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ArduCopter Battery Connection

Posted by Paul Mikesell on March 29, 2013 at 3:53pm

I just got my brand new ArduCopter quad from uDrones (http://www.udrones.com/product_p/acrtf2.htm). I'm a little confused about battery connection. The battery connector that it comes with is an XT60. Almost all of the batteries I can find (and absolutely everything over 3000mah) use Bullet connectors.

My question is - what would folks here recommend?

a) converting the battery connector to the PDB to use Bullet

b) converting the battery to use XT60 (btw - is there a danger in trying to solder new ends onto a battery wire?)

c) making a converter from Bullet to XT60

I just bought my batteries last night from HobbyKing, along with some 14AWG wire, XT60 connectors, and Bullet connectors, so once that arrives I should have parts to do any of the 3 options. I'm really looking for advice about what works best.

Relatedly - why would the battery connectors come shipped with XT60 when all of the batteries are Bullet? Am I totally missing something?

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Replies

  • T3
    Richard Boyhan March 29, 2013 at 7:30pm
    Make sure you cut one lead at a time and don't allow them to cross or touch each other. If they touch this will short your battery and destroy them. Remember also to never allow your LiPo to discharge completely, this also will destroy your battery.
  • Nick Scott March 29, 2013 at 7:00pm
    It can be a bit of a test on the nerves when you cut the connectors and when you are soldering. After a few times you will develop a work flow. I always tape over one lead while I solder the other lead. When you finish soldering the first lead, heat shrink it and when it's covered solder the other side. That's what I do, may be overkill but when you accidentally contact the two leads it is pretty startling, I did it once on accident.
  • CyberCrash March 29, 2013 at 6:08pm

    Use XT60! Cheap and very, very good connectors.

  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson March 29, 2013 at 4:38pm

    In general, the quads do best with a 2200 or 2650 battery, which typically come with XT60s. The difference between the two connectors comes down to the amount of current they can handle. Even with a bigger battery, your quad won't use much more current, so I'd probably go for your option B. But if you intend to standardize on big batteries across all your birds, then option A is best. 

  • Admin
    Thomas J Coyle III March 29, 2013 at 4:29pm

    @Paul,

    I would convert the battery to the XT60. Just take your time and do one lead at a time. I have converted many Deans and bullet connectors to the XT60s. As far as I am concerned, the XT60s are the easiest to plug and unplug and still have a large enough surface area for high currents.

    Just a thought.

    Regards,

    TCIII

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