XT-style Connectors - XT30 / XT60 / XT90

[JonJet]

For years I struggled with EC-style connectors...

Plugging them in is difficult...getting them apart can be challenging...

And soldering those stupid "snap in" bullets is just a pain...

My solution was to convert everything to an XT-style

XT30 for the 180CFX

XT60 for nearly everything else

And on occasion...I discovered I needed an adapter for one reason or another

So I've devised a strong simple way to join any two XT60's...

Male / Male - Male / Female - Female / Female

Simple...just align the soldering cups so they are facing up...and add a small length of 12g solid copper wire

Add an "un-needed opposite end" as a heat sink...to keep the pins inside perfectly aligned during soldering

Brace them any way you desire...and solder the wire inside the cups...connecting the solder ends with a strong and secure connection

Cover with shrink tubing and it's ready

The same process applies to XT-30's using a smaller wire...and XT90's using a larger wire

[mattbeau]

Interesting. I'm switching everything to ec-3 and ec-5 because to me, they're easier to solder and look cleaner when I'm done.


sactownhobby.com

[Atomic Skull]

EDIT: never mind I see you did exactly what I was thinking.

[Epoweredrc]

Originally Posted by mattbeau

Interesting. I'm switching everything to ec-3 and ec-5 because to me, they're easier to solder and look cleaner when I'm done.


sactownhobby.com

I have not figured out EC5's i was trying to make a deans to ec5 got frustrated and decided to just order one made up

Those XT 60s and Deans are easy for me

[mattbeau]

Originally Posted by Epoweredrc

I have not figured out EC5's i was trying to make a deans to ec5 got frustrated and decided to just order one made up

Those XT 60s and Deans are easy for me

I always over heat the xt60s

sactownhobby.com

[JonJet]

Originally Posted by mattbeau

I always over heat the xt60s

sactownhobby.com

And that is exactly the reason why I suggested using the opposite end connector when soldering...

It keeps the pins in line (check pictures above)

[motoxxxman]

why would you need to make an adapter to connect male to male, or female to female?
Batteries always have female side, system always has male side. Always. It's not just a standard, it's a safety thing. If you have any male sides on batteries, or female sides on systems, it's wrong and needs to be switched to the right connector.

[mattbeau]

ahhhh see what you did there


Good tip

sactownhobby.com

[JonJet]

Originally Posted by motoxxxman

why would you need to make an adapter to connect male to male, or female to female?
Batteries always have female side, system always has male side. Always. It's not just a standard, it's a safety thing. If you have any male sides on batteries, or female sides on systems, it's wrong and needs to be switched to the right connector.

Situations arise that demand solutions...

I bought a 450X that had the connectors reversed and an adapter came in handy just to verify electronics before I tore it apart to make it right

[Smoggie]

Originally Posted by JonJet

And that is exactly the reason why I suggested using the opposite end connector when soldering...

Good tip, that's exactly what i do with XT connectors. With good technique you shouldn't overheat them, but we are all only human and plugging them into a mating connector takes away the risk of misaligned pins.

[P.I.Engineer]

I just started switching over to xt's. I much prefer soldering them to ec5

[jrman83]

EC3s are super easy to me since the plastic part is not as rigid as EC5. There is a method for EC5 and looking at which angle the lip around the pin is angled is the key. Get EC5s through BuddyRC and they will go together and quicker than any XTxx. Took me less than 15min to do 6 packs. Never used their brand before, but will now always use them. Their EC3s may be similar.

Most XT adapters can be ordered off of ebay or Amazon for a few bucks each.

[Krager]

I use the XT connectors as well. That was the one thing I found pretty quick, need to stick a mate on there before soldering. Other than that I find them easiest to work with. Hardest for me are the Deans.

[P.I.Engineer]

no chance of putting a allen driver through your finger trying to snap ec3/5's together with xt30/60

i did it once, it hurt.

[JWeber]

Originally Posted by P.I.Engineer

no chance of putting a allen driver through your finger trying to snap ec3/5's together with xt30/60

i did it once, it hurt.

Amen. It really does hurt.

[Atomic Skull]

Wish they'd make a 5.5mm version of XT90. Call it XT120 (XT150 is already taken)

[JonJet]

Here's another XT60 option...

Using 2 3S batteries to make a single 12S battery...

An example would be 450X batteries to power a Gaui X3

(2) 3S 2200's = (1) 6S 2200

You can make an adapter in either style - solid or wire - depending on the layout you have

[Andy from Sandy]

Add an "un-needed opposite end" as a heat sink...to keep the pins inside perfectly aligned during soldering

Sometimes doing this draws heat to the sink and can make matters worse. It would be better to have something to hold the pins that doesn't conduct the heat.

I have soldered a XT90 to my ESC as the packs I bought use them. I found the housing to be very soft and it didn't take much to distort it.

I am going back to EC-5s firstly because I don't need insulation and secondly in all of my searching I couldn't purchase the ones with the clip on shroud in the version I wanted.

[JonJet]

Originally Posted by Andy from Sandy

Sometimes doing this draws heat to the sink and can make matters worse. It would be better to have something to hold the pins that doesn't conduct the heat.

I have soldered a XT90 to my ESC as the packs I bought use them. I found the housing to be very soft and it didn't take much to distort it.

I am going back to EC-5s firstly because I don't need insulation and secondly in all of my searching I couldn't purchase the ones with the clip on shroud in the version I wanted.

I'll be the first to say that adding the opposite end during soldering is the cat's meow...I'm certain that I often overheat the connector to the point of distortion - but using that opposite end and not removing it until the connector has cooled has never failed...not a single distorted connector thus far and I've soldered lots of them recently

Every EC-style ESC connector in My fleet has been replaced with XT60...and all the batteries too...averaging 5 per heli

Being a stickler for the "shiny when done" solder joint...I know they would distort every time if I didn't use the opposite end to hold the connection in place and in correct position

I've also built several dozen charge cables...and use a trick there too...

We've all been there...in a hurry to disconnect and unplugged the charge lead first...leaving the battery connected...My little mod prevents the 4mm banana plugs from touching each other...and never even being able to touch...simply put layer after layer of shrink tubing over the banana connector until they simply cannot touch

[KiwiBlair]

Originally Posted by JonJet

My little mod prevents the 4mm banana plugs from touching each other...and never even being able to touch...simply put layer after layer of shrink tubing over the banana connector until they simply cannot touch

Ummm they can still touch.... easily