Printed DNA30 Bottom Feeder

[gdeal]

I found some dimensions for a "deans" plug here: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11864 (not sure it these are the smallest ones though). These are slightly too big for my design. My new top cap only has 10mm of internal height, the females on these are 15.5mm. Could shave off a couple of millimeters on the solder side...but it may be tight with wires etc...

 

[bapgood]

Why not just use good RC bullet connectors?

 

[turbocad6]

you don't need the full height you can bend the rear tabs over and grind most of it off leaving just a soldering pad.

that's an 1/8" aluminum plate to see how much further they stick out on the back side



bullets can work but high amperage ones can be kinda big too and some of the smaller ones are a little sloppy and loose fitting in the holder

I like these because there very solid locating with no wiggle room and hold pretty tight, you can even tighten up the connections by bending the spring tabs a bit. I also like the block body, easy to mount too, easy to work with and pretty compact compared to some other connectors.


I went to the hobby store and bought a few of every connector they had. a few of the pin ones were pretty good but they looked like you could bend a pin pretty easy if the cap came partially up and then was twisted from the mod.the housings were larger but not as rigid as these, these are bulletproof solid and you're not going to bend anything, all the other ones I just wanted to use the pins and make my own holders but these Were the easiest to work with for solid rigid use as is and easy to me, I really like them

 

[brawndo]

delayed post....that is amazing!!! I like to build stuff do you have a post on how you do the squonking section?Or Perhaps a parts list and I could figure the rest. The first one I'm going to do a mech/semi mech version. thanks and again amazing looking device.

 

[gdeal]

Turbo. Thats a very cool looking mod. Your approach may be workable. My current design is a bit smaller than yours and I would need to redo a lot of geometries, but it would simplify things. I took a cut at dimensioning the Deans connectors and placing them into the top cap inner shell. Its tight!. As is, the bottle would hit the connectors when removing and reinserting it, the device width will need another few millimeters.

View from the bottom looking up:

 

[gdeal]

delayed post....that is amazing!!! I like to build stuff do you have a post on how you do the squonking section?Or Perhaps a parts list and I could figure the rest. The first one I'm going to do a mech/semi mech version. thanks and again amazing looking device.

1) Fattdaddy 510
2) Drill out SS Pan head (6-32) - Head diameter reduced to 5.5mm.
3) 510 insulator
3) Brass washer
4) SS nut.

 

[brawndo]

thanks again got three on the way! I am amazed at bottom feeders I rigged one up the other day just to see what the fuss is. Not having to drip, fill up a tank, leaking ect. My first one I did i just popped out an old ce4 center post popped it in an old ego head taped it to a batt. pack. It fell apart at the end of the day. But wow can't wait to get building a real one!!

 

[turbocad6]

I took a picture of one connector sitting on a dibi,

if you used one more half it would make the "T" into an "I" and it would just about fit, but this is on a dibi which I know you have more room between bottle and battery because of the dna, and this is with the full sized connectors... search ebay for "mini T connectors" and you'll see there are 2 different smaller versions too, one exactly the same as this but miniature in black and another that is made by deans, that one is red and uses one pin on each plug half rather than male and female ends... either of those should fit fine I think

also, you can shave a bit off of a side or a corner on these if you need a little more clearance or to get them a little closer together

 

[turbocad6]

only reason I'm pushing these on you in the design stage is I've done the whole magnet and touch contact deal, have it in my dibi too, and personally I like a much more secure connection. with the magnet deal once the cap moves just a little it looses whatever little adhesion it had and then it just kinda comes apart. I hate mods that can just pop apart easily like that. these connections are so much better and to me I think there easier too. much more secure, much better connections and easier to implement and durable, should last really long trouble free once it's done

 

[turbocad6]

ok, here is side by side shot I found, these smaller ones should def work for you and they easily handle over 10 amps still, the big ones I'm using are like 40 amps + these are small enough that they should work for you as using 2 full connectors, using all 4 connections making it even easier, 2 connectors and done

 

[asdaq]

Someone mentioned locator pins here in the last few days, and in conjunction with magnets. Looking at these dean connectors, the plastic housing is where the bulk is and this does nothing for improving the Amp rating of these.

So as an idea, why not make your own connectors with brass rod and tubing? You can get telescoping sizes and either use heat shrink tubing or since it is in a plastic or wood mod, just epoxy in place for isolation. With three connections you get the lateral stability magnets need, and power delivered too. Each could fit a ~2mm hole, or for really beefy 3mm.

 

[bapgood]

These are great small bullet connectors for anyone interested http://www.rcdude.com/servlet/the-1494/Hyperion-Gold-Bullet-Connectors/Detail

 

[turbocad6]

Someone mentioned locator pins here in the last few days, and in conjunction with magnets. Looking at these dean connectors, the plastic housing is where the bulk is and this does nothing for improving the Amp rating of these.

So as an idea, why not make your own connectors with brass rod and tubing? You can get telescoping sizes and either use heat shrink tubing or since it is in a plastic or wood mod, just epoxy in place for isolation. With three connections you get the lateral stability magnets need, and power delivered too. Each could fit a ~2mm hole, or for really beefy 3mm.

I did that with my dibi, a copper tube that slips into another copper tube. needs more length for snug engagement but it does work well enough. no where near as strong and bullet proof though.

 

[asdaq]

Cool. I see Abe made it to the party too. With three (which you don't need), and some more length it would improve greatly. The bad part would be lining up all three just right, but if you drill both the body and the cap as one piece or at once, that part gets much easier.

 

[bapgood]

There are several types of bullet connectors that fit extremely tight. This style is also good one - Gold Plated Spring Connector 3.5mm (10pair/20pc)

I don't have anything against the dean's style connectors. It's just been my experience that good bullet connectors should work every bit as good and be every bit as tight.

 

[turbocad6]

I have nothing against bullets at all, I'm sure there are some that can do the job just as well, there are also row pins that can work too, I just preferred these out of all the different connector types I bought from my local hobby store but I'm sure there are many other designs that would also work just as well, I guess my main point is that any slip fit connections may be "better" than a magnet retained contact type deal from the experiences I've had with them at least

 

[turbocad6]

here is one of the smaller bullet connectors I have, I've got a few different sizes of these, they of course can work well too but as far as serviceability and durability and engagement strength I liked the deans more but these of course can work too. I think these can get damaged easier than the deans, changing one after the fact could be a pain, the deans should last forever even abused, once you factor in secure holding there really not that much more compact. i have larger ones that are nice too but the deans just winded up being my favorite, very easy to work with I think

 

[Cool_Breeze]

I did that with my dibi, a copper tube that slips into another copper tube. needs more length for snug engagement but it does work well enough. no where near as strong and bullet proof though.

Would a slight deformation of either tube help with engagement?

 

[Alexander Mundy]

ok, here is side by side shot I found, these smaller ones should def work for you and they easily handle over 10 amps still, the big ones I'm using are like 40 amps + these are small enough that they should work for you as using 2 full connectors, using all 4 connections making it even easier, 2 connectors and done

I've got some of the smaller Deans like those in my flight box I will have to dig out. Thanks for the idea.

 

[turbocad6]

Would a slight deformation of either tube help with engagement?

yes and no, I had to curve mine a little for a tighter slip fit, make it too tight and it is no good though, and for a comfortable yet snug fit I needed much more length of engagement, most good connectors are spring loaded so they hold firm but not too tight to insert and hold well with minimal insertion length

alex I think I'm going to pick up some of those smaller ones and redo the dibi with one the copper tubing is a bit sloppy to me and isn't holding up too well