Typhon Soldering ec5 connector onto esc!!

[powell987]

Currently have x2 xt90 connectors on esc but need ec5 and only the 1 connector! Would it be easy enough for me to solder just 1 ec5 connector on ?
I have no experience with soldering…..
also whats yhe difference between xt90 and ec5 the ec5 on my battery still fits into the xt90 on the esc.

Thanks

 

[httuner]

The problem is the size of the male bullets off the xt90 which is a tad too small to make a perfect connection with the female ec5 plug. While these two plugs may work together; there is potential for problems later on.

You can solder just one EC5 connector on; if your not using 2 EC5 batteries.

 

[Diem Turner]

Don't try to mix connectors. If you don't have a tight fit you run serious risk of arcing, melting and, possibly, fires. Settle on one kind of connector and then put that on everything you have.

 

[GraniteFox]

I prefer XT90 connectors. I solder them on batteries and esc with no issue. Just make sure to get the soldering iron nice and hot.

 

[powell987]

The problem is the size of the male bullets off the xt90 which is a tad too small to make a perfect connection with the female ec5 plug. While these two plugs may work together; there is potential for problems later on.

You can solder just one EC5 connector on; if your not using 2 EC5 batteries.

Thats what i was thinking just to solder one EC5 connector on!
Is it easy enough to solder on with no soldering experience ?

 

[Diem Turner]

Thats what i was thinking just to solder one EC5 connector on!
Is it easy enough to solder on with no soldering experience ?

I'd recommend watching some soldering tutorials on Youtube if you have no experience before proceeding so that you understand the basics of how to ensure that you get a good bond/penetration and how to recognize it. Power leads that need to withstand a few hundred amps are not the place where you want a poor solder joint.

Some tips I can give you to get started and to make it easier. Generally speaking:

• Make sure your soldering iron has at least 45W for 10AWG, 60W for 8AWG, and 100W if you're soldering QS8s.
• If you can, use rosin core leaded solder of the 63/37 variety.
• If you can only get 60/40, make sure that the solder joint remains absolutely still during crystallization so that you don't get a cold solder joint.
• If you can only get lead-free solder, increase the wattage above by 10-15W as it's difficult to reflow the solder once it crystallizes.
• Put a tiny bit of soldering flux inside the cup for better adhesion and solder flow.
• Apply a tiny bit of solder to the tip to increase contact area of the iron and press it onto the wire. Apply the solder to the wire, not the iron. Otherwise the solder may just sit on top of the wire instead of penetrating into it.
• A third hand of some kind comes in very handy to help hold wires where you need them to be.

Some RC specific tips:

• Put the opposite connector on the end of the one you're soldering. This will prevent the pins from moving should the plastic get softened from the heat.
• Make sure the contacts of this are covered when soldering batteries so that you don't accidentally short the battery when making contact with something made of metal.
• If you're soldering pins that go into a connector (such as EC5 for example) get yourself a piece of wood and drill a hole in it so that the pin is a snug fit. This makes it much easier to hold the pin and the wood won't suck the heat out of your solder joint like something made of metal.

Hope this helps. Hop on Youtube and watch 2 or 3 videos. If you have any questions beyond that, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[SrC]

Currently have x2 xt90 connectors on esc but need ec5 and only the 1 connector! Would it be easy enough for me to solder just 1 ec5 connector on ?
I have no experience with soldering…..
also whats yhe difference between xt90 and ec5 the ec5 on my battery still fits into the xt90 on the esc.

Thanks

You may be at a cross road there and need to think about what connectors are best as you buy more lipos. Committing to one type. XT90s are less expensive and also available in Anti Spark types (XT90-S) which are cross compatible to standard XT90's. I feel they are more mainstream.
I would leave the XT90 on the ESC. And use them on the Lipos as well. Don't use any adapters! And don't get used to connecting EC's to XT's! NG as stated above.
I feel XT's are easier to solder. I feel the only reason you would want Spektrum EC/IC connectors are for Smart Spektrum compatibility. If you are ALL in with that fluff.
Just my opinion.

 

[powell987]

You may be at a cross road there and need to think about what connectors are best as you buy more lipos. Committing to one type. XT90s are less expensive and also available in Anti Spark types (XT90-S) which are cross compatible to standard XT90's. I feel they are more mainstream.
I would leave the XT90 on the ESC. And use them on the Lipos as well. Don't use any adapters! And don't get used to connecting EC's to XT's! NG as stated above.
I feel XT's are easier to solder. I feel the only reason you would want Spektrum EC/IC connectors are for Smart Spektrum compatibility. If you are ALL in with that fluff.
Just my opinion.

All of the batteries i have so far are EC5 just because the first car i had (typhon 3s) has an EC5 connection on the ESC. Then my 2nd car came with XT90 connection. I don't use any spektrum smart.
So would i be best to change my batteries to XT90 and typhon 3s to XT90 then any other lipos i get in future just get XT90 ?

 

[Diem Turner]

All of the batteries i have so far are EC5 just because the first car i had (typhon 3s) has an EC5 connection on the ESC. Then my 2nd car came with XT90 connection. I don't use any spektrum smart.
So would i be best to change my batteries to XT90 and typhon 3s to XT90 then any other lipos i get in future just get XT90 ?

Yessir. Best thing is to have everything with the same connectors. It'll make your life a lot easier.

 

[SrC]

All of the batteries i have so far are EC5 just because the first car i had (typhon 3s) has an EC5 connection on the ESC. Then my 2nd car came with XT90 connection. I don't use any spektrum smart.
So would i be best to change my batteries to XT90 and typhon 3s to XT90 then any other lipos i get in future just get XT90 ?

Yes. What I would do.
All XT90's from the start. And don't look back. Future 6s rigs as well.
Sucks to have a mix of rigs with all different connectors.
I have 17 rigs here. All XT60's for my 2s 1/10 rigs. And the rest are all XT90's. ( 1/8 -1/6 rigs) All 6s rigs.
With 8s rigs I would move up to QS8 connectors..

 

[Diem Turner]

Yes. What I would do.
All XT90's from the start. And don't look back. Future 6s rigs as well.
Sucks to have a mix of rigs with all different connectors.
I have 17 rigs here. All XT60's for my 2s 1/10 rigs. And the rest are all XT90's. ( 1/8 -1/6 rigs) All 6s rigs.
With 8s rigs I would move up to QS8 connectors..

If I were to nitpick, I'd say make the type of connector dependent on what kind of current you're expecting to see. I run QS8 on 3S as well, but that's more as a result of what I do with the car. I'm regularly seeing 500-600A and I'd be a bit uneasy about doing that with any other connector. But generally speaking, spot on the .

 

[powell987]

I'd recommend watching some soldering tutorials on Youtube if you have no experience before proceeding so that you understand the basics of how to ensure that you get a good bond/penetration and how to recognize it. Power leads that need to withstand a few hundred amps are not the place where you want a poor solder joint.

Some tips I can give you to get started and to make it easier. Generally speaking:

• Make sure your soldering iron has at least 45W for 10AWG, 60W for 8AWG, and 100W if you're soldering QS8s.
• If you can, use rosin core leaded solder of the 63/37 variety.
• If you can only get 60/40, make sure that the solder joint remains absolutely still during crystallization so that you don't get a cold solder joint.
• If you can only get lead-free solder, increase the wattage above by 10-15W as it's difficult to reflow the solder once it crystallizes.
• Put a tiny bit of soldering flux inside the cup for better adhesion and solder flow.
• Apply a tiny bit of solder to the tip to increase contact area of the iron and press it onto the wire. Apply the solder to the wire, not the iron. Otherwise the solder may just sit on top of the wire instead of penetrating into it.
• A third hand of some kind comes in very handy to help hold wires where you need them to be.

Some RC specific tips:

• Put the opposite connector on the end of the one you're soldering. This will prevent the pins from moving should the plastic get softened from the heat.
• Make sure the contacts of this are covered when soldering batteries so that you don't accidentally short the battery when making contact with something made of metal.
• If you're soldering pins that go into a connector (such as EC5 for example) get yourself a piece of wood and drill a hole in it so that the pin is a snug fit. This makes it much easier to hold the pin and the wood won't suck the heat out of your solder joint like something made of metal.

Hope this helps. Hop on Youtube and watch 2 or 3 videos. If you have any questions beyond that, don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks for the reply
I have had a watch of a few videos so im going to give it a go need to get a soldering iron and all the bits first…..
when soldering a connector onto the ESC i wont damage anything in the ESC with the heat going down the cable ?

 

[Diem Turner]

Thanks for the reply
I have had a watch of a few videos so im going to give it a go need to get a soldering iron and all the bits first…..
when soldering a connector onto the ESC i wont damage anything in the ESC with the heat going down the cable ?

Sure thing bro. No, should not be a problem. I've never had an issue with it anyways. If it's adjustable, I typically turn my soldering iron up to maximum as this reduces the length of time you need to hold the iron to the material before you get proper solder penetration (unless I'm soldering thin little wires, then I'll turn it down to 300-350°C).

 

[Velodromed]

All I have to offer is ‘PRACTICE FIRST’.
After watching the videos and reading all the advice…Use short lengths of wire and extra connectors to solder over and over and over till it feels easy. Then do it for real. Otherwise it could be a clusterfuk.

 

[powell987]

Yes i will do as i don't want to mess up my batteries and ESC !!!!

 

[SrC]

Thanks for the reply
I have had a watch of a few videos so im going to give it a go need to get a soldering iron and all the bits first…..
when soldering a connector onto the ESC i wont damage anything in the ESC with the heat going down the cable ?

Done properly, soldering flow is done fast. So heat should not pose a problem.

 

[carckton driver]

i didnt read this whole thread but something that some might consider and important consideration (didnt intend for that to sound so funny, at least i think it does). ic5/ec5 connectors (the bullets) are .5mm wider and 1mm longer than XT90s, measured at male bullets since the female side is deeper. took apart an ic5 to verify, xt90 male side is easy to get the tail of caliper down in so no need to disassemble one.

Thanks for the reply
I have had a watch of a few videos so im going to give it a go need to get a soldering iron and all the bits first…..
when soldering a connector onto the ESC i wont damage anything in the ESC with the heat going down the cable ?

you gotta remember, those esc wires were soldered to the esc at some point. the heat from the opposite end of the wires wont do anything to the esc.

 

[Jerold]

Don't try to mix connectors. If you don't have a tight fit you run serious risk of arcing, melting and, possibly, fires. Settle on one kind of connector and then put that on everything you have.

What Deim said, don't mix and match connectors. This is what happens when they don't seat correctly. This was a matching connector, connected by an idiot (me).

For reference, EC5 and IC5 are compatible by design. So either connector will work with the other. But neither are not compatible with XT90.

If you're not comfortable with soldering you have options.

1. Most hobby stores will swap connectors
2. Find a buddy that can do it
3. Get a battery with the EC5/IC5 connector

Avoid using adapters. You can find them and the work... sort of, but they fall apart and break and "probably" won't catch your car on fire. They are really meant for charging and testing, not regular use.

If I read your post correctly, your system looks something like this, with two batteries in parallel? Standard 6S or 8S setup.

Most of the 6/8S systems come with a jumper that allows you to run a single 3S/4S battery.

​

If you decide to replace the connectors with XT90, I would replace both and buy/make a jumper for the unused side. That way you have the option of running two batteries in series later.

 

[razorrc]

Personally I would run IC5 or EC5. It's rated 120A (XT90 is 90A), it comes on every Horizon vehicle (Arrma, Losi, Axial, etc.), and you already have a bunch of batteries and a car that has it. There's no reason to use XT90, and they don't come on that many RTRs. You can run IC5 from 2S->8S no problem.