[NSRCA-discussion] Arming Plug/Receptacle Problem

[Ron Van Putte]

Good.  I will try it.  What wattage 100 ohm resistor?  Let's see,  
doesn't sustained power equal voltage squared, divided by the  
resistance?  If so, 42 squared, divided by 100 is 17.64 watts.   
That's probably overkill, since the current surge is transitory.  How  
about a 100 ohm, 10 watt resistor?

Just thought of something:  With the 100 ohm resistor across the  
arming plug receptacle, won't the ESC be on whenever the batteries  
are plugged into the circuit?

BTW, what about Castle Creation's statement that the "spark is your  
friend'?

Ron

On Feb 9, 2009, at 11:55 AM, James Oddino wrote:

> 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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