I am replacing the connectors on my 2650 battery with deans connectors because the lead from the esc on my bought used plane has deans. The battery wires are awg 10, really pretty heavy. I am having lots of trouble getting a nice looking solder connection on the dean plug. does anyone have a suggestion/tip on how to solder such heavy gauge wire to the deans connector. I already ruined one deans. And I don't like the way the other one came out. I am using a soldering gun. Help! I am new at this RC thing.

I would say you are going about it all wrong. Why replace all those battery connectors? Why not just replace the SINGLE one in the plane and be done with it. Also I think 10awg is pretty big for a deans connector.

I thought about that but I let the hobby shop guy talk me into this. I think I made a mistake. What connectors do you suggest.

Originally Posted by john97618

I thought about that but I let the hobby shop guy talk me into this. I think I made a mistake. What connectors do you suggest.

Depends on the airplane size but I would go with whatever is on the battery if reasonable. Or save yourself the hassle of soldering ever again and get Anderson Powerpoles and a crimper.

Deans are good connectors to use.
Remove the first 1/4" insulation from the wire
Slide the heat shrink tube waaay up the wire (away from the heat).
Tin the exposed wire, then tin the deans.
Arrange the wire tip and Deans to touch like you want them to look when finished.
Get your solder gun nice and hot,
Touch some solder to the tip so there's a drop of molten solder to aid in heat transfer.
Touch the solder gun tip to the wire and deans joint.
Watch the joint liquify and flow together.
Remove the solder gun.
Allow the joint to cool undisturbed.
Slide the heat shrink over the joint

I've got a suggestion for you, (I've got all of the below):

Get this soldering iron: http://www.all-spec.com/products/MX500S11.html

Get this tip for it: http://www.all-spec.com/products/STT...FQHonAodqEgA_Q

And then see how much trouble soldering you have...if any of course.

Originally Posted by delfin2003

I've got a suggestion for you, (I've got all of the below):

Get this soldering iron: http://www.all-spec.com/products/MX500S11.html

Get this tip for it: http://www.all-spec.com/products/STT...FQHonAodqEgA_Q

And then see how much trouble soldering you have...if any of course.

I think that would be great if you soldered everyday, for me my $20 50w solder station from frys works great, just soldered 12awg wire to a deans connector the other night with no problems and didn't have the iron turned up all the way.

Best how-to around:

How to Properly Solder a Deans Connector by Innov8tive Designs (9 min 15 sec)

First off the OP stated he was using a Soldering Gun. A soldering gun does not have the required thermal mass to solder 12ga or larger leads on to a Deans Ultra connector correctly.

A 40 watt or higher soldering iron with a decent size chisel tip is required.

I have a fairly expensive 80 watt digitial controled soldering station and even with the largest tip I have for it the 80 watt weller iron with a massive chisel tip does better on Deans Ultras and heavy leads.

Charles

+1 to iron over gun. I hated soldering and thought I was hopeless at it until I realized all my problems were because of a soldering gun. Got a 50W station and it works wonders.

Originally Posted by delfin2003

I've got a suggestion for you, (I've got all of the below):

Get this soldering iron: http://www.all-spec.com/products/MX500S11.html

Get this tip for it: http://www.all-spec.com/products/STT...FQHonAodqEgA_Q

And then see how much trouble soldering you have...if any of course.

Delfin2003,

YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING, I'M SURE.

To all of you who responded thanks so much.
I elected to go with deans because that is what was on the end of the esc. When I checked to buy batteries it seems they all have different connectors so I elected to stay with deans. But I didn't realize that the batterries I bought had such heavy wires. (still learning things) I am going to go out and buy at least a 50 watt soldering iron because I agree that my gun just doesn't have it. Even the shrink wrap that came with the deans doesn't want to fit right over these wires. I absolutely appreciated the video link.[/B] Great technique for soldering. Although I wish he had heavier wire like I do. His fit nicely, mine don't because of the bulk of the wire.
I am going to re-do the connector I have because I would hate to loose the connection when I am learning to fly.
I must admit to a little frustration.

Soldering those heavy wires to deans is not easy. The problem you run into, no matter how hot of an iron you have, is that the amount of heat requierd to get the heavy wire hot enough, along with the soldering tab on the Deans, will deform the plastic body of the Deans.

I'm not saying it's impossible but it is not easy.

It's easy if you have enough Watts to heat the tip of the wire fast enough. The slower you heat it, the more the heat travels up the wire shrinking your shrink wrap prematurely and through the deans melting the plastic. But if you have a good high wattage iron you can melt even the tip of a heavy gauge wire down right speedy.

Like many other guys, the problem is probably from your equipment. I ended up buying a 45watt iron with a chisel tip and BAM...solved the problem instantly. Soldered all my dean connectors and I couldn't even pull them off with quite some force. I was so happy then i realized i forgot to slide the heat shrink tubing on...SON OF A...lol oh well, gave more more practice i suppose