Hard to plug in to RX ...

[solentlife]

Many will know this and we all struggle with oversize hands, needle-nose pliers etc.

The Rx is down there in the fuselage and the wing servos need plugging in. We decided to transport model dismantled. We need baby sized hands and fingers to connect up.

Solution ? short lead tails.....

It's easy to make up very short tails that plug into RX ... with then easy to connect to plugs for the wing servos, saves all that fiddling to plug direct into Rx ...

Dismantling / re-assembly of model is then no longer a pain ...

Nigel

[rcers]

Great advice Nigel - have used that for many years. Amazing how much easier it is to separate the ones that need separation.

Mike

[gramps2161]

I normally use 3" extensions on my rx for anything that needs to be taken apart. Have a couple of war birds that need 2 to 3 of these.

Good idea posting this up to save some new folks the trouble of pulling out the RX and fumbling around trying to get everything stuffed back in.

[slipstick]

Always useful to remind newcomers of these good old ideas.

But be aware that extension sockets aren't really intended for frequent connect/disconnects and can get loose, so some positive way of holding them together is a good idea. It can be as simple as a bit of tape or I believe there are even clips you can buy to hold things together.

Steve

[rcers]

Steve - I get it but in 34 almost 35 years of flying...I have never had one separate in flight. Maybe I have just been lucky.

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by gramps2161

I normally use 3" extensions on my rx for anything that needs to be taken apart. Have a couple of war birds that need 2 to 3 of these.

Good idea posting this up to save some new folks the trouble of pulling out the RX and fumbling around trying to get everything stuffed back in.

Actually the reason I posted it ... quietly passing on tips without seeming to be a Schoolmaster !

Another tip for extension leads in fuselages / hidden etc ... no need for fancy plastic holders etc. - simple self-amalgamating insulation tape is enough and doesn't increase size of plug joint ...

Nigel

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by rcers

Steve - I get it but in 34 almost 35 years of flying...I have never had one separate in flight. Maybe I have just been lucky.

I have to say I agree also ...... in fact plug/sockets that are not used can actually end up NOT contacting ... the act of unplugging / plugging in keeps them clean !

Nigel

[CNY_Dave]

Originally Posted by solentlife

Actually the reason I posted it ... quietly passing on tips without seeming to be a Schoolmaster !

Another tip for extension leads in fuselages / hidden etc ... no need for fancy plastic holders etc. - simple self-amalgamating insulation tape is enough and doesn't increase size of plug joint ...

Nigel

Hey, the rubber tape with no adhesive for securing servo extensions is *my* trick!

I also use it to secure clevises (clevi?).

At the club I saw some nice extensions with snap-on covers that secured the connectors.

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by solentlife

I have to say I agree also ...... in fact plug/sockets that are not used can actually end up NOT contacting ... the act of unplugging / plugging in keeps them clean !

Nigel

Agreed!

If you've got plug/sockets buried inside the fuse or wing as extension cables, it is rather important that they be gold plated, along with being secured with shrink tubing or similar material.

That bit of experience comes with working with this stuff for way to many years. We had problems with connections that were never disconnected and reconnected more than once every 10 years. Gold plating took care of that type of issue.

Also do not use stuff like CA to permanently connect two connectors together!!!! One thread in wattflyer describes where one person did just that, then blamed the resulting radio failure on the brand of radio, rather than the connectors he CA'd together.

[Wildflyer]

Originally Posted by rcers

Steve - I get it but in 34 almost 35 years of flying...I have never had one separate in flight. Maybe I have just been lucky.

I did have a plug come unplugged, unfortunately it was the one between the battery and switch, on a 60 powered Sun Fly 4, pattern plane. It rolled and dropped into a vertical dive,of ~800 feet, into a run off pond about 18-24" deep of water. That was the last flight of a great plane.

Around here some guys custom make a one plug unit between the body and wing, they use a high quality male and female plug similar to a video connection plug on a computer, but smaller. Some are in the middle of long servo extensions hanging loose, and some are mounted to to wing and body, in a manner that allows it to move a little for vibration, but must be plugged together for the wing to seat properly.

[JetPlaneFlyer]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

Also do not use stuff like CA to permanently connect two connectors together!!!! One thread in wattflyer describes where one person did just that, then blamed the resulting radio failure on the brand of radio, rather than the connectors he CA'd together.

What's the problem with that? I've joined servo extensions together with a pin head size drip of CA and never had a problem. Obviously you need to be careful not to get any on the pins themselves, is there any other problem?

[pmullen503]

Take a look at these: http://www.hansenhobbies.com/product...nlpconnectors/. Make all your wing connections with a single locking connector. These need special pins and sockets but they also sell a line of non latching multiple connectors that use the stock servo pins and sockets so you can just reinsert them into the multiple connector shells.

[solentlife]

Personally I don't like the commercial locking covers for servo lead connections. I prefer tape as I don't want big holes for the leads to pass through. In fact for a permanent extension - I prefer to solder the leads removing the plugs altogether.

But back to original point ... it is to make easier connecting to RX ... short extensions so that you are not having to work in cramped fuselages ...

Nigel

[slipstick]

Originally Posted by rcers

Steve - I get it but in 34 almost 35 years of flying...I have never had one separate in flight. Maybe I have just been lucky.

Since I had one separate in my first year of flying (a while ago now) I guess you must be either lucky or perhaps careful. Now I find I'd rather spend the extra 5 seconds needed to make it safe than rely on luck .

Steve

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by slipstick

Since I had one separate in my first year of flying (a while ago now) I guess you must be either lucky or perhaps careful. Now I find I'd rather spend the extra 5 seconds needed to make it safe than rely on luck .

Steve

I have some joints that feel a bit slack and those I do not use in leads that need to be unplugged end of each session. I check them to make sure contact is good then use for permanent leads in fuselage / wings etc. but taped together so they do not fail. Sounds wrong - but think about it ... the really good stiff to connect are best in the unplug location ... such as wing aileron to RX ...

Nigel

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by JetPlaneFlyer

What's the problem with that? I've joined servo extensions together with a pin head size drip of CA and never had a problem. Obviously you need to be careful not to get any on the pins themselves, is there any other problem?

I've got 45 years experience in trouble shooting, repairing, testing, teaching customers how to use our $$$$ circuit breakers and the electronic and computerized controls that go with them. That job took me to just about every state in the USA, 29 foreign countries, and around the world five times.

Every so often, we'd get a control back where the customer sprayed some anti-corrosion stuff all over the inside of the control for protective purposes. And, we'd have to send back information to that customer that his $6000 control was a total loss because of that compound.

This stuff can affect reliability of the product. And, in our case, a circuit breaker control that operated a three phase circuit breaker rated at 38,000 volts, 800 Amps continuous, and 16,000 amperes fault clearing, reliability is rather important.

The problem with CA and similar materials is it's tendency to weep all over the place, and get into the contacts of the connector. And, cured CA is an insulator! IMHO, that CA is a lot worse than those anti-corrosion stuff available.

And, those CA fumes might also affect the contact reliability. As for me, I just use a short piece of shrink tubing from the friendly Harbor Freight company. Secure, and easily removed with a sharp knife when required.

Remember, we are dealing with low voltage signals, 6 Volts DC or less, with rather high currents, easily several amperes. Any contact resistance at all can and will affect reliability of the connector.

[hayofstacks]

I just make sure I plug my wings in before any flight, when the wings are off.

I had an extension with a break in it, but I have not had anything else fail.

[solentlife]

Originally Posted by hayofstacks

I just make sure I plug my wings in before any flight, when the wings are off............

?? Isn't that normal ?

The point of the thread was to give tip to those who don't know - that short extension into RX can make life so much easier to plug in those leads that are disconnected for transport / storage. Instead of fiddling about in bowels of model !

I suppose someone has forgot to plug in wing somewhere ?

Nigel

[solentlife]

Extensions .... I not only buy ready made extension leads - but also make own to length I need ...

The material for those are usually burnt out / dead servos for the plugs and left over bits of extensions I've cut up for the socket part.

I solder together, 1 wrap of tape each lead and then heat shrink over all. Never had one fail yet.

Nigel