The Ultimate RC Battery Connectors Chart: Include RC Connector Conversion Adapters

In the high-performance world of remote-controlled vehicles, your RC LiPo battery connector is the silent gatekeeper of power. Choosing the wrong plug can mean melted housings, voltage drops, or even catastrophic failures. Whether you’re racing 1/8-scale buggies, flying FPV drones, or crawling with micro rigs, proprietary connectors and mismatched ecosystems can instantly derail your session. This definitive guide decodes every major RC connector – including proprietary traps – with real-world specs and critical conversion solutions that rescue incompatible systems. When plugs don’t align, RC Connector Conversion Adapters become your tactical bridge to uninterrupted power delivery.

RC Lipo Battery Connector Types

T-Plug (Deans Ultra): The undisputed heavyweight champion of nitro stadium trucks, the T-plug’s compact 9.5mm housing reliably channels 60A continuous current through chaotic jumps. Its mechanical latching system survives brutal landings, while the solder-tab design enables field repairs. You’ll find these workhorses on Zeee 5000mAh 2S packs powering Traxxas Slash 4×4 VXL models.

4mm Bullet Connectors: The DIY maestro’s choice for custom air and sea rigs, these unshielded brass barrels handle 80A when paired. Their minimalist design demands meticulous heat-shrink insulation to prevent catastrophic shorts – ideal for experimental delta-wing drones running 6S configurations.

XT30: Scaling down the XT-series excellence, this 30A micro connector dominates the 1/24 crawler and Tiny Whoop drone scene. Its polarized nylon body withstands crash impacts that shatter lesser plugs, while the audible mating click ensures secure connections in tight spaces like the Flywoo Firefly 2S builds.

XT60: The FPV community’s gold standard, XT60’s glass-reinforced nylon housing laughs off 65A sustained loads during aggressive freestyle sessions. Recessed female contacts eliminate accidental shorts during battery swaps, while the satisfying “snap” confirms positive engagement. Industry leaders like Ovonic use these on 2200mAh 4S packs for iFlight Nazgul quads.

XT90: When XT60 meets its limits, the 90A-rated XT90 steps in for 1/8 scale bashers and 6S drone systems. Its oversized contact surface area reduces resistance-induced heat buildup, crucial for Arrma Kraton EXB trucks pulling 150A bursts. The double-latching mechanism survives desert roost launches without disconnection.

EC3/IC3: E-flite’s legacy power solution for 60A applications, these compact plugs dominated early Blade helicopter era. The EC3’s friction-fit design requires periodic contact cleaning to maintain performance, while Spektrum’s IC3 variant adds Smart Technology telemetry pins for real-time voltage monitoring on 330X helicopters.

EC5/IC5: Engineered for electrical warfare, these 120A-rated hollow-pin beasts channel current without choking. The EC5’s solder-cup design eliminates crimping failures, while Spektrum’s IC5 iteration integrates data pins for their Smart ecosystem. Essential for Arrma Outcast 8S rigs running 5000mAh 4S pairs.

TRX (Traxxas ID): Traxxas’ patent-fortified ecosystem trap, these 75A shrouded connectors feature anti-polarity ribs and tamper-resistant housings. Exclusive to models like X-Maxx 8S, they force users into Traxxas’ battery ecosystem – third-party solutions require Dremel surgery or TRA2992X adapters.

JST PH Series:

• PH 1.25: The fragile 0.5A nervous system for micro receivers like Flysky GR3E, requiring delicate handling during soldering
• PH 1.5: Nano drone specialist powering BetaFPV Meteor65 frames with 1A tolerance – any overload melts housings within seconds
• PH 2.0: The 2A micro car standard in WLtoys K989 platforms, infamous for voltage sag under sustained throttle

Tamiya (RCY): The obsolete 15A connector still haunting entry-level Traxxas 2WD kits. Its spring-contact design accumulates carbon buildup causing voltage drops up to 1.2V – immediately replace with XT60 when upgrading to LiPo.

QS8 Anti-Spark: Competition-grade 200A monsters featuring pre-charge resistors that eliminate connection arcing. The gold-plated collet contacts maintain conductivity during 1/5 scale speed runs exceeding 120mph.

Servo Connectors: The 5A signal/power hybrids linking ESCs to receivers. Their keyed housings prevent reverse installation but vulnerable to corrosion in wet crawler operations.

XH Balance Plugs: The unsung heroes of battery management, these JST-derived connectors enable cell-level voltage monitoring. The XH-1S variant handles 2S packs, while XH-2S services 4S configurations.

RC Connector Conversion: Adapters That Actually Work

Adapters are your battlefield medics – they stabilize power incompatibilities but aren’t permanent fixes. Match connectors to your ESC’s burst rating, solder with 63/37 tin-lead alloy, and when in doubt: cut, rewire, dominate.

Micro RC Battery Connector Chart

PH2.0 melts at 3A sustained! Use XT30 for 1/18 scales.

Universal RC Battery Connector Chart

Match connectors to ESC/battery discharge ratings. Connector amperage must exceed your ESC’s burst rating by 20%. Pairing a Hobbywing Max8 150A ESC with XT90 invites thermal disaster. A 100A ESC requires at least XT90/EC5 – XT60 at 100A risks thermal runaway.