HobbyKing Online R/C Hobby Store : EC3 plugs (10pairs/set)

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7/21/2010
tomasstrom (46%)
These are much better than XT60. Easier to solder and easier to cover wires. Wish they would be more frequent in stock.

7/13/2010
david in japan (-30%)
will these take 60 amps?

Saurabh (98%)
yes, but not recommended though.

Straight Up (84%)
Use the larger EC5 plugs for 50A .

7/9/2010
Woody_99 (38%)
Be careful. The last batch I received, the battery end ALL split open after they had been installed for a few days.
I've used a lot of these before with no issue, but the last batch must be too brittle.

7/1/2010
DaveGahan (-110%)
For all of you guys who are still looking for some information regarding the handling of these connectors: I would recommend you the good old youtube. Use EC3 as keyword and you will find some interesting videos. That was what me helped. Greetings, Oliver

2/12/2010
Ednac (77%)
To assemble correctly: Use the smaller blue piece with the female gold piece and observe polarity. Hold the gold piece in pliers, heat with soldering iron and fill the "cup" about 1/2 full, then dip the tinned wire in and let it cool. While it's still warm, press in from the back of the connector with a small screwdriver until the connector snaps into place. When doing the battery, be sure to do only one side at a time so that you don't risk a short.

Saurabh (98%)
thanks this helped

Jolly Jumper (22%)
Big blue housing with male gold pieces = ESC side.
Small blue housing with female gold pieces = Lipo side.

When you make a mistake when assembling or stop using a product, just recover the gold pieces using a bench-vice and a bolt to push the gold pieces back out.

10/10/2009
cardude (72%)
the user that wrote "Customer Rated 27/08/2009
Customer
|
Cheap and good.
But the construction alows connections the wrong way. It is not hard to connect the - to the + to you blow up your ESC (I did it twice)."

probably had the copy version,
i just recieved 30 pc. from hobbycity and they are far better than the ones i recived when i orderd the series connector from hobbycity, these plugs are darker in color and harder in the plastic. and CANT be connected the wrong way around and the plugs are ressed so they cant short on any flat metalic surface.

i am ordering 30 more.

Malfamartin (70%)
The construction does NOT allow wrong connection for either of them. The problem is from the handler not installing the bullets right. The thing is to learn from the first mistake. To do the same mistake twice? Some people seem not to learn. Deans and the new "Blow socks" connector are for sure not "bad", but too old fashioned for me, as long as we have HXT and EC3 connectors to choose from.

Don (25%)
As for old fashioned (I'm not real sure what that has to do with connector performance), the HXT style connector was introduced by Graupner years prior to the introduction of the Deans connector. That would qualifiy it as the most old fashioned.

David (61%)
Dunno what your problems are soldering up these plugs :(

Just Google to 'E-Flite EC3 Connector Assembly Tips by Jim Booker'. There's even a video there, which makes assembly of these connectors foolproof, which they actually are in use as well!
The illustrated written instructions there are good too. Best thing is that HK sell 10prs for US$5.99 ... when they've got any :( ... whereas most other sources are about the same price, maybe a bit less, for a single pair!!!
I just wish HK would get more in stock ... how aboout it Hobbyking, there's a heap of people waiting for this obviously much better product???
Although possible, as far as stripping them from old equipt to use again, why would you bother at Hobbyking's prices. I possibly would if I had to pay the other higher prices from elswhere though, as I used to do with expensive Deans plugs.

David.

Malfamartin (70%)
Reply to Don! There are four things to a connector: Performance (volt and A rate), handling, quality (material duration, melting point etc) and installation (leads soldering, Schrink tube etc). Having this in mind it is easier to judge a connector. I dont have invention date on all connectors on the market, but both MPX and Deans I have seen (and used) for a very long time and can not see the advantage for either of them.

BalsaBasher (34%)
The ones I received cannot be reversed and - is clearly marked. Good value for money

10/2/2009
bothal3 (98%)
How do you disconnect (desolder) these plugs?

Malfamartin (70%)
Preheat them with a hot air gun and then press the bullets backwards with a thin screw driver.

batistufa (50%)
The only way is warming the gold connector and then push it out, but it's easier with the female connector than the male... With this price you should just cut your wires and solder in a new one... *)

Nobby (-44%)
They are not designed to come apart and if you try the plastic will usualy streech out of shape and wont plug together again very well and will likely come apart just when you don't want it too :-(

Thor Krane (38%)
Almost impossible without destroying the blue plastic cap. You have to cut away the blue cap in order to get to the solder. If its really important to save the cap, try this: heat the bullet with the solderiron from the other side of the wires (but not so much that the plastic melts, and try to pull them out. The heat will soften the plastic enough for you to get out the bullet.

Timothy (0%)
you really can't because once you snap them back out of the plug the plug is no longer any good

cardude (72%)
the easyest way to disasemble: when for examle disasembling a female. take a lose male gold connector and put it in the female connector and pres on the blue plastic down on a flat surface. that wil pop out the female gold connector and when pulling it out completly the male connector wil come lose, wola you have taken the ec3 connector appart and you havent damaged it. the plastic should be warm 25 degrees celcius plus. it wont work if its colder the plastic is to hard at that temperature.

9/19/2009
Ednac (77%)
I've had these on backorder for about a month* How can we get an update on if/when they will come in?

Ednac (77%)
I'll order some more batteries once I get connectors* otherwise, I have no way to connect the batteries...

Sven (34%)
I've waited for a week already. Not sure if I should just cancel the item so they will send my batteries and charger?

cardude (72%)
lol a week, i have been on backorder 6 weeks now. i orderd 3 pc. (10pairs/set)

Malfamartin (70%)
Said to be in stock week 41 (mid October)

Nobby (-44%)
I think they have? check now

9/14/2009
Garuda (61%)
Can this type of connector be reused? For example, I always take out dean plug from my spoil battery for reusing. However, I am not certain on this type of plug whether I can pull the bullet apart from plastic shell. Can any experience user give me a guidance. Thank in advance for your suggestion.

cheers,
kiat

Malfamartin (70%)
Can be reused at least a couple of times, then the plastic is worn out in the snap and does not hold the bullets as well as in the beginning.

Thor Krane (38%)
Its really hard to reuse the blue caps. The bullets are easily reused, as you probably understood.

Its possible to get the bullets out from the cap again, without cutting the cap by doing: Heat the bullet from the connection-side so the plastic becomes somewhat soft (not melting!), and pull / wiggle the bullet out. This with varying results!

Good Luck!

Timothy (0%)
you really can't because once you snap them back out of the plastic shell the shell is no longer any good and they are cheap enough to just replace the shell

9/7/2009
Don (25%)
These connectors are very easy to use and should handle more current than the Deans that they are replacing. As for assembly, the connectors can be inserted from either side - just make sure that they lock in place. Based on the design of the connectors and grips, though, it should be easier to insert the bullets from the grip side.

8/29/2009
Harold (50%)
These do not insert from the grip side. I followed the instructions on the hobby zone site and that tells you to put them in from the grip side. Pass the wire through the plastic, then solder and then push the bullet in.

Don (25%)
Harold, I have to disagree with you. I have been equally successful installing them from either side. It doesn't matter. They are designed to work either way. I use a very small slotted screwdriver to push the pin into the grip until I hear an audible snap which tells me that it is fully seated. I have found it easier to insert the pin into the grip from the wire (grip) side.

Harold (50%)
Never was able to get them to seat from the wire side. But the cut on my finger from trying has finally healed.

Ednac (77%)
They press in from the backside with a nice "snap"* I use a small screwdriver to do this while they are still warm from soldering.

Thor Krane (38%)
No! This is the wrong way!!

They really are inserted from the grip side, but you have to do it right after soldering the bullet, so the bullets are still quite warm (hotter than touching) so the plastic becomes somewhat soft. That allows the bullet to snap into place.

jhmcgcjhg (43%)
They do insert from the grip side, use a 2mm allen wrench, insert it between housing and wire to press the connector in

8/13/2009
Malfamartin (70%)
Unfortunately the description of items are usually quite ***r. So with these. Are they originals or pirate. Originals when bullets are inserted from the grip side. When the name is EC3 it got to be 3,5mm bullets. I suppose originals because otherwise the article no would be EC3-M-F-10!!??

Thor Krane (38%)
I think they're pirate, but you do insert from the grip side. And the quality is excellent :)

8/13/2009
Burnaby (75%)
Recommend for everyone not commited yet to wait till the new plug in town announced in the twitter comes out and HC sticks with a std for the batteries.
Halted conversion of everything to 3.5 and 4mm red bullets pending HC's battery choice.
Personally I don't like the red bullets nor the deans. EC3 is slightly better. Let see what the new plugs brings.

RoadWarrior (92%)
To my mind the bullet connectors are far better to handle (solder) than deans. The only thing I am angry about: hc sells the new lipos with bullet connectors, i bought many bullet connectors because i thought this is meant to be the new standard and converted some escs an soldered adapters. And just a few days later i read about the VERY new adapters in the twitter...

Burnaby (75%)
+1, would have just bit the bullet and stuck to the bullet if not for questionable plastic quality. The bullets pops out after a while. The plastic is easy to dent/warp making insertion tough.

8/13/2009
Miles-away (77%)
It would be useful to write, which size the connectors are. Looks like 3,5mm.

Burnaby (75%)
Probably safe to assume 3.5mm as all the other EC3 in HC are 3.5

Timothy (0%)
They are 3.5mm

8/13/2009
chatenever (82%)
What is the amp rating on these connectors? Also, can anyone relate experience re ease of soldering the wire leads?

Burnaby (75%)
Very easy to solder, way easier, faster than Deans. Google for instructions.

tomasstrom (46%)
Resoldering them is no problem provided you get them out of the housing.

Panpanta (82%)
Are they 3,5mm or 3,0mm can anyone of you confirm please ?

Ednac (77%)
EC3 connectors are rated to 60 amps.

batistufa (50%)
Panpanta, they are 3.5mm

Mcdyvie (67%)
60A is the max for these, the EC5's up to 120A. In my opinion they are among the easiest of connectors to solder. I have just ordered 20 Pair of the EC5's to change the whole fleet over.

DaveGahan (-110%)
I don't know the exactly specification but I have used them in several planes with a maximum of 40A. I never recognized any heating after the flights. Relating the soldering, it's most of all the same procedure as with all the other connectors. While doing this you should take care that the tin will not leave the connector. If it happened, remove it from the connector by using a knife. Otherwise it could be possible that the connector will not fit into the plastic.

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