XT60 Female Connector with Silicon Wire

XT60 Female Connector with Silicone Wire

The combo of an XT60 female connector with silicone cable wire is particularly useful for connecting the battery and the electronic speed controller (ESC). The silicone cable wire is heavy duty and best used in projects that involve high-capacity motors and controllers.

The connectors are made from high-temp nylon with gold-plated spring pins or sockets moulded in. The shape of this generic XT60 prevents reverse polarity, and when plugged in the connection is very solid.

The listing gives a cable thickness of 14AWG and a weight of 10 grams.

Key features

• XT60 female connector combo: connector and wire supplied.

• Silicone cable wire: heavy duty and flexible.

• 14AWG thickness: for high current.

• High-temp nylon and gold plating: durable and corrosion resistant.

• Prevents reverse polarity: one-way shape.

How an XT60 connector works

A power connector is the link between your battery and everything that draws current from it. It has to hold securely, carry the current without heating up and, ideally, only fit together one way so that reverse polarity is impossible. The metal contacts are usually gold plated to resist corrosion, and the housing holds the two contacts apart and keeps them aligned.

Solder connectors with a clean, hot joint and enough solder to fill the cup, then slide heat-shrink over the joint so no bare metal is exposed. A cold or under-heated joint has high resistance and gets hot under load, which is the most common cause of connector failure. Always check polarity before you plug in a battery for the first time.

Choose connectors by the current they will actually carry, not just by how they look. A connector that is too small runs hot and can melt its housing, while a connector that is rated well above your load stays cool and lasts longer. Inspect connectors periodically, and replace any that show discolouration, loose contacts or cracked housings.