Parallel Setup - Warning Bullet Connectors

[mbsteed]

In a a scenario with two batteries in parallel or series, don't use Bullet connectors like this:

View attachment 4262

Tell me how I know. On my HoverflyPro octo I have 4 ESCs powered by one battery and the other 4 ESCs powered by another battery (the theory is redundancy). I had two connectors using the stand bullet connectors that came with the batteries. It all works fine but a few weeks back I accidentally plugged the two batteries together - an easy mistake to make. The problem is of course, it shorted and flames came searing through my figures. I will have a scar for life.

My suggestion is don't use these kind of connections on any ship that has parallel setup - there is nothing in the design of the connection to stop you from plugging these together.

I have now moved everything over to XT60 connectors.
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Don't make my mistake. Why would they design a connector with bullet style connectors and put it on so many batteries? It is fine for one battery setups but still poses a danger with some unsuspecting person who might try something stupid.

 

[Arxangel]

That is why I only put female connectors on batteries, that way you can never plug two batteries into each other.

 

[Bartman]

arxangel, the problem with the hobbyking bullet connectors is they don't have a female or male side. they're all the same and can be connected to each other. i almost had the same thing happen when i had two new batteries on the bench. my 7 yr old son came along and started fiddling with them. he almost plugged them into each other before i stopped him.

sorry to hear you've been injured Marlon.

 

[Arxangel]

That is exactly why I cut them and solder the new ones right away.

 

[Bartman]

yup, i do the same

 

[Sebas600]

I have 4 ESCs powered by one battery and the other 4 ESCs powered by another battery (the theory is redundancy).

If you want redundancy link them together...
I alyways use double batteries but linked to all ESC's
And it can fly on only one of these.
Have you tried to hover / take of on only the four or four?

 

[Sebas600]

O M G :dejection:

I must be the biggest idiot alive.

One day after reading this I've put two batteries together!
Guess it was a bit early to play with potential bombs.
Lucky there was a very good pair of scissors next to me on the table.

One dead battery.

Head still intact.

XT60 is the way!

 

[Munch]

Or use XT150 for bigger ones.

Edit: Oh, just saw in the picture that you're talking about the XT 150 connectors, how did you connect them the other way round? One connection is bigger than the other, no way to get them together the other way round?

 

[ghaynes]

Munch, the original post was about the connectors on the HK Zippy. They are not XT150's. While they have polarity there is nothing to stop you from connecting two batteries together. In fact if you buy those style of connectors they don't sell as a male/female individually like the XT150's you show in your post. Just plain bad karma....

 

[mbsteed]

I don't like the look of those XT150 - the male ends are not far enough inside the plastic case so could easily make contact with the opposite polarity by accident.