Batteries
RC car battery connector types
The most common ordering mistake in this hobby: the right battery with the wrong plug. Here is how to identify yours in ten seconds.
By Ryder M. · Published September 27, 2026 · Last reviewed
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The five connectors you will actually meet are XT60 (yellow), Deans/T-plug (red), EC3 (blue), the Traxxas high-current plug, and the old white Tamiya plug. Look at the plug on the car, match the shape and color below, and buy a battery with the same one — or buy an adapter.
Identifying yours
| Connector | How to recognize it | Where you find it |
|---|---|---|
| XT60 | Yellow plastic, bullet-shaped pins, slightly rounded body | The current default on most hobby brands, including MJX and Redcat |
| Deans / T-plug | Small red plug shaped like a flattened T | Widely used; popular with racers for its low resistance |
| EC3 / EC5 | Blue plastic with two round bullet pins | Common on Horizon Hobby brands — Arrma, Losi, Axial |
| Traxxas high-current | Distinctive blue-gray plug unique to Traxxas | Traxxas vehicles and Power Cell packs |
| Tamiya | White rectangular plug with two flat pins | Older and cheaper NiMH packs; being phased out |
What to do when the plug does not match
- Buy an adapter lead. The simplest fix, costs very little, and works fine. The only downside is one extra connection and a slightly longer cable to tuck away.
- Change the connector on the battery. Requires soldering, and requires doing one wire at a time so the battery is never shorted. If you have not soldered before, do not learn on a LiPo.
- Change the connector on the car instead. Better long-term if you have several batteries on one standard — change the car once rather than every pack.
- Or just buy a battery with the right plug. Most packs are sold in a choice of connectors. Read the listing carefully.
Batteries by connector
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Gens Ace 2S LiPo batteryThe brand most people settle on once they have been burned by a cheap pack that puffed after a month. | The reliable default | 8.7 | |
| 2 |  Ovonic 2S LiPo batteryThe sensible middle: better built than the bargain packs, cheaper than the premium ones. | Middle ground | 8.4 | |
| 3 | Traxxas Power Cell 2S LiPo batteryThe no-thinking-required upgrade if the car in question is a Traxxas. | Traxxas owners | 8.6 |
Illustrative photo — not this exact model.
#1 · The reliable default
Gens Ace 2S LiPo battery
The brand most people settle on once they have been burned by a cheap pack that puffed after a month.
8.7/10our score for this use
LiPo is the standard rechargeable battery chemistry for RC cars: lighter than the older NiMH type and it holds its power right up to the end of the run rather than gradually fading. 2S means two cells — the size most 1/10 cars take.
What it does well
- Consistent pack-to-pack quality, which is the whole argument for paying more for a battery
- Holds voltage under load, so the car feels the same on lap ten as on lap one
- Sold in all the common connector types and sizes
What it does badly
- Costs more than the budget brands for capacity you can measure but may not notice
- Like all LiPo packs it must be stored at partial charge, not full, or it degrades
- Needs a balance charger — it cannot be charged with the wall plug from a toy car
Illustrative photo — not this exact model.
#2 · Middle ground
Ovonic 2S LiPo battery
The sensible middle: better built than the bargain packs, cheaper than the premium ones.
8.4/10our score for this use
A mid-priced LiPo brand that has built a reputation for reliability without the premium price. For a car that gets used on weekends rather than raced, this is the tier that makes sense.
What it does well
- Noticeably better built than the cheapest packs on the shelf
- Widely available in the common sizes and connectors
- Good value if you want two packs instead of one premium pack
What it does badly
- Not the last word in performance if the car is being raced
- Quality is consistent but not at the level of the top-tier brands
- Still requires a proper balance charger
Illustrative photo — not this exact model.
#3 · Traxxas owners
Traxxas Power Cell 2S LiPo battery
The no-thinking-required upgrade if the car in question is a Traxxas.
8.6/10our score for this use
Traxxas' own LiPo packs carry an iD chip that tells a Traxxas charger exactly what the battery is, so there is nothing to set and nothing to get wrong. For a gift recipient who has never charged a LiPo, that matters more than a few percent of performance.
What it does well
- The iD system removes the single most intimidating part of LiPo ownership
- Fits Traxxas battery trays without adapters or foam packing
- Available at any shop that stocks Traxxas
What it does badly
- Costs more than an equivalent third-party pack
- The iD advantage only applies with a Traxxas charger
- Same LiPo storage rules apply — it still needs care
Specifications from Traxxas' batteries and chargers range.
The balance plug is a separate thing
A LiPo has two plugs: the big one that goes to the car, and a small white one with several thin wires. That second one is the balance plug, and it goes into the charger so it can manage each cell individually. It is a near-universal standard (JST-XH), so you almost never have to think about it. More on what the charger does with it in our charger guide.
How we picked
Connector identification here is based on the standards each manufacturer actually ships. Where a brand uses its own proprietary plug — Traxxas being the notable case — we say so rather than implying a universal standard exists. See our methodology page.