Ninja Quick Tip: XT60 Parallel Battery Adapter

by jetpackninja | January 25, 2018 | (5) Posted in Tips

I've made a few of these over the years and like the "no wires" versions of these adapters. They are really strong and compact and soldering the rear of the connectors appropriately makes for a good mechanical electrical connection. Customarilly these get covered and insulated with heat shrink, hot glue, liquid tape or electrical tape. Ever since I saw these on Thingiverse I've been using this method. It seems much cleaner and more secure and since it's 3d printed very easily color customizable.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2351901

All you need to get this done is the three XT60 connectors (one female, two male), solder, soldering iron or gun, and the 3d printed shield.

 I won't bore you with explaining how to solder the pieces together. There are already several great videos out there done by guys way better about expaining and teaching soldering than I am. Ed from Experimental Airlines for example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCHrkdo3YDQ

Anyways, it's easy enough to do and looks like this when you are done. All three positive connections are soldered together, same with all of the negative connections. Inspect to make sure you haven't bridged the positive and the negative sides together.

Make sure you have a solid mechanical connection. There should be no movement, the new connector should all be one solid piece.
Slide the new connector into the shield.

If the shield is well sized, it will fit snugly onto the adapter and you are finished. If it seems loose either a few drops of CA of some hot glue squirted in carefully as you install the connector will help things stay nice and secure. 

I like this little project so much that I made one for a serial adapter.
The only difference in the shield is that I printed it taller to accomadate the wire bits inside that make it series instead of parallel.
The soldering is a little different because wires are used instead of soldering directly to the back of the connectors.

Really glad I went ahead and made two. They look similar enough that I labeled them "S" and "P" (serial and parellel, not salt and pepper).
They are kinda cute together don't you think? Kinda like wedding cake toppers.

I have actually used this in conjunction with https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1987168 to make an awesome looking permanent parellel adapter in my Bare Bear.

And since I like it so much, a picture of the no longer naked Bare Bear

Keep building, flying and experimenting.
No flying this week so sitting around modding things and writing articles...

COMMENTS

jetpackninja on February 8, 2018
PLA but I'm sure any flavor could be used.
Might even work well with Nijaflex or something similar (and added plus is that is sounds cool)
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themistocles3 on February 8, 2018
What kind of filament did you use? Thanks!
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jetpackninja on February 8, 2018
Hard to tell from the pics but yes, the backside of the connections are touching directly.
The + connections are all soldered together as one unit, same with the - side.
the only gap should be between the + side and the - side,
just make sure that the gap there didn't accidentally get bridged with solder.
Adding a pic or two. Hope it helps.
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themistocles3 on February 8, 2018
Nice little write up. I love this kind of content. Lots of pics help. Can you move the conectors even closer before soldering? Is the gap intentional? Do you get a better joint this way? Can't wait to get a 3d printer. Maybe father's day... cr-10s...honey, are you readying this...lol
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Ninja Quick Tip: XT60 Parallel Battery Adapter