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Electric Stunt => Gettin all AMP'ed up! => Topic started by: Dennis Toth on October 02, 2020, 02:16:03 PM
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Guys,
What is a good size soldering iron for doing Deans and Bullet plugs? I have a large soldering gun but this seems a bit overkill and doesn't give a nice joint and discolors the housing. I'm thinking maybe like a 25 - 30 Watt iron?
Best, DennisT
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Personally I prefer a higher wattage iron. I don't like guns. It lets you heat the material you are soldering faster and lets you get a good flow quickly. Mine is/was 80 watt with a 1/4" beveled tip. I have used it to do all the plugs, connectors and never melted one. Best investment I ever made was the soldering station.
Ken
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Ken,
What soldering station do you use? Does it allow you to vary the iron heat level?
Best, DennisT
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I like some control over the temperature. I have had good luck with MPJA soldering equipment. It is cheep and Works for me.
The one I have now is the Mini Solder Station, ZD-99. You can buy one along with a spare Replacement Handle and a handful of tips for under $50.
https://www.mpja.com/ZD-99-Solder-Station/products/461/
For a few bucks more you can get a true temperature controlled iron.
https://www.mpja.com/ZD-929C-Solder-Station/products/460/
They also have a good price on 1mm (.039in.) Solder. 60Sn/40Pb Rosin Core.
https://www.mpja.com/1mm-039in-Solder-60Sn_40Pb-Rosin-Core-05lb-Spool/productinfo/33593+TL/
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For thing like Deans connectors and 14-12 Ga wire I use a Weller 80 watt iron with a very large tip.
You need the large tip to be able to heat up the connector and the wire quickly.
You can find them sold for doing stained glass windows:
https://www.amazon.com/Weller-W100PG-Farenheit-Soldering-Degree/dp/B002I7X7ZS/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=soldering+iron+stained+glass&qid=1601777440&sr=8-3
63/37 (eutectic) solder is a bit easier to use than 60/40. It melts at a slightly lower temperature, and has a more distinct phase change from liquid to solid when cooling.
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I just finished soldering up the deans plug for the connection to the battery pack and cut-off switch / ESC. I used a Weller 40 watt iron with a 1/8" chisel tip. This worked so well, I finally got smooth solid joints. Just tinned the wire and deans blade then heated the back side of the blade then brought the wire to the blade. Nice clean joint.
Best, DennisT
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Certainly not an expert on Deans Plugs but over the time I ran RSM Distribution and sold electric power systems I did purchase and solder up over 5,000 Deans Plugs. What I used was a 40 watt Weller Solder Station with a 1/4" chisel blade solder tip. Station works very well. Just tin the connection blades and apply the solder tip to the back side of the blade. I used 1/32 flux core solder purchased from Hisco (63/37032PSENG+1 SOLDER 1# SPOOL part # 110170) a bit expensive but superior, clean, smooth solder joints.
Purchased the Deans Plugs (copies) from Hobby King in bulk because they were high quality nylon with "grips" so they were easier to pull apart than the hard plastic smooth Deans brand. Always plugged a male plug into a female plug to keep the connecter blades aligned.
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Eric,
Do you have the Hobby King part # for the Deans plugs? Are they available in just male or female styles? Would be great cause buying one at time for $5 is nuts.
Best, DennisT
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Hi Dennis:
I just looked up the part on Hobbyking.com These came male and female in sets of 10. You can also purchase them as male only which is great if you are normally soldering them onto the ESC.
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E-Bay has em also
https://www.ebay.com/itm/20Pairs-T-Plug-Deans-Style-Connectors-Male-Female-w-Shrink-Tubing-LiPo-Battery/313253229627?hash=item48ef58f43b:g:MeYAAOSwvl1fgfiS
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Eric,
I just went to Hobbyking site and order the 10 pack of the Nylon T connector Male plugs SKU: 606Bx10, $2.65. Only thing I didn't care for was the shipping cost is three times the cost of the product. But still less then buying them in packs of two for almost $6.
Best, DennisT