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Electric Stunt => Gettin all AMP'ed up! => Topic started by: Vincent Judd on April 05, 2018, 04:34:42 PM

Title: Snip snip
Post by: Vincent Judd on April 05, 2018, 04:34:42 PM: I'm sitting here looking at my new Castle Creations Talon 60 that just arrived. As with most electric stunters, the electric system on my new plane involves some magic, the old 10 pounds of poop in a 5 pound bag. In the back of my mind, I hear this little voice telling me that I should not shorten any of the wires coming out of the ESC. However, shortening the wires would make everything fit just so much better. I wanted to check before starting surgery. Is it OK to shorten the leads or should I leave them alone? I'm looking at shortening the three wires that go to the motor and the two wires that go to the battery/arming switch.

Thanks

Vince
Title: Re: Snip snip
Post by: John Rist on April 05, 2018, 04:51:00 PM: I have always cut the motor leads to fit. Some time I cut the motor leads, some times I cut the controller leads. Never had a problem. The switch harness lead length also is not critical. Typically in electronics short wires are good long wires are bad. y1

Usually the motor comes with bullet connectors installed. Typically you have put connectors on the speed controller. So the speed controller wires are the ones I usually cut to fit.

The critical part is good solder joints.
Title: Re: Snip snip
Post by: Crist Rigotti on April 05, 2018, 05:44:25 PM: Yup, snip away! I generally don't cut the motor leads because I want them to be "box stock" so I can just get another one and use it right away if I need to.
Title: Re: Snip snip
Post by: Tim Wescott on April 05, 2018, 05:52:42 PM: Just don't make the battery leads longer without adding some capacitance at the ESC.
Title: Re: Snip snip
Post by: David Hoover on April 05, 2018, 06:49:11 PM: Quote from: Tim Wescott on April 05, 2018, 05:52:42 PM
Just don't make the battery leads longer without adding some capacitance at the ESC.

Does this apply to adding an arming plug between the battery and ESC?
Title: Re: Snip snip
Post by: Tim Wescott on April 05, 2018, 07:35:37 PM: Quote from: David Hoover on April 05, 2018, 06:49:11 PM
Does this apply to adding an arming plug between the battery and ESC?

Yes. An inch or two shouldn't hurt. Castle has guidelines for how much you can add; I suspect the other decent companies do, too.
Title: Re: Snip snip
Post by: Fred Underwood on April 05, 2018, 09:15:11 PM: Start here for ideas.

http://www.castlecreations.com/en/accessories-5/cc-cap-pack-011-0002-02

then the long but informative read

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?952523-too-long-battery-wires-will-kill-ESC-over-time-precautions-solutions-workarounds
Title: Re: Snip snip
Post by: Vincent Judd on April 07, 2018, 07:57:32 AM: Quote from: Crist Rigotti on April 05, 2018, 05:44:25 PM
Yup, snip away! I generally don't cut the motor leads because I want them to be "box stock" so I can just get another one and use it right away if I need to.

Crist, how do you protect your ESC from the soldering heat when you cut your leads so short? Some type of a heat sink?

Thanks
Title: Re: Snip snip
Post by: Crist Rigotti on April 07, 2018, 08:54:57 AM: Quote from: Vincent Judd on April 07, 2018, 07:57:32 AM
Crist, how do you protect your ESC from the soldering heat when you cut your leads so short? Some type of a heat sink?

Thanks

No. I just solder it up. I use a good 60 watt iron. Can't use those punky 30 watt irons.
Title: Re: Snip snip
Post by: Vitalis Pilkionis on April 07, 2018, 12:50:35 PM: For those of you who use various kinds of active timers. I have noticed, that if I remove a ferrite ring from an esc control wire, a motor begins to "talk" in flight. It seems that a long wire from accelerometer to Esc acts like radio frequency antenna and therefore a motor begins to make extra sounds while running. I don't think that somehow affects Esc or motor performance, but it really sounds weird :) So better leave that ferrite ring on.