Should I go to Deans connectors or stay Tamiya stock? Pros and Cons, please. Thanks all.

There are no cons to using Deans. They save space and make a tight connection so there is less resistance in the system.

I am slowly making the transition to Deans, I started with my Panzer IV and my KV-1 will be next. So go deans and do not look back.

or standard 4mm bullet connectors. 

Speaking from mainly RC car experience, anything is better than standard molex connectors.

regards,

J

Deans all the way tamiya plugs are nothing but garbage no one uses tamiya connectors in RC that demand large amp draw.
Can't go wrong with deans ... just have to have a very hot solder gun to put them together ...there are other banana type plugs like the ones losi makes that are also good and easy to solder together.

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...rodID=LOSB9616

I like and use the high amperage ones from Traxxas. Easy for my fat fingers to use.

x2 on the deans, and the traxxas ones are really nice also



Wade

Biggest problem with most tanks, Tamiya included, is the electrical connectors are aluminium. Just run one for 10 minutes at more than half throttle and then feel the connectors. They are hot. That's resistance. Putting in the deans plugs or clones thereof solves that problem, no heat, and more power when you need it. I also replace the stock aluminium motor wires with copper wires. However, I would not dream of opening the Tamiya DMD/TO system to replace that end of the wires, although I do cut them short.

Totally Agree, go with Deans. Solid connections, less heat (poor contact with the tamiya's) but require solder skills (very basic) and a heat gun (wife's blow dryer works good.....). Otherwise, live with the Tamiya connection. But on hot summer months, you'll generate a bit of heat inside your tank and over time, your plugs will degrade.

Welcome to Tankin! - The endless money pit........

If you are going to go with Deans or not it is also important to eliminate the Tamiya connections at the "Y" connector for the DMD & MF units. It is more of a weak point and takes up way too much room in the M26. When I have several hours to kill I will change my tanks over to deans as well. I've had them sitting on the shelf waitng now for about a year (right Steve). Keep it neat and be careful when using the heat gun or blowdryer around your tank so that you don't damage any small parts. On small diameter heat shrink tubes just hold your soldering iron tip alongside and it will shrink from the radient heat.

Good luck, Bob

Guys...

Most heat shrink tubing will shrink with heat from a hair dryer. It takes longer, but heck, it beats using an industrial gun and melting wire-insulation, or using the iron and accidentially touching the shrink or wires, and ending up with a hole in it somewhere.

And when in doubt, try it on a bit of scrap. And you can always slip a piece of cardboard behind whatever ya wanna shrink to act as a heat-deflector, to protect other wires. If you're doing a lot, you could even make a small box-like unit (similar to a paint-box) to contain the area to be shrunk...

Me, I make carry-straps & tie-downs from shoe-laces, but the damned nylon was melting as the shrink was activating. Answer: used a cheap Zellers Hair Dryer ($10) If your SO is gonna toss the old one out, or you 'accidentially' drop/damage it, you can always get her a new one ... *grin*

WhiteWolf

nothin in my tank draws enough amperage to really warrent the change to deans. The stock connectors never even get warm.

Yes they may not but you will aways need to use a tiny screw driver to bend the connectors metal parts to make them fit tight as with the cheap tamiya connectors when you use them they lose contact due to the spreading of the metal contacts (poor desighn)... even battery chargers with the male end you always have to do what i said above because you will get false peaks from your charger if you don't always readjust the plugs contacts.

My advice is NO. The deans connectors that I have, all of them tend to fall apart (some bought from Bob, some from Mitosal). Their plastic is very fragile. I'm using Tamiya mini connectors instead. They're twice as small than the standard ones.

Haven't had that problem myself. In reality mine originally came from 'Mitosol' also, aka Impact.

Danny, I have Deans connectors now. I should have switched to them 5 or 6 years ago! To think of all the battles I had to bow out of due to loose Tamiya connectors! Argh!!!

Must have purchased fake china deans clones i been using deans for ever and never had one fail yet!

In fact in our tanks you can probably use the micro deans plugs they handle up to 10 to 12 amps continous and they are small and easy to work with.

I prefer EC3 connectors, like those shown in Post#5. Deans are easier to unplug - EC3's can be tight - but I have more confidence in the solder connection on the EC3-style connector....just my .02-worth

Deans are very reliable and robust connection, in fact besides the Battery connection all my high current connections are soldered.