XT60 connectors carry battery power, and JST-XH connectors carry balance leads. An XT60 handles 60 A on 14AWG wire, and a JST-XH balance connector uses a 2.54 mm pitch. This guide covers connector types, wire sizes, crimping, and the adapters that join different plugs.
What is an XT60 connector rated for?
An XT60 connector handles 60 A continuous on 14AWG silicone wire. The XT60H set ships with a sheath housing in 10-pair packs.
An XT90 connector handles more current for large packs. A QS8 anti-spark connector handles 110 A for high-power builds.
What is a JST-XH connector used for?
A JST-XH connector carries balance leads on LiPo packs. The pitch is 2.54 mm between pins, and packs use 2 to 6 pins by cell count.
A JST-XH kit with 500 pieces covers housings, crimp terminals, and pin headers. A 1S to 6S balance extension lead reaches a charger 20 cm away.
Which wire size goes with each connector?
Use 14AWG silicone wire for XT60 battery leads and 12AWG for high-current runs. A 12AWG flexible wire ships in a 20 ft length.
Use 22AWG wire for servo extensions and 26AWG for short signal runs. Thicker wire carries more current but weighs more.
How do you crimp a JST-XH terminal?
Strip 3 mm of wire, fit the terminal, and crimp with a JST crimper. A good crimp holds the wire when you pull it firmly.
Push the crimped terminal into the housing until it clicks. A terminal that slides out was not crimped tight enough.
Which adapters join different plugs?
An EC2 female to XT60 male adapter joins an EC2 battery to an XT60 ESC. A JST to JST-XH balance adapter joins 2S to 6S packs to a charger.
An XT60 splitter adapter gives one male to two female plugs for parallel packs. A parallel Y-splitter cable in 14AWG joins two packs to one ESC.
How do you protect a finished connection?
Cover solder joints with heat shrink tubing in the right size. A heat shrink assortment in 4 sizes covers XT60 joints and balance leads.
A 4.5 mm heat shrink tube in red marks the positive lead. Use red for positive and black for negative on every battery lead.
Quick comparison
| Connector | Use | Pitch or wire | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| XT60 | Battery power | 14AWG | 60 A |
| XT90 | Large battery | 12AWG | 90 A |
| JST-XH | Balance lead | 2.54 mm | 3 A |
| EC2 | Small battery | 16AWG | 20 A |
Frequently asked questions
Can I solder an XT60 instead of crimping it?
Yes. XT60 connectors are soldered, not crimped. Tin the wire and the cup, then join them with an 80 W iron.
What is the difference between XT60 and XT90?
XT90 is larger and handles more current for big packs. XT60 suits most sport planes and 5-inch quads.
Do JST-XH and JST-PH connectors swap?
No. JST-XH uses a 2.54 mm pitch, and JST-PH uses a 2.0 mm pitch. A 2-pin pigtail set covers both types for small boards.
How do I keep battery connectors from shorting?
Cover unused connectors with caps and store packs in a LiPo bag. Never let a bare positive and negative touch.
Parts used
XT60H Male + Female Connector Set with Sheath Housing, 10-Pair, $11.87. XT60H male + female bullet connector set with sheath housing : gold-plated copper, 60A max. 10-pair. Ships from NY, USA.
JST-XH 2.54mm Connector Kit, 500pcs – Housings + Crimp Terminals + Pin Headers, 2/3/4/5/6-Pin, $12.72. 500pc JST-XH 2.54mm kit : housings, crimp terminals, and pin headers in 2/3/4/5/6-pin. Build your own leads. Ships from NY, USA.
JST Wiring Connector Kit, $21.95. 230-piece JST-PH connector kit plus JST plug pairs and JST-XH balance wire extensions for RC wiring jobs.
XT60 Extension Cable, 14AWG, $6.31. XT60 connector pigtail with 14AWG silicone wire. Gold-plated contacts, rated 30A. Choose male or female, length, and quantity. Ships from NY, USA.
XT60 Parallel Y-Splitter Cable, 14AWG, $8.49. XT60 parallel Y-splitter cable with 14AWG silicone wire. Wire two batteries in parallel for double capacity. Pick your connector combo. Ships from NY, USA.
JST-XH 1S-6S Balance Extension Leads, 20cm, 5 Pieces, $7.37. JST-XH LiPo balance extension leads, 20cm of 22AWG wire. Makes balance charging easier. Pack of 5, 1S through 6S. Ships from NY, USA.
JST to JST-XH Balance Adapter Set, 2S-6S, $6.00. Balance adapter set from JST male to JST-XH, covering 2S through 6S. 20AWG wire. Lets odd-plug packs charge on a standard balance charger.
XT60 Splitter Adapter, 1 Male to 2 Female, $5.25. XT60 splitter: one male to two female. Run two batteries in parallel or split power to two loads.
EC2 Female to XT60 Male Adapter, $6.00. Adapter from EC2 female to XT60 male. Lets you charge or run EC2 batteries on XT60 gear.
EC2 Connector Set, 5 Pairs, $6.00. Five pairs of EC2 connectors with plugs and housings. For small batteries and receiver power leads.
XT90 / XT60 Series Connection Cable, 12AWG, $17.64. Amass XT90 and XT60 series connection cable. 10cm 12AWG silicone wire, gold-plated connectors. Raises voltage in series. Ships from NY, USA.
QS8 Anti-Spark 110A Battery Connector, $11.99. QS8-S anti-spark battery plug rated 110A continuous, 180A peak. Gold-plated brass contacts. Choose male, female, or a pair. Ships from NY, USA.
8.0mm Gold Bullet Connectors, 180A, 2 Pairs, $5.99. 8.0mm gold-plated bullet connectors rated 180A. For batteries, chargers, motors, and ESCs. 2 pairs. Ships from NY, USA.
Heat Shrink Tubing Assortment, 4 Sizes, $15.95. Four heat shrink sizes across five packs (10mm in red and black), 20 pieces each, for clean solder joints and wire repairs.
Related buying guides on Quality RC Parts
XT60 and EC2 Connectors for RC in the USA
JST and Balance Connectors for RC in the USA
Silicone Wire for RC in the USA
Heat Shrink Tubing and Tape for RC in the USA
Browse all the guides on the Quality RC Parts Drone Guides hub, or start at the Quality RC Parts store.
Sources
Quality RC Parts stocks parts in New York, USA and ships in-stock orders in 1-2 business days.
Last updated: 2026-11-10.