XT power connectors

[Adrian Harris]

Here's an odd thing.

XT60 and XT90 connectors are single gender, so either have both male or both female brass parts.

The XT150, when sold for batteries, generally have one male and one female on each side. Usually, the female for the positive and male for the negative.

If you were wiring up from scratch, how would you do it ?

If you're using two batteries in series, it makes sense, as the negative male from one battery will mate with the positive female from the other.

But then why aren't XT60 and XT90 hermaphrodite as well ? Is it just because the shells have been made to be keyed so they only slot together one way round ?

Adrian

[Stephen White]

Adrian, you need non-binary connectors. XT-60/90 are so yesterday.

[GlenStenhouse]

The shells can only go together one way around. When I buy the XT90 I get the ones with spark arrest built in as they're for 6S cells and above generally. They work really well. It's like having surge protection as you plug in.

[Mark Heaps]

Good safety reason. Female are positive. male are negative. A piece of metal swarf falling in to the connector cannot cause a short-circuit.And you cannot touch both terminals and electrocute yourself.
That is why your household sockets are female and live. Your electrical appliances have a male plug.