piranha21

iTrader: (13)

When I plugged in my IP5400 4s yesterday (for the first time) there was a small spark that occured between the deans of the esc and battery. There was no way for the battery terms to touch, and there were no signs of shorting out the battery...ran fine. Just wondering what it could have been and hopefully it didn't screw up my brand new battery

agarabaghi

iTrader: (25)

its called an arch, and usually its a sign that your electronics are working ...

There is a way to reduce it, using caps or resistors or something, but some one else will have to chime in about that...

AreCee

iTrader: (1)

It is the capacitor discharging that causes the spark.

bboard

iTrader: (1)

Been running my eBuggy on 4s for a little over a year and it happens everytime. Sometimes its a bigger spark than others, but nothings ever been hurt.

piranha21

iTrader: (13)

Thanks...just wanted to be sure

Duster_360

iTrader: (21)

I uised to run a Quark125b esc with an extra bank of caps. When you'd connect batt, there was quite an arc - made enough noise, folks would notice and ask and was also doing a little damage my Deans.

Its def normal and just that momentary current surge as the caps charge.

ifuonlyknew

iTrader: (7)

If you don't want your connectors to spark any more check this out.

Duster_360

iTrader: (21)

I went thru all that when BrianG put that together, just make sure you pay attention to his important note -

"Important Note: Do NOT use this circuit on the Castle Creations Mamba Max or Mamba Monster speed controllers. Due to the way these controllers are designed, using this no-spark circuit may render the unit inoperative. This has been confirmed by Mr. Patrick del Castillo, president of Castle Creations."

SaladFork

iTrader: (9)

Funny mine do this also, causes me to jump a little everytime.

simplechamp

iTrader: (73)

You should see what it looks/sounds like when using an HV pack like 10S!

quadracer111

iTrader: (4)

I thought it was charging?

Anyway, its normal. Nothing to worry about.

simplechamp

iTrader: (73)

It is the capacitor charging. Right as the capacitor begins to charge the flow of current is basically only limited by what the battery can provide, hence the large spark. Has to do with the RC time constant and the exponential way at which capacitors charge and discharge.