Why people do not like standards ?

[knutn]

I believe in standards - Everyone should have one.....

Otherwise people could go and buy the cheapest and best product instead of being stuck to mine...

 

[infinia]

standards are OK but don't they come at the expense of future improvements/ with choices the market will sort out the wheat from the chaff.
would we have Apples MagSafe power plug to choose from against YOUR standard? nope

 

[Petee C]

When I do my boombox with tpa3116 amp, I'm going to use xt connectors. I have a dozen male and female ones from my foray into rc trucks this past summer with my son.

 

[chris661]

"There's like 8 different DC connectors, we should come up with a standard connector that works for everything!"

... and now there's 9 different DC connectors.

xkcd, right?


I use SpeakOn connectors for anything that'll be moving any current, but isn't mains.
For a DC supply, I'll wire them oddly to ensure nothing will happen if a speaker gets connected accidentally. Battery on 1+/2-, for example.

They're 30A rated, don't fall out, and are fairly resistant to bashing/mechanical abuse. What's not to like? 😀

Chris

 

[ginetto61]

When I do my boombox with tpa3116 amp, I'm going to use xt connectors.
I have a dozen male and female ones from my foray into rc trucks this past summer with my son.

Hi and thanks for the hint.
Now that i have discovered the existence of these XT60 connectors i think they could be used also as terminations for speaker cables. 20V gives 100W on 4 ohm ... with 5A current.
Given that i much prefer high eff speakers they would be perfect i guess.
Much cheaper than spades and normal receptacles.

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

there is also the panel mount version ...

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

Thanks again, gino

 

[infinia]

Now that i have discovered the existence of these XT60 connectors i think they could be used also as terminations for speaker cables. 20V gives 100W on 4 ohm ... with 5A current.
Given that i much prefer high eff speakers they would be perfect i guess.
Much cheaper than spades and normal receptacles

youre clearly not upset at the lack of standards
now are you, there are 3 DC connector systems for hobby RC stuff, are you sure this is the best one?

I think I can find low cost no nonsense dual banana plugs for 100W easily in my collection w/o breaking standards.

 

[ginetto61]

I think I can find low cost no nonsense dual banana plugs for 100W easily in my collection w/o breaking standards.

Yes you are right ... i have got carried away a little 😱
But i like these connectors for sure and also that they are in robust nylon.
I will buy some and try them.
Regards, gino

 

[infinia]

Yes you are right ... i have got carried away a little 😱
But i like these connectors for sure and also that they are in robust nylon.
I will buy some and try them.
Regards, gino

I like the EC3 system a little better

 

[mt490]

Only 3 DC connector systems for RC hobby stuff?

Hahahaha


EC3 has some nice characteristics for general purpose use (such as solder-ability and plug-ability) but availability appears to be declining steadily.

Also that panel mount kit is... grub screws, have fun.

ED- also, as my first post in this thread suggests, I don't think the XT60 is at all perfect, but it's a hobby grade connector that works great for hobby grade jobs.

 

[ginetto61]

I like the EC3 system a little better

Hi and thanks for the interesting suggestion.
Another discovery ... very beautiful also these ones ... they look really serious

Why the ... they do not use these beautiful standards more ? crazy
why do you like them better ?
better contact ? Beautiful connectors really.
Thanks again, gino

 

[bwaslo]

After reading through this, I'm surprised no one mentioned the lack of standards in polarity on the power plug types in the first post. Some adaptors come positive center, some negative center, some AC, each pluggable into some victim device it can blow up.

 

[Charles Darwin]

Not knowing EC3 or XT60 connectors I googled them and stumbled across an RC hobby forum discussing them.

Turns out most people there preferred Dean connectors to either the above mentioned ones.

Here is a little technical comparison between Dean and yet some more different ones:
http://www.stefanv.com/rcstuff/qf200001.html

 

[mt490]

That leaves TRX and 4mm bullets (unhoused and in various housings) unmentioned out of the common hobby connectors around this current range. 😀

The thing is, most of what's important in hobby RC is not important in Audio or general DIY anyway.

I'll just make a list from what I've found - both experience and research - about them:

(points where the connectors are average or about the same omitted)

Pros:
Deans
Ease of connection
Lightweight
Simple design

EC3
Ease of connection
Has been tested to be better than XT60 and Deans in static current handling tests by hobbyists (not by much, but it did)
Designed with all conducting parts on both terminals shrouded on connecting and wire ends

XT60
Hardest to loosen (hobby terms: won't come loose in flight/drive)
Best contamination resistance
Shrouded on both connection sides
Mechanically toughest to break

Cons:
Deans
Possibly too simplistic - low protection levels
Heatshrink relied on for exposed joint protection, easily slid off if wire gauge is small (especially as Deans connectors have small bodies)
Small body can be difficult to grip to disconnect
Male connector is two completely exposed terminals
At one stage the most 'copied' connector

EC3
Birdcage - prone to contamination and damage issues
Easiest to loosen
Mechanically weakest (bullets can be pulled out of the housing after some wear)
Least available now and most expensive of the three

XT60
Hardest to connect/disconnect (usually)
Exposed bucket connections, heat-shrink reliant joint protection often can be slid off if wire gauge is small
Male connector is shrouded but pins are not isolated between each other


To be honest, the only really relevant points here are probably availability and the protection level. The EC3 is functionally my favourite feature wise for general purpose use, however declining availability and RC use has lead me to choose XT60 instead.

Furthermore because they are hobby grade connectors, batch to batch contact resistance performance varies enough to invalidate any 'lead' one type has on another. Even the so called 'branded genuine' connectors of each type are not manufactured to particularly tight quality controls. Unless you are really pushing to 60 amps continuous they will all be good enough for the purpose.

I don't fly, so IMO Deans is really the biggest loser here because mechanically it's the worst design.

p.s: in the previous image, there were machined pin EC5's pictured in the foreground. These are one size larger, and commonly accepted current handling up to 120 amperes.

ED- one thing you'll learn in RC hobby - 'rated to' means 'feels good for' the majority of the time.

 

[dangus]

I live in hope that something like the EU will demand a standard smart DC connector, meaning that the source and load have microcontrollers that negotiate optimum power transfer. Hopefully Neutrik would design the physical aspects of the connector so it would be as safe, low loss, and rugged as their Speakons.

In the meantime, if you want a sturdy power connection, consider the venerable Jones connectors.

 

[ginetto61]

After reading through this, I'm surprised no one mentioned the lack of standards in polarity on the power plug types in the first post. Some adaptors come positive center, some negative center, some AC, each pluggable into some victim device it can blow up.

You are right. And also a small red led close to the mains receptacle would be nice to indicate when the unit is connected in phase or not with the mains.

Out of phase > red led on
In phase > red led off

Thanks and regards, gino

 

[Pano]

Hasn't there been a move to center positive on the DC coaxial connectors? I haven't seen center negative in years.