[NSRCA-discussion] Arming Plug/Receptacle Problem

[Ron Van Putte]

I have a problem which I am sure many other E-powered airplane owners  
have that I'd like to solve.  I use an arming plug to connect the two  
5S Lipo packs to the ESC.  On initial contact of the arming plug with  
the receptacle, there's a big spark thrown.  Eventually the contacts  
on the arming plug and receptacle get burned to the point where the  
electrical contact is very bad.  Yesterday I had to land my airplane  
deadstick because (I think) the ESC saw what it thought was low  
voltage out of the battery that was actually due to the burned arming  
plug/receptacle contacts.  BTW, I am using high-amp Anderson Power  
Pole connectors, which are probably more susceptible to having the  
contacts burned than would Deans Ultra connectors.

  I have thought about putting a BIG capacitor in parallel with the  
arming plug, that would damp the initial current surge which causes  
the spark.  The capacitor could be removed before flight.  However,  
I'm wondering if there's a more elegant solution.

Ron Van Putte