sick of paying $3 for deans plugs
 

i saw a pack of 10 pairs of deans plugs for like 6 bucks on hobbycity, but now they are gone. is there another source of cheaper imitation deans plugs?

I purchased these when I saw that HC wasn't carrying the T-connectors anymore:
http://www.himodel.com/electric/Dean...et_W_Ribs.html
They seem to be about the same quality as the HC ones and mate up well.

-Jeff

PERFECT!!

thank you

Anyone notice something wrong with this picture? :lol:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t...TmaXX/5859.jpg

Last time I checked you were supposed to put the male end in the other way...

*rant on*

I guess I just have an issue with buying imitation parts. I don't care if they work all the same, I will pay the original creators for their product. Imagine you design something, just to have someone else steal the idea... It's just like integy and how all of their rock crawling tires are EXACT replica's of other companies tires, just shittier.

*rant off*

Hey, you're entitled to your opinion, I've got no problem with that. However, I will continue to save my money by buying less expensive options that are functionally better - No Deans product has ribs to make disconnecting easier. The picture, though, is kind of funny looking even if no one would attempt to connect them that way.

BTW, I also purchase "compatible" toner and ink cartridges from non-original manufacturers at considerable savings, and don't think twice about it.

-Jeff

I agree with you Slowkrawl, to a degree. I don't have a problem at all with paying the asking price to the original makers, but it does seem like they are price gouging. I mean, c'mon! $3 for a single pair of connectors? You can get a set of gold bullets (which have a lot more material) for the same price, and Deans are not exectly a complex design. After all, they are just two flat bars encased in a type of plastic. Oh, I guess we can't forget the curved springs on the male units. :sarcastic:

Prices tend to lower over time as the "technology" matures and the manufacturing process improves, but not these. And you'd think with the millions of these things sold, they aren't exactly hurting. IMO, $3 would be a fair price for 3 sets of Deans.

Not to mention Deans has not improved the design over the years. Back in the day, they were perfect, but today's larger setups need a design that has at least 50% larger contact area and slightly longer casing for easier grip.

Oh, and if we are gonna gripe about copycat companies, why not complain about Traxxas connectors? The connector design is very similar when you look at them. Actually, they are more of a combination of Deans connector with PowerPole wire entry.

And while we are talking overpriced parts, how about tires/rims and lexan bodies?

I guess that is the price we pay when the term "hobby" is used on a product.

i agree with you brian. 30 bux for a peice of formed lexan is a bit much... :(

It's called 'royalties' guys.... something you get when you have a patent and other companies want to use it.

and licensing fees...

Over the years I believe that Dean's has earned their share. I'm going to look into getting the imitation dean's with the ribs. My C-tech Lipo had those on them and they are fantastic, and for 1/3 the cost. It's a free market and I like competition. Someone improved the deans connector by adding some grip to them. I'm sure Dean's has known about this problem for sometime, they just haven't done anything about it :(

Edit: not saying I don't/havn't had loyalty to the original Deans Ultra plugs, and I'd gladdly go back to supporting the original designer if they improve the design before I go out and buy 50 pairs of the imitation plug.

Brian, I see what you are saying. I would also like to think that deans will realize they have new competition, and be continually changing their product.

They never changed it, because they don't care... they have been made the same for years, and they are not going to change there molding/manufacturing equipment so we can have some grips, you know. I'm sure it costs them pennies to make as well.

It's the way it is...

I am sick of dean's connectors frankly, they wear out quickly IMO, and they are causing problems with charging (resistance increase, and false charge readings) and the connectors are heating up alot when charging even at 10 amps for A123 packs.

It's not just the grip, it's the contact area. The current ones work fine for 1/10 scale applications, or maybe lighter/2WD 8th scale applications, but I personally think they are too small for buggies, truggies, etc unless you are running HV/LowA setups. Yeah, they handle it ok, but how about at least 50% more contact area. Make the prongs wider, a tad longer, and thicker and I'd be happy. I still don't like paying what they cost though - just not worth it for what you get. Now that there are more options out there (powerpoles, Traxxas, etc) maybe, just maybe they might see lower sales a new larger version and/or cheaper price on the current model. Pipe dream, I know. The biggest hurdle for us (and in their favor) is that most people don't want to re-invest hundreds of dollars in replacing what they have on their current ESCs, batteries, charge adaptors, etc.

Are powerpoles as good as deans? Seems like they have less contact area than deans... I would like to see some deans xl plugs... Maybe go to something like the ec5 connectors? They should be better than deans/traxxas/etc for handling power.

Scratch that on the ec5 connectors, though they had 5mm bullets in there, turns out they are 4mm bullets... Why does someone not make a polarized 5-6mm bullet housing like the ec3-5?

No $hit.

Wait, I know... because they wouldn't wear out as quick, so less of you buying their product, and less money in their pockets. :whip:

True...

I just read some reviews of the HC ec5 style plugs and people give them high praise for performing better than deans... It would be nice if they had the newer style split end male plugs, and not the spring collar style. I have had issues with 4mm plugs as motor wires, and gave them up for lent, so to speak. I use 5mm min bullets on my motor wires, or direct solder them. I also do not use the spring collar plugs anymore, just the split style.

Maybe get the holders and substitute the castle 4mm split plugs. They would not snap into the housing properly, but I always pull the plugs apart by the wires.

If only someone had a little capital to invest. Anyone wanna take a risk as developing a high current battery connector, designed by/for RC enthusiest?

Is 12ga wire good enough? Then Deans should be enough contact area. I saw an article somewhere in one of the mags a while back that did a test of all of the major types of plugs out there and the Deans and traxxas came out on top having no detectable difference between the plug and a piece of 12 ga wire the same length as the plug. That seems good enough for me.

I personally would be a bit annoyed if deans changed their plugs. I have way to much stuff with the deans on there now to go back and update all of the plugs. I thought about going to traxxas or the new Losi 5mm bullet style connectors, but I did some math on what it would cost and it was a few hundred dollars:oh: Kinda scarry actually. Makes me think how much money ive spent on this hobby over the years. if there is tah much in just plugs.

Also, the hobby city T-Stlye deans connectors are not as good as the "real thing" I bought some zippy packs a while back and was having issues with them not having the punch I thought they should. Then I noticed that the plugs that came on those packs were getting pretty hot during use. I took them off and replaced the imitations with the real deal Deans and all the issues were gone. No more hot plugs and punch as good as any of my other packs. The cheap plugs were the problem.

I have avoided the imiataions ever since that. Do what you want, but in my experience you get what you pay for.:yes: $3 vs having issues with a multi hundered dollar brushless setup. Seems like simple math to me.

How did they do their tests? Simply measuring resistance is useless unless it is done via a conductance meter (for very small resistances). But, a true test would be to pass ~100A and measure the voltage drop across them.

And I don't think anyone is talking about replacing the existing design (because they work very well for what they are designed to do), but adding a larger size to the line-up. I think we can all agree that they are expensive for what they are.

And while we're at it, how about a three prong non-polarized Deans for BL motor connections?

I agree though, replacing existing plugs would be expensive - with that kind of $$$, you may be able to get a MMM combo!

The test was more involved than the simple resistance like you said. I agree, that would tell nothing. I'm not sure exactly how they did the tests anymore, it was a while back. SHortly after the Traxxas connectors came out I know that becasue i was impressed that they were rated so well.

You and me both mate, you and me both.. :wink:

I agree though, deans must have a hell of a mark up/ profit margin, hence why they cant be assed to change the design as most/many people are happy to continue paying $$ for the old one.

Anyone seen these?

http://www.allerc.com/images/Pictures/HP-CON45-3MF.jpg

Good? bad? ugly? Discuss...

Looks pretty good to me. Whats the diameter? Probably comparable to the 5.5mm or 6.5mm bullet style we have all been using.

4.5mm, they also have 2.5 and 3.5, though Im not sure if thats the overall diameter- probably is though. I like the little springy ring that holds the pins together, and the fat male shaft (I know, I know, its not my fault) looks like it could handle some serious juice through it (its not my fault!).

Real soon.

Hmm... I'm pretty much selling everything I have so I'll be able to pick whatever plug I want to use. I have used Deans, HC Deans (haha I got some of them), Traxxas Plugs, and Tamiya Plugs (I didn't know any better). I think I'm going to go with Traxxas Plugs but if there is something better than I'm all for using that instead.

the ones on the zippys are not the ones that hobby city sold.
these are the one hobby city sold
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...n/IMG_1334.jpg
i have tons of them i just need a few more...:sarcastic:

Brian I want to see 3 pin Deans as well- they already make a micro version, I guess the tooling costs are just too much.... :oops:

linc:
"Are powerpoles as good as deans? Seems like they have less contact area than deans"

I have seen a set desolder themselves (on Nimh!) but they were not crimped, just soldered. I bought a bunch years ago to clean up the wiring on my old Japanese streeter, they are awesome for making custom harnesses, but I would not use them for anything over 30 amps personally. I do love the design, and I solder them with a butane torch, super quick.

Wire nuts FTW!

wire nuts! i used to melt them on my old rustler with msc. FTW!

I still have nightmares about my old msc on my txt-1, damn thing cost me an impossible to replace TXT-1 stub axle, had to switch over to Clodbuster stubaxles. Cursed thing wouldnt center on neutral throttle, and it smoked like a hippy, as did the one in my Madbull. Good times...

Your griping about $3 for high quality, hobby grade power plugs? Welcome to hobbys. No one said this shit was cheap. This is even more ironic coming from someone who lives in one of the most expensive cities in the nation.

Perhaps Nikko is more your thing?

"This is even more ironic coming from someone who lives in one of the most expensive cities in the nation"

Way to stereotype. Before linc calls you something colorful like freezepop, I suggest you chill that ego, and let's not turn a thread about connectors into a fight.

That's all.....

Jeeze, you are just full of wisdom, and are a real asset to the RCM community. :no: where's the rollyeyes?

I've used some of those ribbed hobby city ones, and some I got from a vendor at the ihobby expo. (lightning power) So far, I haven't had much issue except that the plastic is softer and melts much easier than the genuine deans... and the fit and finish is not as good.

I use them mainly for things like charge leads, or on my kids cars, etc... not usually for my main race car and packs. But I have used them when I was out of deans, and never noticed any power losses or heat issues.

I think the chinese packs that come with connectors are often HORRIBLY soldered... with big blobs of solder etc. I would recommend ALWAYS re-doing the solder work on these packs. Besides, the lead wires are always longer than needed, so they should be shortened anyway. I think all the long wires and crappy solder joints are a common cause of problems people have with high power electric cars.

Wow, I'd be happy if they only cost $3...my LHS sells them for AUD$9 (US$7.10 today) for a m/f pair!!

I think "freezepop" was just trying to make a joke, as the nikko comment alluded to. He may come across a bit harsh but I am sure he is just poking a little fun.

This is not a cheap hobby, and if you want stuff to work well and last the best products are necessary. I have used deans for quite a while and they have generally served me well. They could be better made, and some sort of cleaning instructions on the packet would be beneficial too. I would like a polarized bullet connector housing that could handle something like 5mm bullets. I like the idea of the ec5 connector, but I think it could be a bit bigger for our high current uses.

I am starting to outgrow deans as my setups become more refined, so I will be looking carefully into the various products available.

I'm not bashing Deans connectors, buut, what is so high quality about them??

It's just two pieces of metal melted into a blob of plastic.

Go ahead and use Tamiya connectors then and watch what happens.

I melted 4 of the HC ribbed plugs, in 4 packs. I bought them after a member here said they were just as good as Deans. They are not, and They will not handle the power that Deans will. My Deans have had no problem. BTW on low power stuff they do fine, put them behind a 50mph MT and they melt like butter.

I've used deans for a long time and I'm happy with them. I'll never use imitation deans again though, and know other guys who say the same thing. When I did use imitation ones, they were the ones that were really hard to pull apart or pulled apart too easily. The worst thing they do though is loose connection even when they are plugged in. Makes it hard to find the problem when it's never happened to you before. You check your plugs and solder joints and all looks well, but it still cuts out mid race. I pay double what real deans cost in the U.S, but too me it's still worth it to not have any hassles from them on a race day.

I use EC5's and am pretty sure they are 5mm bullets in there. They never get warm, even when racing. I've got an unmade pair here, alongside a 4mm connector, and the EC5 bullet is definately a lot bigger. It dwarfs the 4mm completely.

The diameter is definately 5mm too, I just measured it. This isn't the bent loop bit either, but the tip widest part of the tip.