Build your own T-Connector Series Harness

[Doozer]

Originally I was going to use a 6S Lipo on my 600. That meant buying a battery that was in the 200 dollar range, and a good charger. I want eventually to use 8s maybe even 10s Lipos. This motor and speed controller are rated up to 6S. My next motor/ESC will be rated higher. However, for now, I'm dealing with the hand dealt.

I have two other helis that use 11.1V 3S lipos, so buying one 6S, when I could have two more 3S lipos in the stable didn't make much sense. Ernie gave me the idea to run two 3S's in series. The only problem is that the harnesses that were commercially available used 14 gauge wire. Doable.... yes.... Iffy.... yes. So I decided that they looked easy enough to make. So I went out and bought 12 Gauge wire. This size is about the the last size before you need to start thinking about other connectors other than Dean's.

This particular harness is designed to increase the voltage while maintaining the milliamps of a single pack. Both packs should be the same size mah. The parallel harness is different. It keeps the same voltage but increases the milliamps. My solder job was not the greatest. I'm not the worlds greatest solderer. I did feel the need to pre-tin a little heavier than I normall would, because the wire was pretty thick.

Anyway, here are some pics:


I used my iPod touch and this website as my model.


Laid out my pieces, then one by one pre-tinned them.


I really flooded the wire


Could have used some larger solder here.


One of my best investments in this hobby... Helping hands. I want a bigger set. Here I'm getting ready to pre-tin the Dean's.


Huge ball of solder? .... yes .... I just thought I should because the wire is fairly massive on this connector.


Using the helping hands to get the job done


Heat shrink and move on. I ran out of the right size black heat shrink so I went to blue.


One down two more to go. Just repeat for the next to connectors and this is what you get......




Thanks to Ernie Mac for the idea to go two 3S in a series.

[McKrackin]

Outstanding ;D
Ironic though.Now I have two 6S batteries and no 3S.lol.

Can you make some sort of adapter for that

Great job though.Your pix always help me think.

[19000rpm]

Nice job Dooz. You are probably a better solderer than you think. It's that cheapo soldering Iron that needs replacing. Had one of those myself. lol Going to a better iron will make you a better solderer like going to a better heli makes you a better pilot.

Happy landings

[Doozer]

I've been eyeballing one at Radio Shack. You can change the wattage. What would you suggest? I have been wanting to get another one.

[19000rpm]

There's a lot of good ones out there, even butane, so you can go high temp cordless. This is my latest one: mro2go.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=272GT7A3&Category_Code=SO5 but you might want to get different tips for different applications.

Happy landings

[McKrackin]

Nice but I still like the ones you hold like a pencil.
I especially like it when they are in my brothers hands too.lol.

[19000rpm]

Yeah, there are a lot of nice pencil models too. I grew up using a weller gun type so I naturally prefer them. I never liked the cord draping over my hand with the pencil types. The cord seems to want to pull the solder tip away from where I point it. At least that's the excuse I used if the joint didn't come out right. ;D

Happy landings

[Doozer]

I like weller pistol grip too. By the way thanks for the link. I know what to look for now. They had some very expensive Solder guns. Between that, and the Wiha precision drivers that I want, and batteries.... pop goes another paycheck.

[19000rpm]

Yeah, some of that stuff gets pricey. I won't spend much more than $50 for a soldering tool. That would like putting a stradavarius in the hands of an infant.

Happy landings

[Doozer]

What if the infant could play???

[McKrackin]

I'm more of a Stratocaster type guy ;D

[mightyxxwhitey]

Not to change the subject, but I use the Cold Heat Iron. From Radio Shack. It was like $20, and it works great. Its not big and bulky like a gun. And for repairing heli wires it hot enough.

[Solitaire]

Here's the kit I recently purchased. Butane fired, made by Weller.
Finally got to retire my old Weller gun type which didn't get anywhere near hot enough.

[19000rpm]

The infant might be able to play, but could he solder??? ;D

I used cold solder years ago and didn't much care for it. Must be much improved. Might give it a try since there are many soldering jobs you really don't want heat to transfer into the components.

Sol, I love the idea of that butane tool. Never knew anyone that had one before. I imagine you can control the heat to some extent??

The new weller guns get plenty hot. Like all elec heat elements they do wear down over time though.

Happy landings

[Solitaire]

Mar 5, 2009 8:21:25 GMT -6 19000rpm said:

...Sol, I love the idea of that butane tool. Never knew anyone that had one before. I imagine you can control the heat to some extent??

The new weller guns get plenty hot. Like all elec heat elements they do wear down over time though.

Happy landings

Yep, flame control is done by twisting the end cap. Pretty simple.
My old Weller gun is almost as old as me. It was time to retire.