Best RC Battery Connector Roundup - how to choose the best rc connector type
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
- We test the best rc car battery connector types and adapters and discuss the best rc connectors for beginners - XT60, XT90 , Deans, EC4 and IC3, wire and bullet, just compared. RC Battery Connectors at Amain - snp.link/3d0a3826
Switching over everything from Dean's to XT60. Even my existing batteries. I bought a bag of Amass XT60 connectors and I'm going to have a soldering party.
The good news is we'll be expert at soldering AFTER the switchover. :)
Just go all the way to XT150 instead 👍You won't regret it 😉
I did the same thing a few years ago. You will be thankful you had a soldering party, great move. As you know, Amass is the original inventor of the XT series and is by far the best! I too only use the Amass brand. Amazing how many knock offs there are today, the casing plastic in the knocks offs are harder and of lesser quality.
@@kenneth_jensen I only run 2s on my vehicles. 3s on my TRX4 Sport. If I ran 3s or higher on my bash vehicles, I would jump to XT150.
@@Benchmark67 Yes! I tried some Amazon "choice" simply for the price point... Whoops. While soldering as I'm accustomed to, I found that the cheaper brand failed and melted at the connection point in the center and the housing as well. I solder these with the male and female connected to help distribute heat.
I use XT30, 60 and 90
There's also an XT120 connector out there which has "smart" additional connectors for monitoring your battery cells/telemetry.
And there's the mighty XT150 which I think might become the future standard.
Thank you for that!!!
I like the EC5's, their larger size makes it easier for my big stupid fingers to operate.
Very true. One can go ALL EC5 and be compatible on big and little cars.
Just go XT150 instead and be able to split the connector for easy serial connect batteries 👍😃
I'm all-in on EC5, but it sounds like with Spektrum/Horizon moving to IC5 for smart stuff shouldn't become a problem for me because they're interchangeable. I can forego smart stuff in my LiPos!
Just hope the 3rd party lipo mfrs don't stop offering EC5 items
EC5 is also on all my 2-4cell batteries. They're cheap and easy to flame solder. Cheap storm lighter is my best soldering tool.
EC5 is an easy choice. If you’re even somewhat knowledgeable in the hobby and know how to operate a charger, then save the money and go ec5 all the way
I've been thinking of switching to XT style for quite some time now. All Traxxas currently
Hope our rambling helps your decision process.
Then go XT150, they can even be split for easy series connections 👍
I personally use EC8, and now, QS8 connectors. Those are 8mm connectors. They can handle much more current. 200Amps continues, and 400Amp burst. I mainly do bashing. But my batteries are much bigger. The biggest I own, are 9000mAh 4S Lipos for my Krzton 8S.
Holy moly! Appreciate the share man.
A very informative and entertaining channel. Thank you sir!
We aim to entertain. Whatever comes with it is a bonus.
Xt90 xt60 or xt30 all day everyday!
The XT series is definitely the best of the bunch.... all my rc vehicles, planes, drones and boats have been converted to use the XT Series 💪😉
Yeah, hard for us to knock our sentimental Deans favorite but with some objective thought, the genius of the XT 60 reveals itself.
@@RCReviewChannel thank you for the reply 🙏 for me Deans and Tamiya are so 1980's and with today's electronics and batteries we need to move forward, even though I'm a old school guy some things need to be upgraded.
I am just searching heavily on this topic and then you talk about this. I should have waited for your video.
Rrriight????? A timely topic for us too.
You forgot to mention powerpole connectors I've been using those for 18 years for all kinds of rc.
it seems so obvious now, but it took me freekin days of research to come to that very conclusion. xt60 all day long.
Just getting back into the hobby after 20 years away. Back then I remember there was Tamiya, Dean's and bullets but some of us found a non rc hobby specific connector called Anderson Power Poles. They were better than anything else at the time and are non gendered so you never had to worry about if you had a male or female connector. I'm switching everything to those connectors again.
Problem was they literally disintegrated when exposed to certain chemicals like electric motor cleaner and they do eventually wear out similar to Dean’s plugs and would disconnect after a hard landing or impact so nothing is perfect their best selling point was price & modularity of the plug along with the whole no gender thing.
@@hondofourfivetwo9347 Never had any issues with Anderson Powerpoles, you can bend the connector if its to loose to tighen them up and they won't disconnect after hard lander. If they are not making a snapping sound when plugging them in, the connector inside needs to be adjusted. If your APP's were disintegrating when electric motor cleaner hit them, then you didn't get genuine anderson powerpoles. There are a lot of cheap rip-offs out there.
I found that the XT60 is way too hard to pull apart and nothing to grip. Such a pain in the ass (or rather: fingers) to disconnect batteries etc. The IC3 and IC5 's are really fine in comparison.
My Slash still has its Traxxas connector (the old one) and I put the red JST in the smaller scale crawlers. That red JST is good for the limited space but if I'm not paying attention, I could force it kinda easily in the wrong way and fry my stuff lol
Anti-spark XT90 all day baby. They look dope with the green little beep-boop spark-go-away zone too.
The spectrum g2 batteries with their connector and a spectrum smart charger is a killer setup. Not only that, but many top brands are using the spectrum components, so it seems like a no brainer. Connectors need to be standardized in the industry for sure. It's pretty obnoxious
Good informative video like always! Thanks man! I did some reading a few years ago after rejoining the hobby and found the XT series to be the best based on their solid connection and how well they disperse the amperage load. 30,60, 90 and 150 seemed more fitting for the systems that I would run in anything from a 1/5th scale to an 1/12th. I've always found that the stock electronics are sub- par for the capabilities of the RC vehicles so I naturally replace them asap, so having 1 connector that matches everything has always been important. Especially out at the spot when you forgot to charge your spare and want to borrow one HAHA!
I read somewhere that XT60 has a better amp draw because of it's contact path.. but I need some evidence to believe that lol
Venom has a good thing going with their universal connectors. they include adapters with each battery.
I love your channel but your information on Deans connectors is completely wrong. What you said may hold true for generic Deans but the REAL Deans connectors are reliable, safe, and perfectly capable of handling similar Amp loads of any plug that uses 4.5mm - 5mm bullets. i.e. XT90/IC5/EC5 etc. Ive used them in my Kraton 8S and the only ones that have ever failed were the generic ones. The REAL Deans are even better now that theyve been re-designed for better amperage tolerances and higher temp plastic housings which also makes them easier to solder now too. Not that soldering them was hard in the first place.
I too was all about deans as that was the cats meow back in the day and it was way better than the molex connectors. Then I switched everything over to Traxxas for years and now I am switching everything over the XT series connectors and couldn’t be happier. Thank you for all the hard work you do on your channel I really appreciate it you teach me a lot. Much love brother.
I came here because I want to switch out all my deans plugs. I'll be picking up xt60s. Thanks for the review even though I'm 3 years late, lol.
switched all from deans to xt60
I've had deans melt off on a 3S basher. Switched my bashers to XT90 and now they are barely warm after a pack. And of course run XT60 on my crawlers.
Thank you very much! You’ve done a great job. I was pretty confused about connectors prior to watching your video. It’s much clearer now. Good stuff 😊👍
Indonesia is here
Greetings from Indonesia👋
What does Indonesia use?
@@RCReviewChannel here on average using the T-Plug and XT60 models
I think the XT connectors are compatible with the EC connectors as well as the IC connectors.
I still use powerpole connectors.
Good to hear !
Great connectors showdown Mister 👏🏼, I'm starting buggy racing so in this case the EC5 connector with a 120Amps is the best option I guess...
I was going to install TX60 until this video. Nice info thanks 👍🏻
Deans are the easiest to use for me .
Same here.
I use the xt series on everything, haven't had any issues from crawlers to boats to drones. Nice helpful video 🤘
I have three charger first is Hitec charger next is traxxas dual charger then I just got spektrum dual smart charger and I have a lot of REEDY Wolfpack LiPo because of my older models like Clod Buster and TL01 emax 3906 but I mostly use traxxas plugs but I use Spektrum radio and esc and motor so I don't know what way I should go
im at a disadvantage. they are connectors. metal to metal, plug. why is one better than another?
its still just a contact point. different materials should be the difference.
a gold tamiya should not be any different than deans or just straight soldering.
so what causes these differences?
I got into this hobby about a year ago and am totally a addict so I have accumulated quite a few cars. My local hobby shop is A-main hobby and being new to all this I didn't realize they like to shove Traxxas anything down your throat! So I have ended up with a ton of Traxxas batteries and 2 charger that are pieces of s***!! I got so pissed at these finiky sh*#boxes I ripped them out the wall and smashed them with my boots like a psycho until they were a million tiny pieces. So now I'm changing everything I own to xt60. Don't waist your money on Traxxas connectors and definitely not chargers. Listen to this guy, he's never sent me in the wrong direction.
Does this still apply today ?
So far I only have 2 cars both Traxxas but I put a new esc in one and it has XT60 but I’m wanting the S2200 charger so I’m thinking about going to IC5 for everything.
Good choice or no ?
I have 16 rc cars and share batteries between alot of them. would I be better off using an xt90, that way I am good if I am using a 3s battery in my stampede, UDR, Xmaxx or Losi LMT.
you answered my question. I can use EC5 cables with IC5 plugs. Thank you
Deans absolutely suck! Back in the day, they were outrageously expensive. They are tiny, so no way to properly grip them to disconnect, you’ll be tugging on the wires weakening the connection. Soldering a deans plug is a huge pain the the ass. I don’t hate any connector other than the deans. I get mad just thinking about these connectors. Did I mention how much deans suck? Go with xt60, makes the hobby so much more enjoyable.
Yeah except some my whoops all my drones batteries are xt30 and xt60. My airsoft only things have tamiya plug on them still. Those batteries probably ain't even good anymore
The reality is you may not be able to acquire the Traxxas connector you need and you're going to have to improvise.
That's part of what this hobby is about and the other part is if you're smiling you're doing it correctly.
Still the part I like best is forcing the pros and experts to do as I ask or get kicked to the curb.
I'm fresh out of tolerance for them and I'm going after them with what you could call lemon laws. Shape up or get shipped out. MAGA
They should be ashamed how much they charge us for rc stuff and Deans plugs are fine for anything under 3s
Ive been using deans for a long time and ive never ever had any problems with deans how ever i have watches a lot of youtubers and they all use the xt plugs and every time they flip thier cars they come unplugged
Nice to know :) I had first T/Deans, then EC/IC 5 and now also XT60. I´ll solder to EC5 my new 6S LiPos
I also save the connectors from batteries that go bad and use them on new batteries.
I've got an xmaxx coming and the batteries i got for it have the ec5 connectors. If i cut the Traxxas connectors off I've heard it voids the warranty. Should i cut off the Traxxas connectors and put ec5 on it or is the xt90 that better where i should swap over. I have a couple high current ec5 to traxxas connectors coming but i don't think I'm gonna even use them. And i don't have a traxxas charger so putting traxxas connectors on the batteries isn't really an option.
I am changing my 6s esc to ec5 connector soon, caz I find that a lot of more powerful batteries like 4s to 6s are have ec5 or Ic5 connector now a day, also ec5 can be use on ic5, you just can't use the smart system, and some people are saying ec5 can be plug in to xt90, or xt90 can plug in to ec5, I am going to try it soon.
If all this are true, using ec5 or xt90 is better, also some one on u tube already show, that ec3 can be connected to xt60 too.
I have XT90 plugs on my batteries. Best charger for them? (Thanks heaps) GO --->
I often wondered why large scale bashers "only" have XT90 connectors for their escs. With escs for 1/10 scale bashing and above rated at least 120A constant draw, is not EC5 9 ( or above such as XT150) the only "safe" choice?
Trucks ain't the only RC out there, if you are going to talk about general RC stuff, at least give boats & aircraft a thought, there's a lot of RC users who don't use 4 wheels.
Running xt90 plugs in all my 1\10 scale stuff got tired of melting traxxas plugs.
I’ve been into RC for a long time and have a bunch of cars when I started out all I ran was LightSpeed connectors (aka Sermo’s power poles or Anderson…) they were priced similar to Dean’s but since they didn’t have a male or female 1 bulk bag could cover whatever you needed the housings could be configured in a couple different ways so you couldn’t mix up polarity or a motor and battery connection just watch what chemicals you exposed them to motor cleaner made them disintegrate. When I got hardcore into racing I built my batteries (yes built NiCad/NiMh packs) to use with 4mm bullet plugs I left for a while when I came back everything was Lipo and brushless I pretty much switched to Dean’s at that point but it didn’t last currently I’m running Dean’s on all my older stuff (anything 7.2V or 2S) where I still need a connector, for my crawlers (smaller 3s-4s batteries ) I’m using XT60’s and for my race stuff (bigger 2s-4s) I’m using 4mm/5mm bullet plugs with the majority of my bigger batteries being bullet plugs it’s easy to adapt them to whatever plug is needed for other vehicles too
Is if safe to run a car and battery with an adapter? Meaning my battery is ec3 and the car is deans. I dont really have another option right now..
Got this flash light battery has what looks like tamiya style but latch lock is on side. Also female connector is on battery.
I am still with deans xdd bin in the hobby for years and tryed and tro I think I'll stick too deans xdd
I loved Dean's plugs. Then I got the ec/ic then went to xt. Nothing is more reliable than the xt series plugs. They hold good plus they solder together super easy.
I'll stick to the T style. Less expensive and work very well.
My planes run on XT60 and it´s much nicer than deans on my 1/10 cars
In the 1980's I used Tamiya connectors now I am leaning towards XT60's for my 1/10 scale crawlers and XT30's for 1/16, 1/18 & 1/24. Very interesting vid Francis 👍🏴
For once I disagree with u Francis. The ic5 are far and away the best connectors I’ve had and I’ve used them all. Easy to soldier, handle 120amps and stay together the best when bashing, the best connections. I know kev went to all these a few months back also for the same reasons. Also I bought a bag of 25 for about $50. That’s only $2 a connector. That’s not that expensive at all for what ur getting and eBay has them in stock a few places.
That is a good one for sure.
Ahh you missed the XT150 😉 They can take 150A current and you don't need adapters to add batteries in series as you can split the connector plus and minus👍😃
Just saw those monsters after. So nice.
@@RCReviewChannel after looking back 20 years, when I started in RC, those connectors have only been growing in size 😂 But so have the amps and current too.
I have just switched to XT150 all the way around. Also to be future safe the next 10 years... I hope 😁
Thanks for your great channel, love to watch your review and get some lgc inspiration among others 👍😃
01:00
Isn't XT90 actually 120 Amp?
Excellent explanation! Being new to the hobby, the choices for connectors was mind boggling until I saw this video. Thank you!
Thanks for a good video. Lots of useful information.
+1 for the XT series. nearly everything I have is XT-60 and XT-90. Simple cheap and can handle a good amperage load. XT-150's are the next step for the big 5th scale. much easier to add batteries in series.
I never liked how tight and hard to grip the Deans connectors are.
Right? Without the wire, it's hardly workable.
Just updated my ole Wraith with xt60 connectors. 💚🙏👍
no ragrets?
@@RCReviewChannel , Love them...no regrets.
I use EC3 and ice in my airplanes.
Thanks for this. I've needed to buy another Lipo and decided to purchase one with a xt60 factory fitted, so I'm taking the plunge and going to be soldering all my existing batteries and esc leads to xt60's.
Good choice! It is the future for sure
He uses dean's? What a dinosaur. Just kidding.
Xt90s come out all the time ask Kevin Talbot
In several bashing vids the xt connectors have the tendency to unplug with a heavy landing. IC5 or EC5 seem better connected and don’t unplug so fast.
We appreciate that share.
I have switched to the IC5 for all my cars
I think XT60’s are under rated in terms of amps
Yes, they carry 120 amps no problem. They were tested at 180 amps and the solder melted after 10 seconds. Deans in 2 seconds.
@@RCReviewChannel I love the XT60’s. One of the skills I picked up last year during quarantine is soldering. The little well you add solder to and then tin your wires works perfectly. Now getting a JST soldered to it as well and then sliding the clip back over is a learned skill that takes a lot of practice. I’ve melted Tamiya plugs and smoked a Chinese made Deans but never a real Deans or XT60. The Hobbywing ESC’s are super easy to solder too with the terminals that have the bowls in them
Is there a converter for sm-4p connector to thead?
Is the sm-4p connector any good?
Which Connector Has Less Resistance?
spektrum ic5 best connector bar none!
Which is better XT90 or EC5
Anderson Powerpole > all others.
Was just having this conversation with our race group love the fact that this video came out. Thank you
Rrrrright? It's timely. I don't like the subject but it keeps coming up as our crawler group is now playing with fast vehicles.
I'm going to give the IC5 a shot. Using Traxxas and bullets now.
That’s what I use and they are the best. Buy in bulk and save some money if u can. 👍
EC5 best for all / Grüße aus Deutschland
EC connectors are not hard to solder.
I use xt60 for my crawlers and my 1/12 or smaller cars but for my bigger car/bashers/speed I use EC5 they are cheaper then the IC5 and fit with the IC5
Traxxas works for us.
Deans/T-connectors we’re great back in the day. However, they lose their conductivity due to tension/ spring failure over time and the female side is hard to clean after they get dirty/carbon build up from spark when connecting. The circular type is better as they are easier to clean.
I use EC3 for all devices 2S (all RX & Servo power), and ONLY for 2S batteries and devices, so I don’t accidentally connect a 3S, or other battery to to a 2S system to avoid burning stuff out. I don’t have any very high amperage 2S equipment.
For 3S & 4S I use XT60 .. for 5S & 6s, I use EC5.
IC5/EC5 all day long.
One other factor is how mucht metal is actually making contact; GOLD/GOLD PLATED ( resistivity 2.44 E-8 ohm meters ), SILVER/SILVER PLATED ( 1.59 E-8 ohm meters ), COPPER ( 1.68 E-8 ) BRASS ( ~8.0 E-8 ohm meters ), are adequate conductors. SUPER-CONDUCTORS would be best, but they function at ~ -250 Celsius and are brittle Ceramics :-) Total contact area, corrosion / Oxide coating are also significant. Using an anti-corrosion dielectric "tuning" grease also helps. The quality of the solder joint, wire stranded / solide / braided, composition and gauge must also be considered. Absolute best would be made of metals purged of any Oxygen since the presence of intercalated Oxygen has a deleterious affect on wire resistivity more so than resistance.
I use the T-Plug type because I think it's easier and reduces the risk of being confused between + and - I've tried the banana type and an error occurred and caused my esc to short out
We like the pattern and knowing that the flat top is positive lead.
@@RCReviewChannel right I agree to that
I am kinda new to the esc world but getting back in after a 25-30 yr break, (rc planes)ditching the glow and going electric.
Currently using EC5 and transposing to xt 90 and spark arrest connectors for 6s &12s especially.
I bought like 40 ec5 to find out they are kinda not exactly what I need, should have bought ORANGE not Blue.. oh well
always good info
thank you
I've been teaching kids Engineering through RC cars since 1985. At first, of course we only had Tamiya which wore out and got hot BUT at least every car and battery had the same. Then came Deans and I switched my dozens of cars over to them. Thing is I had groups of 5--15 kids using my cars and getting their own and the soldering was a bear!! So I bit the bullet and switched EVERYRTHING over to Andersons = every charger, battery and car AND they don't need to be soldered!!!! I used to have to teach any helpers to solder -- which is a good skill to have and about a dozen of hundreds of kids learned -- Deans can be really hard to plug and unplug if not soldered well = melt the plastic a bit so tangs don't align perfectly :-( WELCOME ANDERSONS!! No soldering and no other issues. Now there are SOOOO many different connectors--many good ones but I'm all in on Andersons!!!
loyal deans user here.
thanks for a great video. I'm not into cars but I agree AMASS XT is the easiest to assemble. I dislike assembling ECs because any external solder makes assembly very difficult. I mention AMASS because I have found some inadequate XT that have tubing as the female which can allow solder to get into the connection area but AMASS uses better quality. Selection is critical.
amass xt150
XT30 and XT60 here.
My new Sonicwake 36 has EC5,I have 2 2S batteries, and EC5 to EC3 connecters,I was told not to use the EC3 as it to small to handle the power and could de solder ,or damage the electronics,so I orderd 2 3S 5000 100C Spectrum to be safe ,so the boat is on the shelf for now ,great review🇨🇦
I’ve only used the traxxas connector (I have 1 RC car, a traxxas) and not fond of it at all. As soon as the warranty is over and the esc is still alive they’re coming off. Probably going for the XT’s. They look very nice.
you can put Xt60 on max8 right? I don't see why i would need xt90 so big for something
Deans all the way!!