You don't understand the physics here. The power drawn by the system... system is the battery, ESC, Motor, and the prop, is as a unit, meaning everythiing contributes to the power consumed. This is how you measure the current draw, as a unit, using something like a "Wattsup" watt meter.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXLMV0&P=ML

Remove the prop and you have no load and the motor will turn at it's KV rating. The current draw will be minimum. Solder joints do not make one bit of difference. The chances of a cold solder joint on an ESC from the factory are so slight that it's just not worthy of consideration.

In other words, put the soldering iron away and look elsewhere.

Look at the sketch I've attached here. This will give you the best indication of what may be going on here. And, I can almost 100% gurantee that it has nothing to do with solder joints, unless you have already messed with them. If you have, well, all bets are off.

CGr.