XT60, XT30, XT90, EC3, Dean's, JST — specs, current ratings, and which connector your plane and charger actually use.
Most RC planes use the XT60 — yellow, 60A, gold 4mm bullet pins, the de facto standard for 3S-4S packs. E-flite and HobbyZone models use EC3. Micro planes use XT30 or JST. High-power 5S+ setups typically use XT90 or EC5. The white multi-pin lead on your battery is the balance connector — not for power, only for cell equalisation during charging. If your charger and battery don't match, an adapter bridges them.
RC batteries come off the shelf with a connector already crimped — and your charger, ESC, and aircraft all have matching connectors on the other end. The hobby has no single global standard: different manufacturers, different eras, and different power levels have produced at least six common connector types, each with its own pin size, current rating, and ecosystem. Buying the wrong battery or charger without checking connector compatibility is a common beginner mistake — and one that's easy to avoid once you know the landscape.
The XT60 is the de facto standard for most RC fixed-wing aircraft. Gold-plated 4mm bullet pins inside a yellow nylon housing, rated at 60A continuous and 180A peak. The asymmetric housing makes reverse polarity almost impossible. Most 3S and 4S packs from 1300mAh to 5000mAh ship with an XT60 female connector from the factory.
A miniaturised XT60 — same housing design, half the size. Rated at 30A continuous through 3.5mm pins. Standard on micro and mini park flyers running 2S-3S packs under 850mAh.
90A continuous through 4.5mm gold pins. Found on large EDF jets, 5S and 6S warbirds, and multi-motor aircraft where current draw exceeds what an XT60 can safely sustain. The XT90-S variant adds a built-in anti-spark resistor that limits the inrush current spike when first connecting a charged pack — useful on any 5S+ setup connected and disconnected repeatedly.
Before the XT60 standardised the hobby, the Dean's T-plug (WSD connector) was dominant. Two flat 3.5mm gold pins in a T-shaped polarised housing, rated around 60A peak. Still common on older chargers and budget equipment. The slim profile fits narrow battery bays where an XT60 housing wouldn't. Soldering is fiddlier than the XT60 — the small pin area conducts heat quickly.
EC3 is Horizon Hobby's standard, used across the E-flite and HobbyZone beginner line — 3mm gold pins rated at 60A, fully polarised housing. If your aircraft is a HobbyZone AeroScout or E-flite Apprentice, it ships with EC3. EC3-to-XT60 adapters are the most common adapter purchase in beginner RC. EC5 scales the same design up to 5mm pins and 120A, found on larger E-flite aircraft and EDF jets.
The small red JST connector handles 2-3A continuous — designed for 1S and 2S packs under 300mAh on micro and nano aircraft. Do not use it above 3A; the pins overheat rapidly.
⚠️ The white balance connector is not a power connector. Every multi-cell LiPo has a second lead — JST-XH, one wire per cell plus ground — that connects only to your charger's balance port for cell monitoring. It will not fit an XT60 or EC3 port, and should never be used to power anything.
| Connector | Rating | Pin Size | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| JST (RCY) | 2–3A | 2mm | Nano/micro, 1S–2S under 300mAh |
| XT30 | 30A | 3.5mm | Mini planes, 2S–3S under 850mAh |
| XT60 | 60A | 4mm | Most RC planes, 3S–4S 1300–5000mAh |
| Dean's T-Plug | ~60A peak | 3.5mm flat | Older aircraft, budget kits |
| EC3 | 60A | 3mm | E-flite, HobbyZone beginners |
| EC5 | 120A | 5mm | Large E-flite, EDF jets, 5S–6S |
| XT90 | 90A | 4.5mm | High-power, 5S–6S+, large aircraft |
Check the battery that came with your aircraft, or the manual's recommended battery. A few common pairings:
Your charger connector matters just as much. Most quality multi-chemistry chargers include an XT60 output and ship with EC3 and Dean's adapters in the box — verify this before purchasing if you fly E-flite models.
You don't need to resolder every time connectors don't match. The most common situations: EC3 battery → XT60 charger (the most frequent adapter purchase in beginner RC), Dean's battery → XT60 charger (common with older chargers), and XT30 battery → XT60 charger (charging micro packs on a full-size bench charger).
For the complete battery reference, see the RC Batteries Guide. For charging setup, see how to charge an RC LiPo battery.
10-page PDF covering the equipment checklist, LiPo handling protocol, pre-flight routine, and the 5 most common beginner mistakes — formatted for the field.