So I got my motor and ESC yesterday and want to get them hooked up. I have mounted the motor and done the paper test where you turn the gear and run a peice of paper between the pinion and gear with success.

Now I need to know how to use the connectors. There are plain tubes and fanned out, spring like tubes that are closed off at one end. I don't want to mess these up and have to buy new ones, so I'm hoping you guys can help me out.

Also, where/how do I mount the ESC? I'm assuming double sided tape, but not sure as to the best location.

Hi,

I'm not sure what model Heli you have, however you will probably regret using double sided tape to hold the ESC. Consider stick-on velcro or cable-ties as good alternatives.

Where you mount it depends on where you have space -

David

I got plenty of cable ties. I have the Trex 450XL. Right now I'm thinking that under the main gears would be the best spot for it. Anybody else put it there?

BTW, here's a pic of the connectors I was talking about...

Hi,

The Spring-sided ones go on the motor wires. The open ended ones (That the spring sided ones go into) attach to the wires of the ESC. That's standard convention for pretty much everything. The spring sided ones are the "Male" connectors.

Each connector has a long side, and a short side. The short side is just deep enough to add some solder to, and solder a wire into.

These will get VERY hot when you solder then, so hold them in something when you solder them. If you don't have electronics clamps, then a wooden peg is OK.
I've even used aligator clips before.

Put the heatshrink tube further down the wire BEFORE you solder the wire in..

The FEMALE connectors should have the heatshrink shrunken so that they are completely covered... The heatshrink should be flush with the connector when you finish - not poking out or leaving some area exposed. If anything, a touch (eg, 0.2mm) longer but not shorter. Not so much that it shrinks smaller than the ID of the female socket.

The Male connectors should have heatshrink applied so that it butts up against the female connectors heatshrink when the plugs are in.

That's about it... Hope the explanation is OK

David

Aha. Explained very well. I knew about the male/female (pretty much obvious for anybody above the age of four). I did not, however, know that the colored tubes were heat-shrinkable. Now it all makes sense.

I am assuming that a hairdryer will do for shrinking the color coded covers.

Thanks for the help!!!

Hair dryer might not be hot enough, but you can just rub the side of the soldering iron around the tube to shrink it.

A hairdryer should be fine, but will need patience...

David

heatshrink also works well with a controlled bic flame.. just remember, if things get haywire.. " stop, drop and roll "

Bic. Wave it back and forth under the shrinkwrap. Keep the flame away from the wire to avoid turning it all black with soot. Turn the wire and wrap so that you hear all sides.

Vince - do they scream & shout when the flame gets to them

When I heat shrink the female connectors, I plug the male connector into it first, and then put the heat shrink over both connectors and shrink it. Don't overlap the tubing too high up onto the male connnector, though, or you won't be able to remove it. This makes a wide opening in the tube that allows the male plug to be pulled out and re-inserted, and ensures the female connector is insulated quite well (see photos below)...

very nice job on the heat shrink pkh. that''ll keep the crud out too of the connection.. you can go even one step further and add a dab of dielectric grease and the connection will never fail or corrode. Heli's are always breathing their own dust.

Got everything hooked up yesterday. Just need to put a tie wrap on it. I'll do that after I buy the other electronics and make sure everything is where I want it.

Aside from burning my wrist on the soldering iron, everything went really well. I used the shrink stuff on the male and female connectors. Then I used some extra shrink stuff on the connectors after they were put together (sorat the same as pkh did). Everything works well.

Thanks all for the advice. Next up, gyro purchase and install.