Desford Flyers
Connectors
Anyone who is new to this hobby should be forgiven for being confused by the plethora of different connectors used by different manufacturers for different purposes.
Radio Receiver Plugs and Sockets
Usually defined as "Futaba" or "JR"
These are three pin devices used for connecting servos and batteries to the radio receiver. Futaba type plugs have a polarising pip on their plastic housing designed to ensure that they cannot be inserted back to front. JR type plugs do not have these polarising pips but rely instead by having chamfered edges. The JR type of plug is also used by Spektrum.
Futaba leads are Black, White and Red. JR leads are Brown, Red and Yellow.
Plugs used for batteries in electric planes and helicopters
There have been a variety of plugs used by different manufacturers during the last decade.
EFlite use EC3 connectors. Also different sizes of the same design EC2 and EC5.
The most common connector design is Deans, which has two flat blades at right angles to each other. This design is the easiest to solder but can become loose and unreliable when excessively worn.
The battery connector which is becoming increasingly popular is the XT30, XT60, and XT90 range. Good quality examples of these are tight fitting and reliable. Examples of these can be found with built-in resistors which prevents sparking when connecting batteries to ESC or chargers.
It is worth mentioning the small red two pin plug used for smaller LiPo batteries incorrectly termed JST plugs. It is actually type RCY made by JST, the individual contacts being SYM & SYF, and the housings being SYR & SYP.
Soldering
In common with all of the connectors which require soldering, the use of "lead free" solder should be avoided because it work-hardens and fails when subjected to vibration.
Smaller auxiliary plugs
JST XH, JST ZH, Molex Picoblade
JST is the manufacturer called Japan Solderless Terminals.
The XH size is commonly used for balance lead connections on LiPo batteries. When connecting LiPo batteries to chargers the MAIN connection should be made FIRST because the occasional spark which sometimes occurs has been known to damage the tiny printed circuit tracks in the charger which connect to the balance lead if that connection is made first.
The ZH size is used by Spektrum to connect their additional satellite receiver modules to the main receiver.
Futaba use a very similar looking plug for the external voltage connection on their telemetry receivers. They are incompatible with ZH connectors. They are in fact Molex Picoblade connectors.
Radio Receiver Plugs and Sockets
Usually defined as "Futaba" or "JR"
These are three pin devices used for connecting servos and batteries to the radio receiver. Futaba type plugs have a polarising pip on their plastic housing designed to ensure that they cannot be inserted back to front. JR type plugs do not have these polarising pips but rely instead by having chamfered edges. The JR type of plug is also used by Spektrum.
Futaba leads are Black, White and Red. JR leads are Brown, Red and Yellow.
Plugs used for batteries in electric planes and helicopters
There have been a variety of plugs used by different manufacturers during the last decade.
EFlite use EC3 connectors. Also different sizes of the same design EC2 and EC5.
The most common connector design is Deans, which has two flat blades at right angles to each other. This design is the easiest to solder but can become loose and unreliable when excessively worn.
The battery connector which is becoming increasingly popular is the XT30, XT60, and XT90 range. Good quality examples of these are tight fitting and reliable. Examples of these can be found with built-in resistors which prevents sparking when connecting batteries to ESC or chargers.
It is worth mentioning the small red two pin plug used for smaller LiPo batteries incorrectly termed JST plugs. It is actually type RCY made by JST, the individual contacts being SYM & SYF, and the housings being SYR & SYP.
Soldering
In common with all of the connectors which require soldering, the use of "lead free" solder should be avoided because it work-hardens and fails when subjected to vibration.
Smaller auxiliary plugs
JST XH, JST ZH, Molex Picoblade
JST is the manufacturer called Japan Solderless Terminals.
The XH size is commonly used for balance lead connections on LiPo batteries. When connecting LiPo batteries to chargers the MAIN connection should be made FIRST because the occasional spark which sometimes occurs has been known to damage the tiny printed circuit tracks in the charger which connect to the balance lead if that connection is made first.
The ZH size is used by Spektrum to connect their additional satellite receiver modules to the main receiver.
Futaba use a very similar looking plug for the external voltage connection on their telemetry receivers. They are incompatible with ZH connectors. They are in fact Molex Picoblade connectors.
