Deans VS. XT60 Connector: Which is Better?

The deans and XT60 connector are commonly found in RC hobby, and it is necessary to understand their characteristics in order to improve the discharge performance of your batteries. So what is the difference between both? The following content will clearly explain this.

Note that since these connectors come from various manufacturers on the market, the quality of the materials used varies. Consequently, there can be differences in the current handling capabilities. The following table’s information is sourced from the official websites of Amass (for XT60 connectors) and WSDeans (for Deans connectors).

Connector (Plug)	Deans	XT60
Continuous Current	90A	35A
Max. Current	150A for 10 seconds	Up to 100A
Wire Gauge	10 – 12 AWG	12 – 14 AWG
Heat Resistance	200℃	200℃
Contact Resistance	≤1.0mΩ	0.1mΩ
Dimensions	16×13.5×8 (mm)	24 x 16 x 8 (mm)
Price	Higher	Lower

Current Handling Capability

From the surface data, the XT60 appears to have a slight advantage over Deans in handling maximum current. However, Deans connectors can be soldered with up to 10AWG wire, which significantly enhances their current handling capability. Overall, the current handling capability of the Deans connector is slightly stronger than that of the XT60.

Tips:

• In wire gauge, the numbers indicate size; the smaller the number, the thicker the wire. Typically, Deans connectors are associated with 10AWG to 12AWG wires, whereas XT60 connectors usually handle 12AWG to 14AWG wires.
• During continuous discharge, do not exceed the limits as it may lead to excessive temperature and cause the plug to melt. However, in practical use, they can handle brief bursts of high current lasting several seconds, often exceeding 100A during acceleration phases in RC models.
• The Deans connector is often referred to as a T connector.

Which is Better?

The XT60 connector is favored by most users due to its ease of plugging and unplugging, which reduces sparking. It has become the recognized standard in the RC hobby and FPV quadcopter fields. Building on the excellent design of the XT60, the market has introduced many derivative products, such as the XT60H and XT60i. Although the Deans connector is slightly less convenient to disconnect, its numerous low-cost clones make it popular with some manufacturers, especially for use with NiMH batteries. After extensive market research, the applications of Deans and XT60 connectors in the RC field are as follows.

• Deans are usually used for 1/10, 1/12, 1/16, 1/18 scale RC vehicles.
• On the other hand, the XT60 connnector is suitable for 1/8 ,1/10, 1/12 scale RC vehicles.
• For larger scale RC vehicles, from 1/5 to 1/8, connectors that can handle higher currents, such as XT90 and EC5, are preferred due to their larger electrical current capacities.

Generally speaking, 6-cell 7.2V NiMH batteries and 7-cell 8.4V NiMH batteries mostly use deans, Tamiya connectors, and some other batteries for RC crawler also use deans.

The XT60 connectors, on the other hand, can be used for a wide range of LiPos from 2s to 6s, with capacities ranging from 800mAh to 6000mAh.

All in all, compared to Deans, the XT60 has a much wider range of applications, even beyond the realm of RC hobby. In reality, they each have their own advantages and disadvantages, so which one is better depends on the usage requirements.

Updated on July 17th, 2024.

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