[NSRCA-discussion] Arming Plug/Receptacle Problem

[James Oddino]

Put a 100 ohm resistor across the arming plug receptacle.  Then the  
capacitors in the ESC will charge without a spark as you connect the  
batteries.  When you connect the arming plug, no spark.

Jim


On Feb 9, 2009, at 8:08 AM, Ron Van Putte wrote:

> 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
>
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