Servo Lead Extensions

[Andy J]

Have been looking over the last couple of months for some servo extension leads as my stock is running low.  I Usually buy the JR 22awg twisted wire type with locking tabs but there seems to be a shortage of supply across the globe for the last 6 months. Yes you can buy singular leads, but I normally like to purchase multiple packs which HK used to sell as its far more cost effective. Has anyone else noticed this or perhaps found an alternative supplier of multiple leads. 

[EvilC57]

How about these from AliExpress?

[Andy J]

Certainly look what I was after but not a member of AliExpress so was unable to establish a price.

[toto]

I bought some extension leads from Amazon..... cant really say I'm an authority on how good they are ..... but they seem ok and work fine. Not twisted type but I'm sure you'll find them there too.

 

Cheers

 

Toto

[EarlyBird]

Not twisted but.

 

Servo extension leads and Y leads from 4-Max

 

I wonder if George will do a deal for multiples.

 

Steve

[leccyflyer]

I'm afraid that after one duff purchase of a pack of 10 extension leads from an unknown supplier, they failed the pull test, went straight in the bin and I went back to getting my extension leads from my mainstream suppliers, such as Servoshop or Leeds Model Shop. I use them as additional items to help spread the postage cost, so always have some in stock. I prefer the JR style leads and recently have been trying out the twisted, soft silicon wire examples. 

[Ernie]

 

Hi Andy

It really is very easy to make them up from old servo leads etc. I keep the plug end intact, and join the wires. You have exactly the length you need, and you have quality control. Bare the wires, solder them together, and protect the lot with heat shrink.  Also, its not difficult to fix the plugs on.

There are zillions of tutorials on the web.

ernie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

; T

[Mike T]

There's a wide selection at Component Shop:

 

https://www.componentshop.co.uk/leads/extension-leads.html

[John Tee]

Sussex Model Centre have futaba leads with clips in stock.

 

John

[Brian Cooper]

If nothing else, this thread certainly highlights the sad shortage - or even absence - of local model shops. 

 

What a shame. 

[Andy J]

Purchased these in the end so will report back if they are any good.

[PDB]

16 hours ago, Mike T said:

There's a wide selection at Component Shop:

 

https://www.componentshop.co.uk/leads/extension-leads.html

Any advice on when you would use the heavier 22AWG over the lighter weight 26AWG?

[Peter Jenkins]

I used 22 gauge wire for one of my 2 mtr aircraft that had twin elevator mini digital servos.  This added a lot of weight as the lead was just over 1 m long.  Changed it to a 26 gauge wire and I've not noticed any problems apart from it being half the weight!  On that basis, I will not be using the heavier gauge wire in future on these large aerobatic models as the additional weight doesn't seem to be justified.  If I were wiring up retracts in war birds with 70+ in wing span I might use the heavier gauge wire.  So, for all the usual type of club models I cannot see any point in adding the additional cost or weight either.

[FlyinFlynn]

1 hour ago, PDB said:

Any advice on when you would use the heavier 22AWG over the lighter weight 26AWG?

My 2p.

 

This site has the current carrying capacity of 26AWG wire as 361mA and 22AWG as 920mA, admittedly it is talking about a solid copper power wire but you can see the relative margin. I would wager some modern digital servos would draw more than either of those in a stalled condition. You also benefit from a stronger tensile strength but I would imagine the crimp would be the weakest link in the 'chain'.

 

For anything more than the smallest of installations I would always go for the thicker gauge.

[Simon Chaddock]

Except that site does point out that the max amps figure is "very, very" conservative and depends on the insulation temperature characteristics. I cannot detect any significant temperature rise with 26AWG servo wire at 1.2A 5V continuous.    

[EvilC57]

It’s just a physical strength thing as far as I’m concerned with 26 vs 22SWG. 26 gauge always seems a bit fragile to me, when you consider the twisting, bending and other stresses placed upon servo wires (and extensions). So I tend to prefer 22 gauge except for small light, or indoor models.

[Mike T]

On 05/08/2023 at 09:11, PDB said:

Any advice on when you would use the heavier 22AWG over the lighter weight 26AWG?

Personally, on wing servo extensions or anywhere where a higher voltage (>4.8v) battery is being used.  I'd also use them if they were all I had in 'stock'!

[Michael Barclay]

On 04/08/2023 at 16:24, Ernie said:

 

Hi Andy

It really is very easy to make them up from old servo leads etc. I keep the plug end intact, and join the wires. You have exactly the length you need, and you have quality control. Bare the wires, solder them together, and protect the lot with heat shrink.  Also, its not difficult to fix the plugs on.

There are zillions of tutorials on the web.

ernie

 

I have always made my own. Being a pessimist I always thought the time would come when stuff might be hard to get so bought tons of wire, plugs, and crimping tool to make my own up. Pessimism does pay. I still have a ton of 6 mm white Depron as well!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

; T

 

[Andy J]

Leads arrived today from the FE. Not quite as described as they are a Futaba plug with a polarity tab but very easy to modify with a scalpel. Pull test seems to indicate a good crimp on both ends. 

[Keith Billinge]

I bought one of THESE from Ali Express and THIS and some of THESE....

Cheap as beans!

 

Now I have enough servo leadery until I kick the bucket.

KB

 

P.S. the same crimp tool will do JST connectors and the little ones on lipo balance leads too. In fact it'll do any DuPont type connection. The crimp tool to search for is the SN-01BM they are ubiquitous and cheap Amazon if you are wealthy or Ali-Express if you have a couple of weeks to wait.

Edited August 22, 2023 by Keith Billinge
I'm very old!

[Geoff S]

The crimp tool I bought years ago from Ash (of Ashloks fame) looks very similar but doesn't have any sort of label.  It works fine, though.  The wire and connectors Keith points to look a good buy for stock.  They'd probably last me out, too!

[Andy J]

I too have a crimp tool but it has taken months (if not years) of practice to ensure a secure connection is made with the selected wire.  Using a headset magnifier certainly improves the end result for those of a certain age.

 

A good trick is to buy 1m pre-made leads and then cut these down as required and this results in three less crimps.