Eliminate the "dreaded spark when connecting pack"

[retiredVTT]

Today Class...a brief discussion on eliminating that d-r-e-a-d-e-d s-n-a-p of electricity that results when you connect a pack of five cells or more to your esc. This continual sparking..(the result of the esc capacitors charging instantaneously) can damage the capacitors over time and also results in a corroded connector which means the connector becomes a source of high resistance within your power circuit....a bad thing..!
This sparking is very apparent when connecting 8S, 10S, and 12S packs ..(which a number of heli use)

http://www.rc-warbirds.com/blog.php/tag/anti-spark/

The above link shows one way , albeit a bit elaporate, to cure this problem. It uses a momentary push button switch which connects the pack through a small resister, prior to the main switch being closed. It works..!

Bill

[retiredVTT]

OK..here is a more simple way to do this....

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1229558

..basically you have a parallel feed for the positive side of the circuit which has a resister in series...plug it in first along with the negative connector...capacitors charge. Then connect the main connector. The first connector could even be left connected as now the current will take the path of least resistance. Notice the comments within the thread, some people think this is much to do about nothing...but they have not experienced a 12S connection. Wacko..! (They spark big time)

Bill

[retiredVTT]

..But Wait...it gets better..!

For $17.00 someone has come out with an "anti spark with circuit breaker connector"!

http://www.infinity-hobby.com/main/prod ... ts_id=7328


Bill

[retiredVTT]

One more look at a high voltage circuit and the small 'resistance circuit" that prevents the almighty spark when connecting multiple cells to an esc. Although the value of the resistor in the small line is not given....a bit of trial and error with various small resistors should result in a suitable unit...obviously too large a value will result in a delay of charging the esc capacitors...too small a value will still result in a spark as the caps charge too fast.

the diagrams are worth a thousand words..

http://parkrcmodels.com/instruction/Hig ... quence.pdf


Bill

[AndrewS]

Here's another method: http://www.espritmodel.com/jeti-afc-ant ... m-75a.aspx

Andrew