Connectors again??

[Granpappy]

Hi there. I'm currently flying my Trex 500L on 1 X 6s 3300mah batteries (Align because they are light). I use a separate supply for the electrics.

The main batteries all have 4mm bullet connectors fitted along with the 500L's ESC. I've never had any problems with this and the connectors stay cool.

However, I'm going to be using the same batteries on my X50E but doubled up to 12s. The X50E will obviously pull a lot more power but at 12s the current draw will be lower than 6s so I'm wondering whether to keep the 4mm bullets fitted to the batteries or change them out for supra-x 5mm's which obviously means also changing the connectors for the ESC on the 500L.

Will 4mm bullets handle the current draw from a 12s 600 size Heli? By heart tells me to change them to be on the safe side but my wallet tells me to check the X50E ESC log after it's 1st maiden to see what the max current draw was before I go and change connectors on 6 batteries.

I would appreciate any thoughts on this.

Cheers.

[GIXERMAN]

its not going to pull that much, most us a 80amp esc on 12s 50 size, i been using 4mm bullets on 90s so the decision is yours to make.

[Grumpy]

The X50E will obviously pull a lot more power but at 12s the current draw will be lower than 6s

If they handle the current of the 500L perfectly ok and the X50 will pull LESS current then obviously they will be fine for the X50.

Voltage makes no difference.

[Granpappy]

If they handle the current of the 500L perfectly ok and the X50 will pull LESS current then obviously they will be fine for the X50.

Voltage makes no difference.

The X50 is heavier so will pull more power. The battery weight by itself is doubled, let alone anything else. But at 12s it will draw less current then if it was 6s, not less current then the far lighter 500L.

[Grumpy]

The X50 is heavier so will pull more power. The battery weight by itself is doubled, let alone anything else. But at 12s it will draw less current then if it was 6s, not less current then the far lighter 500L.

ok, i misunderstood, I thought you were saying less current than the 500L

Actually though having owned both 500 and 600 helis i think you will find that in truth it doesn't pull any more current, probably a little less (more power obviously but with 12s current is halves vs 6s).
The X50E is a very light 600 and on the assumption that it will have similar flight time to the 500L (in reality I'm sure it will fly longer) then average current over the flight must be the same.

In other words i'm sure you will be fine.

[trillian]

All the motors on my 600 and 700 size helis have 4mm bullets so they're pretty capable. I never thought about using them on the packs because I always used XT60s on the Trex 500 and EC5s on the bigger ones. When I was sharing packs with the 500 I just got an EC5 adaptor for the ESC.

I had used the bigger bullets that came on the larger Turnigy packs and never had a problem, I was very good about paying close attention and always connecting them correctly but everyone advised me to switch to EC5s for safety reasons as you cannot accidentally short a LiPo with EC5s.

[Granpappy]

Many thanks to everyone for the replies. 4mm bullets it is then. Nice and simple and I've got a shed load of them which I use for fixed wing. I will have a look on the ESC log after the first flight and if there is any indication of current draw getting close to about 60 amps then I will have a re-think. Cheers again.

[GIXERMAN]

Many thanks to everyone for the replies. 4mm bullets it is then. Nice and simple and I've got a shed load of them which I use for fixed wing. I will have a look on the ESC log after the first flight and if there is any indication of current draw getting close to about 60 amps then I will have a re-think. Cheers again.

your get more than 60 amps, depending on how you fly may be continuous or just peaks

[trillian]

You'll only have very brief transient peaks above 60 amps. The average continuous draw should be much lower unless you run a really high headspeed.

[Grumpy]

FWIW.. 60A continuous would flatten a 12s 3300mAh pack down to 3.7V in about 2min 40 seconds... My guess is a light heli like the X50E flown at moderate headspeed in a sport style will get well over twice that, meaning average current will be more like 25A, maybe less.

[Granpappy]

FWIW.. 60A continuous would flatten a 12s 3300mAh pack down to 3.7V in about 2min 40 seconds... My guess is a light heli like the X50E flown at moderate headspeed in a sport style will get well over twice that, meaning average current will be more like 25A, maybe less.

I guess when you put it like that then I've got absolutely nothing to worry about apart from trying to squeeze the ESC's 10 awg cable into the back of a 4mm bullet.

[Phill. H]

Depending on if your ESC has an anti-spark function or not the only thing to worry about is the spark in the connectors when plugging in it on 12S as it may over a while erode and weaken the springs on the 4mm male connectors, on my set ups I have separated the plugs on the ESC and always make the final connection to the female part of the plug on the ESC then you are not constantly sparking up the male part of the plug on the ESC because if you do and the spring fails that's it for the day until you can get home solder a new one on. Don't ask me how I know LOL.