I see a lot of very clean looking 450's, I'm starting to install the servo's and gyro on mine, what is the best way to shorten the wires (especially the gyro it's about a foot long)? Should I just cut and solder (spelling) them or is there a better way? Thanx....

I wouldn't advise cutting the wires on the gyro unless you never intend to use the gyro on a larger heli. As for the other wires (servos, etc.), if you want to shorten them, get some new J connectors and crimp them onto the shortened wires. That's preferable to soldering and I doubt you'll be able to re-crimp the original connectors.

crimping is not hard to do it dose take practice BUT it takes a speical crimping tool for the small wires and it will set you back i am guessing $25-40 plus the new ends crimping 3 metal ends per plug and if you get it right they slide in the plastic plug and lock in. ezer to neetly bundle them and tie wrap them inside the frame out of veiw

Don't!

don't what? that's not very helpful.

I'm against the cut and solder method as well, same as with computers if you want to shorten the power cables. get the right connectors and crimping tools and remake the connections.

I just fold the excess back and forth till it looks like ribbon candy and tie wrap it to the frame. Doesn't look bad and you might want the extra length later for another bird.

Why not just wrap your extra wire in some [link=http://cableorganizer.com/expandable-sleeving/#PRICE]Expandable Nylon Sleeving[/link]? This is what I did on my V2 and I think it looks great.

Against soldering?????? [&:]

No way, i always have, and always will solder my wires. No thank you to crimping.

Ok, I can definatly tell this is not a HAM forum. There is NOTHING wrong with soldering and heat shrinking wires to shorten there length. Unless you have no clue on how to do it. However, the results will be very unsitely. Buying new ends is a very good way to go, even if you wanted to move a component to another heli. All you have to do is make yourself some extension cord style wires with a female/male ends. There are several specialty tools required for removing and crimping new connectors any Radio Shack could help you out, the connectors are very generic. With all that being said, personally I would just go with "split loom", it is very cheap and comes in many sizes and tons of colors, you can buy that stuff at almost any auto parts/hardware store. I am very new to this hobby and I haven't seen anyone else use split loom, but I plan on puting some on my newest heli. I do maintain very high power radio communications equipment so I do know a thing or two about electronics.

There are several of us who build together, so getting a crimper and ends was not a financial burden. It is so nice just cutting the wire to length, crimping the pins and pushing them in to a plug. Neat. Clean.

Go look at the tools on [link=http://www.radicalrc.com]Radical RC[/link] and find the crimper.

I used spiral wrap and black cable ties. The spiral winds round all the cables and makes them into one neat little bunch. It has really tidied up mine.

A metre of this stuff:

http://www.autowirez.co.uk/product.p...cat=259&page=1


and a pack of cable ties:

http://www.autowirez.co.uk/product.p...cat=249&page=1




A grand total of £few quid. Some people also use heatshrink but i prefer the spiral for easy access on maintenance.

If you want to wrap them you can also check a computer store, they sell the same thing for a bit cheaper.

all the prices include delivery for UK so it worked out quite cheap for me. I think they include the cost of postage in the price of all the products. Have you used the spiral wrap too? What did you think of it?

Here is my clean wire setup.

Extra gyro wire in bundle beside receiver.

What I use goes by a few different names but typically it's called braided sleeving or as boystoys listed, expandable nylon sleeving. When you grab the ends and push it expands out so you can worm your cable through, if you get it from a computer store as a kit it typically comes with matching color heat shrink to bind the ends (I find cable ties can be messy but they do work as well).

[link=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16899998039]braided sleeving[/link]

Good discussion, thanx for all the reply's. i think I'll just leave them as be for now, I still hate all the wires bundled up in rear (spaghetti central)...

Anyone know where to get glow in the dark spiral wrap. I'm using the black stuff at the moment which works well but now know there is glow in dark available but where?

bump!!!

anyone???

well I havn't really looked for glow in the dark spiral wrap. You could be really original and get some of that glow in the dark paint and paint the frame or something. That would be cool, just some ideas, good luck. I will look for some glow in the dark spiral wrap now but no garuntees.

look in Heli Direct i think i seen colored wire wrap there also color fuel tubing

I know everyone has an opinion on what to do to shorten wires. I''ve been a vehicle mechanic for over 14 years now. I would not do anything that would put the wires at angles. Doing that would break the wires inside the insulation.
I've seen folks wrap their wires around a screw driver making the wire look like a coil. That takes up most of the length and looks ok. I've also seen folks use plastic wire loom to conceal thier wiring. The method I saw and liked was using steel or plastic baided loom. Looks awesome. Whatever you decide to do, try to keep the wires away from moving parts (servo arms, gears and linakges).
As for the solder VS crimp. I do both. I wick some solder into the wires, put the wire in the connector and heat it up to melt some of the solder out of the wire. I then put a good crimp on the connector. I've never had a wire pull out or a faulty crimp.
I hope this helps some

Ted