your contribution to this thread as it has introduced me to another type of plug that I was previously unaware of.
Stay in touch,
Bob.
Never too old to learn
Liked by muddy
@zooma Very interesting about the battery connectors. Being a bit long in the tooth and the wrong side of 80 having used and tested a few battery connectors, my conclusion was that Anderson power pole connectors were working the best for me, but each to his own.. Had several failures with connectors including the automotive Lucar type shrouded and bare types, the XT series I find are to too hard/ridged/tight for my tender hands as are some of the others, like Deans and Tamiya connectors. Unfortunately one of the Esc manufactures will not guarantee their units if the connectors are removed or replaced which i find a great shame, consequentially i have to make up adapter leads, usually Tamiya style to Anderson. The down fall with Anderson, in my experience is that the actual connection of the wire to the connector pin has to be crimped, they can be soldered but my attempts have been disastrous, and created more problems in the plugs. If you are a one man one model, then this can be an expensive layout, but if you enjoy building as I do it may be worth a glance at this type of connector, In my salt mine days have used these Anderson connectors in their complete range up to about 350 Amps DC working. But the choice is yours, the builders/modeler.
Fuses definitely essential, gone are the days of a 1/8" brass rod and check for smoke, maybe used in conjunction with a Bob's boards type escapement's, .... I Jest of course. Happy sailing/motor boating.. Regards Muddy..
Fuses definitely essential, gone are the days of a 1/8" brass rod and check for smoke, maybe used in conjunction with a Bob's boards type escapement's, .... I Jest of course. Happy sailing/motor boating.. Regards Muddy..
FIRE
Smoke.
When I was at our local club the other week, I noticed a LOT of smoke pouring out of the hull of a fairly large working boat.
The owner had got it safely to shore and was desperately trying to unplug the battery as quickly as possible .
This reminded me that “in the good old days” we ALWAYS added an inline fuse between the battery and the ESC so that in the event of a short circuit, the fuse would blow before any more damage could occur.
Thinking about just how quickly (not) I can unplug any of my XT90 plugs and sockets has prompted me to add a 5.5mm gold plug and socket onto the wires from the ESC - the next time I go home!
The XT90’s would still be used as the usual battery connection as it is much safer than using individual sockets for regular battery connection - but in the event of an emergency, the 5.5mm gold socket wires can be pulled apart instantly.
These would also be “staggered” and not immediately beside each other (better safe than sorry !).
I will add these gold connectors into the input leads that are factory fitted to the ESC, between the speedo and the XT90 plug, so for regular use nothing would change , but in an emergency I can rapidly pull these sockets apart.
Making the receiving XT90 plug socket effectively attached to a “fly lead” would also open up other possibilities for me.
I could make another fly lead with an XT60 plug on it that I could exchange quickly so I could try a different LiPo packs with different sized XT plugs on them..etc.
If I make this simple addition to all my Classic Model Power Boats it will greatly improve the versatility and optimise the use of any of my LiPo batteries in different models (where appropriate).
The smoky working boat had been fitted with quite a large motor and a large voltage battery pack.
The small Mtronics ESC had no chance of surviving either the over-voltage battery pack or the large draw on an unsuitable motor.
A more suitable sized ESC has now been fitted and a change of motor too……..but I have to admit that it it were my model I would have increased the capacity of the ESC even more to add a greater degree of safety as it still looked “too close for comfort” for me.
Bob.
When I was at our local club the other week, I noticed a LOT of smoke pouring out of the hull of a fairly large working boat.
The owner had got it safely to shore and was desperately trying to unplug the battery as quickly as possible .
This reminded me that “in the good old days” we ALWAYS added an inline fuse between the battery and the ESC so that in the event of a short circuit, the fuse would blow before any more damage could occur.
Thinking about just how quickly (not) I can unplug any of my XT90 plugs and sockets has prompted me to add a 5.5mm gold plug and socket onto the wires from the ESC - the next time I go home!
The XT90’s would still be used as the usual battery connection as it is much safer than using individual sockets for regular battery connection - but in the event of an emergency, the 5.5mm gold socket wires can be pulled apart instantly.
These would also be “staggered” and not immediately beside each other (better safe than sorry !).
I will add these gold connectors into the input leads that are factory fitted to the ESC, between the speedo and the XT90 plug, so for regular use nothing would change , but in an emergency I can rapidly pull these sockets apart.
Making the receiving XT90 plug socket effectively attached to a “fly lead” would also open up other possibilities for me.
I could make another fly lead with an XT60 plug on it that I could exchange quickly so I could try a different LiPo packs with different sized XT plugs on them..etc.
If I make this simple addition to all my Classic Model Power Boats it will greatly improve the versatility and optimise the use of any of my LiPo batteries in different models (where appropriate).
The smoky working boat had been fitted with quite a large motor and a large voltage battery pack.
The small Mtronics ESC had no chance of surviving either the over-voltage battery pack or the large draw on an unsuitable motor.
A more suitable sized ESC has now been fitted and a change of motor too……..but I have to admit that it it were my model I would have increased the capacity of the ESC even more to add a greater degree of safety as it still looked “too close for comfort” for me.
Bob.
Never too old to learn
Liked by
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