So darn mad right now, need soldering help!

[Tamelesstgr]

So I'm feeling good that I got my son's Shockwave 26 out on the water today after its brushless conversion. Nothing blown up, not a drop of water in the hull. Great!

Now I'm trying to solder new EC3 connectors to my youngsters FT009 batteries and esc. I get one pair done, and now my brand new Weller 25w iron won't melt solder! I've taken the tip off, used flux, tried tinning, nothing works. So frustrated right now, I'm sure I did something wrong with the iron, what are the common issues??

[gsbuickman]

I've never used EC3 connectors, i prefer 5.5mm bullets. if I remember right you should be able to take the bullets out of the plastic housing on nose. when it comes to soldering bullet connectors the best investment you can make is an A handheld butane torch from Harbor Freight and a helping hands. I paid less than $15 for my butane torch butane pencil torch and my helping hands from Harbor Freight. it doesn't get any easier when it comes to soldering bullets than that. put a bullet in the helping hands heat it up with a torch melt solder in it & remove the heat. Stick your wire in it and let it cool, quick n Easy

[JimClark]

clean the tip and try it again. Didn't realize you are using A Butane. Never used one. I only use electric ones

[gsbuickman]

I am not sure what you are running for a power system in that, what I wouldn't trust those connectors with anything more than 45-60 amps or you'll melt those connectors just like Deans connectors

[tlandauer]

So I'm feeling good that I got my son's Shockwave 26 out on the water today after its brushless conversion. Nothing blown up, not a drop of water in the hull. Great!

Now I'm trying to solder new EC3 connectors to my youngsters FT009 batteries and esc. I get one pair done, and now my brand new Weller 25w iron won't melt solder! I've taken the tip off, used flux, tried tinning, nothing works. So frustrated right now, I'm sure I did something wrong with the iron, what are the common issues??

I use a Weller Soldering Station:
http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC100-.../dp/B000AS28UC Don't know if that is similar to what you are using. But in order for the tip to heat up the areas you are trying to solder quickly and efficiently, a chiseled tip is preferred as compared to a pencil tip.
In your case, if it doesn't melt, do the suggested tips ( no pun intended) and if problem still persists, take it back, there is always the possibility that it is malfunctioning.

I am not sure what you are running for a power system in that, what I wouldn't trust those connectors with anything more than 45-60 amps or you'll melt those connectors just like Deans connectors

EC3 is really not practical in the long run, it is a bit daunting in the beginning to consider something other than these or the Deans and Traxxas connecters. But if you are hooked to FE boats, I am sure you are, :-), then it is never too late to give the above suggestion a serious consideration.

[gsbuickman]

Thanks Tim , i agree. EC3 connectors are really not practical because they're only 3mm and smaller than most motor to ESC connectors and definitely won't handle the job of power delivery for anything more than 45 amps imo.

I have also tried Traxxas connectors and had 1 too many problems with them cutting out and losing power and having to retrieve my boots because of it. .

If I am running a stock 60 amp power system like most of the Aquacraft boats run I don't mind Dean connectors at all, and I am partial to the 60 amp 2030kv UL1 system. Anything more than a 60A system and i solder up a bunch of my favorite 5.5mm Gold bullet connectors. you won't find a better deal than these I have been using them for a long time and never had a problem up to 6s power ..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gold-Plated-5-5mm-Bullet-Banana-Plug-Connector-for-R-C-Battery-Golden-20-Pairs-/191563345421?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c9a10ae0d

[Tamelesstgr]

I chose ec3 for the FT009 only. I wanted 5.5 bullets for my other builds. I will check out the chisel tip and a butane torch. Thanks guys.

[NativePaul]

Will it not melt solder at all even away from the wire/connector? If so it is broken, it is probably not anything you have done to break it, they are simple devices with no moving parts all that can go wrong is the coil of resistance wire that makes up the heating element breaks, so unless you have been throwing it at brick walls it is not your fault, elements do blow sometimes but Weller is a good brand and I would expect it to last for years, you just got unlucky, take it back and trade it for a new one and see if they will let you upgrade as if you move to bigger boats that need 5.5mm connectors or the like 25w definitely wont be enough, I started with a Weller 40 which was enough for 4mm connectors but had to upgrade to a Weller 80 when I switched to 6mm.

If it melts solder away from the job but cant pump enough heat into the connector and wire to melt it in the job then as suggested above a chisel tip has more thermal mass than a pencil tip and will take longer to cool down so may be enough to get the job done, or a higher wattage iron will cool down less. If you are clamping the connector in something metal that will add to the thermal mass cooling the iron and I have soldered marginal things by wrapping them in a piece of paper to insulate them from the clamp before soldering.

EC3 connectors will be fine for this boat. gsbuickman, tlandauer, have you guys seen a FT009? It is a mini mono about 15" long with a brushed 400 can motor capable of about 12A, and a 10-15A can ESC. If he was to pull over 45A it would blow the motor or ESC almost instantly, and even if he upgraded to bushless 45A would put the boat prop side up before the connectors heated up.

[electric]

Agree with the posts above. I have the same cheap soldering iron now for 5 years and going strong. (Got it at Hobby Lobby in the stain glass area)
1. 80 watt Weller with Chisel tip (screwdriver tip, small tip does not transfer enough heat for the job)
2. Melt a little drop of solder on the tip of the solder iron to get a good heat transfer to whatever you are trying to touch with the soldering iron. (Key item, VERY KEY to get a quick melt)
3. Apply heat to the item (wire) with solder tip and then touch the wire with the solder to melt it onto the wire.
4. Touch the metal tab of you favorite connector from underneath the bullet, touch the solder on it and melt a bit on the bullet
5. Touch the wire to the metal tab of the bullet and then heat the tab of the bullet from underneath and watch the solder melt on both items as they join together
6. Let cool for moment and done.

[Tamelesstgr]

I was using pliers to hold the connector, and that got pretty warm, so it's pulling heat I am guessing. The tip will melt solder, but I think I ruined the tip because I sanded it. Of course I am not home this weekend, so now looking for a butane pencil torch or new tips.

[electric]

I was using pliers to hold the connector, and that got pretty warm, so it's pulling heat I am guessing. The tip will melt solder, but I think I ruined the tip because I sanded it. Of course I am not home this weekend, so now looking for a butane pencil torch or new tips.

Yeah, I tried the butane route, but never got the hang of it honestly. Need to, as it is a handy way to make field repairs. As long as it gets hot enough it should work the same as electric. I got to good at it, because now I am soldering all my family's boat wires. The trick is the steps I listed above, more than the device you use. I see people struggling to melt things, and usually it is because they are trying to do it with a "dry" tip and the heat transfer does not happen well. That is why they are getting huge wattage. If you put just a drop of solder on the tip first the heat transfer happens very efficiently to the item you touch and the solder then melts easily.

[ray schrauwen]

You can ruin a tip by sanding it.

[iridebikes247]

The weller with a big chisel tip is a really good investment.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...arehouse_.html

^^-This thing is a renamed Hakko station I believe a 936. I've had two for 3 years, extremely powerful and with a chisel tip this will take care of 95% of jobs. I too use a torch sometimes but be careful you don't overheat the joint. Use 60/40 solder also.

[tlandauer]

I chose ec3 for the FT009 only. I wanted 5.5 bullets for my other builds. I will check out the chisel tip and a butane torch. Thanks guys.

HI Ken,
I hope I didn't come across as "teaching a lesson" about the EC3 connectors here. As I pointed out, it is a dilemma for me as well, I have several smaller boats that I retained the Deans plugs and they are doing fine, but those batteries became the only ones I can use on those boats.
I apologize for any confusion I might have caused, and as said, they will be fine with your son's FT009.

[Tamelesstgr]

No worries, the mini butane did the trick for today, now I can charge the 1500mah lipo for the FT009 much faster than the wall charger that doesn't have a balance option. My older son did get a chance to flip his shockwave today and the hatch popped off and then proceeded to fill up with water and bOB there until I retrieved it. So many trials and tribulations today, but some learning experiences. We also learned that my dad's Blackjack 29 dominates all right now lol.