Deans Connector Soldering Helper

thingiverse

I like Deans connectors for my electric RC planes but they are a bear to solder. To get a good solder joint the wire has to be aligned perfectly with the solder lugs then you must get the joint hot so all of the solder is melted then hold it absolutely steady while the joint cools. To help out I made this soldering jig to hold everything just right. The plug is held by the arm which moves up and down. The wires are held by the wire clamp in two small V-groves with just the right spacing. The wire clamp can be moved horizontally and then locked to align the wires just right. I have used the jig to solder wire gauge 10 through 16. Two #4 flat head screws can be used to screw the jig to a piece of board to steady it. You will need two M3X25mm and two M3X20mm cap screws along with eight M3 nuts. I usually plug the connector I am soldering into a mateing connector and clamp the mating connector in the jig. This gives you more freedom to move the connector toward or away from the wires and acts as a heat sink. 8/27/18 - Added a second arm design for slightly larger Deans Plugs.