Martin,

From your description, it sounds like so-called Tamiya connectors, which exist in different sizes and are quite common.

For an overview of common connectors, you could have a look at this page in the Component Shop web shop: **LINK**, which might help you positively identify what it is you have.

I'm sure it would be possible to find ready-made adaptor leads between various types of connectors, but it is not all that difficult to make them up oneself, either.

Personally, I prefer the Deans type of connectors, and have taken to replacing any non-Deans if they are already soldered on when I buy a piece of kit.

/Mattias

Regarding the `gold bullet' connectors. The Mtronics ESC which are quite common have two leads (one yellow and one blue with female bullet connectors. These are the connections to the motor and I buy the corresponding male connectors from Maplin, but they should be available from other suppliers.

Martin. Get some heat shrink while you are at Maplins, or get a pack of assorted heat shrink bits when you get your other connectors.

I have also been changing my battery connections to Deans. Much more reliable that the Tamiya ones, and, if required, handle much more current.

With the benefit of hindsight, the more commonality you have with connectors, the better.

Ashley

Martin,

I don't know about should when it comes to one connector or the other, but if, as it seems, you are planning to switch pieces of equipment between different models, yes: I think it would be a very good idea to go for one single type of connector across the board. It will mean some cutting and soldering as you go along, but in the long run I rather think it'll save both trouble and effort.

Which specific connector is to some extent a personal choice, but as Ashley says, the Tamiya's have a reputation for being not always as reliable as one could wish for, whereas the Deans give a very solid connection indeed. They are also, from what I've read, able to handle higher rates of current without breaking into a (plastic) sweat. And finally they are very easy both to solder and to unsolder, and do not require any assembly/dissambly beyond solder and heat shrink.

A word of caution, though: while you can get away with having a male Tamiya on the battery (given that the male parts are covered by the plastic housing), you can not do that with a Deans connector!!! The male bits of a Deans are always exposed (I say! How shocking!), so if you put one of them on the battery, sooner or later they will come to lie across something that will allow the current to pass, and the battery will be shorted, ruined and may cause worse things, like a fire, to happen. Only ever put a female Deans on the battery!

Ans yes: as Ashley says, get some heat shrink, too! As the soldering tabs on a Deans (male and female) also remain exposed, they need to be covered by heat shrink to protect against shorts.

Finally, I have found it useful when soldering Deans connectors to actually pair up a male and a female. That way, if the plastic softens slightly under the heat from the soldering iron (as I've sometimes known it to do), the connector tabs won't come out of alignment. Mind you, this is probaly mainly due to my poor soldering skills, but still …

/Mattias

If it's of any worth as an endorsement, I've converted all of my battery, ESC and charger connections to the Deans type sold by Component Shop, and I'm not a fan of Tamiya connectors or conversion leads.

Dave M

One tip when soldering the cables to the connectors. These connectors can be distorted by excessive heat and it doesn't take long to melt the plastic  and ruin the alignment between the plug and socket contacts, so I always plug together the two halves of the connector while soldering. It's important not to accidentally short together the contacts, so solder the male plug onto the ESC first and then leave it plugged in while you solder the cables from the battery to the other connector. Don't forget to fit the heat-shrink sleeve.

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 12/10/2015 10:42:00

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 12/10/2015 11:06:37

Martin,

Unless I'm much mistaken the connectors are marked with a "+" and "-" sign respectively, next to the blades on the soldering side, and Dave's schema above (unsurprinsingly, as it is by Dave) correctly shows the red wires going to the blade marked "+" and the black wires to the "-" one.

/Mattias

Edited By Banjoman on 12/10/2015 11:27:53

You're welcome, Martin!

As far as I've been able to find out they have nothing to do with Dean's Marine, but come from a US company called W.S. Deans: **LINK**

/Mattias

Martin

You might find this article useful **LINK**

Just to confirm the polarity of the Deans-type connectors:

The Chinese manufacturers of the items sold by Component Shop were threatened by W S Deans for copying their connectors, so the crafty little gentlemen simply added some moulded ridges to the plastic which makes them easier to open and close. They are referred to as Deans-Type connectors to avoid legal action. Silly, isn't it?

Dave M

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 12/10/2015 12:42:16