These are the 5.5mm plugs from BK. I carry these as well-not a new product, actually.

does the 5.5mm gold plugs have a housing?...

No, they are just regular gold connectors. To keep them from shorting out, you can use heat shrink tubing.

I wouldn't trust myself... with my luck, I'd probably short it out.. .I fried an 18.149 like that..

That's why you would use heat shrink tubing to cover the exposed plugs :).

Yeah, I guess so.. but I was using power poles.. and I put the black in the red housing.. I'm glad it was only a $50 repair...