RC Electrical Connectors

Pick the right XT60 connectors, or step down to XT30 or up to XT90, for batteries, chargers and speed controllers, plus the 3 pole MT60 for brushless motors, sold as singles, male and female pairs or with pre-soldered leads.
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Choosing XT60 connectors and other RC power plugs

XT style connectors are a familiar sight on RC batteries, drones and battery builds. Each one pairs gold plated contacts with a nylon housing and a keyed shape that helps stop it going together the wrong way round. The number in the name matches the current rating in our product titles, so start by working out what your system draws and choose a connector rated comfortably above it. The MT60 is a different job altogether: three contacts in one housing for a brushless motor.

XT30, XT60, XT90 and MT60 compared

ConnectorRating in titleTypical usesShop
XT3030ACompact RC, FPV and UAV builds and small electronicsMale, Female, Pair
XT6060ABattery and power leads for RC, FPV, UAV and electronic systemsMale, Female, Pair, Male with leads, Female with leads, Pair with leads
XT9090ADemanding RC, UAV and robotics systems, high power electronics and battery chargingMale, Female, Pair
MT60 (3 pole)Not in title, see product pageBrushless motor to speed controller (ESC) leads in drones, RC cars, scooters and roboticsPair

The MT60 connector combines three 3.5mm gold plated bullet terminals in one keyed housing, which suits the three phase leads of a brushless motor and makes motor swaps quick and tidy.

Pre-soldered leads, soldering and polarity

Pre-soldered XT60 options

To skip soldering the connector itself, choose the XT60 male or female with 15cm pre-soldered leads of flexible 14AWG silicone insulated wire. There is also a male and female pair fitted with red and black silicone leads, so check its product page for lead gauge and length. You then only need to join each lead to your wiring.

Soldering tips

  • Strip cleanly with a proper stripper from our crimping tools and wire strippers range, so no strands are cut.
  • Slide heatshrink onto the wire before you start. It is easy to forget and awkward to fix afterwards.
  • Mate the connector with its other half while soldering to hold the contacts in line if the nylon warms up.
  • Tin the wire and the contact, then join them with a clean, hot tip so the solder flows fast. Lingering heat is what damages housings.
  • Look for a smooth, shiny joint with the strands fully wetted, then shrink the tubing over the whole contact.

Soldering irons cause serious burns, so always return the iron to its stand, work with good ventilation and wear eye protection. Never solder a connector onto leads that are attached to a battery.

Polarity conventions

Red is positive and black is negative on DC power wiring. The keyed housing only fits one way, but it cannot correct a lead soldered back to front, so confirm polarity with a multimeter before the first power up. Many builders fit the connector with the more shrouded contacts to the battery or power source side, so a loose lead never has exposed live metal. Whatever you choose, match your existing batteries and chargers and stay consistent.

Current ratings and wire gauge safety

  • Never push an XT30 connector past 30A or an XT90 connector past 90A. Stay under the rating in the product title and leave headroom for peaks.
  • A high rated connector does not make thin wire safe. Check the wire maker's current rating for your gauge and run length.
  • A plug or lead that gets hot in use is overloaded, loose or poorly soldered, so stop and fix it.

Buying XT60 connectors from OzFDM

Choose pairs when you are building both sides of a connection, and singles when you are replacing one end or converting a set of batteries. We dispatch from Perth and Melbourne, with free Australia-wide shipping on orders over $299 (PO Boxes excluded). Building a frame or battery mount too? Read our guide to printing drone and RC parts.

Power connector FAQs

What is the difference between XT30, XT60 and XT90?

Size and current. Our product titles list the XT30 at 30A, the XT60 at 60A and the XT90 at 90A, and the bigger connectors have larger contacts for heavier wire. The three sizes do not plug into each other, so pick one for each system based on its current draw, with a margin above your expected peak.

Is the MT60 the same as an XT60?

No. The XT60 is a two contact DC power connector for batteries and power leads. The MT60 is a 3 pole connector with 3.5mm bullet terminals, designed for connecting a three phase brushless motor to its speed controller. They do not mate with each other. Check the MT60 product page for its full specifications before using it in a high current build.

What wire gauge should I use with XT60 connectors?

It depends on the current and the length of the run, not just the connector. Our pre-soldered XT60 singles come with 14AWG silicone insulated wire, which gives you a reference point, but always check the wire maker's current rating for your gauge. If the wire is the weak link, a 60A connector will not protect it.

Can I crimp XT connectors instead of soldering?

Bare XT connectors are normally fitted by soldering the wire to each contact, and that is the method we recommend. If you would rather avoid it, the XT60 options with pre-soldered leads let you join to your wiring with a suitable crimp splice or terminal instead. Match the crimper to that terminal using the selection table on our crimping tools page.

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