When NewBeeDrone introduced their new NX69 battery connector for 1S whoops, my first thought was: Do we actually want one other connector? In spite of everything, the FPV group is already flooded with choices – PH2.0, BT2.0, A30, and even EMAX’s EM2.0. Every one promised higher efficiency and fewer voltage sag.
So why did NewBeeDrone determine to introduce their very own resolution? I made a decision to check the NX69 myself and see whether or not it really gives a bonus—or if it’s simply one other connector so as to add to the pile.
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The place to Purchase
On the time of publishing, the NX69 bundle is on sale for $17 on NBD’s web site (contains 4 batteries plus an influence cable in your whoop):
Every field comes with 4 batteries and an NX69 battery lead, so you’ll be able to swap out the present one in your whoop.
What Is the NX69 Connector?
The NX69 is NewBeeDrone’s newest connector for 1S whoop batteries, designed as a improve for the ageing PH2.0. It appears fairly just like PH2.0 and is even semi-compatible, however the important thing enchancment is elevated metallic contact, which reduces resistance and improves energy supply.
NewBeeDrone pairs the NX69 connector with their new “laminated flat pack” LiHV batteries, which I’ll be testing alongside the connector. Fortuitously, these batteries will nonetheless work with current PH2.0 connectors in your whoop and chargers.
Specs
For comparability, listed here are the scale and weight variations:
- NBD Nitro Nectar 1S 300mAh battery
- Weight: 8.42g
- Dimensions: 10.4 × 6.3 × 63mm
- NX69 Energy Cable size: 4cm
- BetaFPV LAVA 1S 300mAh battery
- Weight: 8.34g
- Dimensions: 10.5 × 6.5 × 64mm
The NBD Nitro Nectar 1S 300mAh is lower than 0.1g heavier, however when you add the NX69 connector, the overall setup is about 0.14g heavier. May not sound loads however this might be a consideration for the hardcore builders/racers.
Price noting:
- NewBeeDrone makes use of 20AWG wires of their energy cable, whereas BetaFPV makes use of 22AWG.
- In my expertise, the distinction between 20AWG and 22AWG in 65mm tiny whoops is negligible (extra impactful in 75mm setups). I usually favor 22AWG because it’s barely lighter.
- Nevertheless, in battery efficiency testing (the place present draw is far greater), the thicker 20AWG may scale back resistance and make a noticeable distinction.
Compatibility
One of the vital essential questions: Will NX69 batteries work with current gear?
- ✅ NX69 battery → NX69 whoop/charger → Works advantageous.
- ✅ NX69 battery → PH2.0 whoop/charger → Works advantageous.
- ❌ PH2.0 battery → NX69 whoop/charger → Doesn’t match (holes are too small).
And sure, you’ll be able to cost NX69 batteries utilizing chargers which have PH2.0 connectors.
My Testing
For this evaluation, I used the SkyRC BD350 Battery Analyzer, which logs information and plots discharge graphs. Because the BD350 solely helps a minimal of 2S, I needed to join two 1S cells in collection, that’s why voltage is between 8.7V to 6V.
- The NX69 connector was examined with the brand new Nitro Nectar 1S 300mAh batteries.
- The BT2.0 and A30 connectors have been examined with BetaFPV LAVA 1S 300mAh packs.
- I additionally repeated the PH2.0 take a look at with the NX69 Nitro Nectar cells.
Every battery was discharged at a continuing 12A load, stopping as soon as the voltage dropped beneath 3.0V per cell. This load is an inexpensive illustration of the intense calls for positioned on 1S or 2S micro quads, though tiny whoops usually draw a lot much less in actual flight.
The important thing efficiency metric to take a look at right here is voltage sag. A connector with decrease resistance will present much less sag, which signifies higher efficiency.
Outcomes
Earlier than leaping to conclusions, it’s price declaring that this wasn’t a superbly truthful take a look at. That’s as a result of the brand new Nitro Nectar 300mAh cells really turned out to have significantly greater capability than the BetaFPV LAVA cells I used for BT2.0 and A30 testing:
- NewBeeDrone Nitro Nectar NX69 1S 300mAh → measured 345mAh
- BetaFPV LAVA 1S 300mAh → measured 316mAh
Maybe NBD ought to have printed the right quantity on their label, however to attain almost 10% additional capability at nearly the identical weight is genuinely spectacular.
It’s additionally potential that the NBD cells simply have greater discharge fee than BetaFPV’s. Since they use totally different connectors, I couldn’t examine the cells straight in opposition to one another. Nonetheless, even with the identical C ranking, the next capability cell will are likely to sag much less and last more underneath the identical load. That probably explains why the NX69 + Nitro Nectar combo confirmed each decrease voltage sag and lasted longer within the take a look at.
One other issue is wire gauge:
- NBD makes use of 20AWG wires → a tiny bit heavier, however barely decrease resistance.
- BetaFPV makes use of 22AWG wires → lighter, however barely greater resistance.
In real-world flying (particularly on 65mm whoops), the efficiency distinction could also be minimal and even imperceptible, since present draw is often modest. However in high-load exams like this, the 20AWG benefit turns into extra noticeable, which once more favors the NX69 setup.
General I feel the NX69 connector’s efficiency is on par with BT2.0 and A30, perhaps even a contact higher. Nevertheless, the distinction is so small it’s unlikely to be noticeable in flight.
What stunned me most was that even when utilizing the older PH2.0 connector on the whoop, the brand new Nitro Nectar NX69 batteries nonetheless carried out exceptionally properly. The truth is, they rivaled BT2.0 and A30 when it comes to resistance and voltage sag.
Why One other Connector?
In the event you’ve been in FPV for some time, this most likely feels acquainted. BetaFPV created BT2.0, then GNB launched A30, and EMAX launched EM2.0 — primarily to keep away from licensing charges and to maintain pilots locked into their very own whoop + battery ecosystem. Now, NewBeeDrone is following an identical path with NX69.
Do we’d like one other connector? Most likely not. However is NX69 dangerous? Completely not. From NBD’s perspective, it is sensible:
- They already make among the finest 1S batteries and whoops available on the market.
- By introducing their very own connector, they guarantee plug-and-play compatibility on all their ready-to-fly whoops.
- Freshmen received’t have to solder and improve the facility lead on their whoop.
Last Ideas: Who Is the NX69 Connector For?
New Pilots Shopping for NewBeeDrone Whoops
For inexperienced persons, NX69 is nice information. I’m glad NewBeeDrone lastly modernized their connector, so prospects get higher efficiency with out changing the facility cable. In the event you’re shopping for a brand new whoop from NBD, NX69 is a no brainer.
Get NX69 right here:
Present Pilots Already Utilizing BT2.0 or A30
There’s no rapid want to change.
Sure, NX69 paired with NBD’s Nitro Nectar batteries confirmed superior efficiency in my testing, however the features are small and possibly don’t justify changing a whole fleet and battery assortment.
Present Pilots Nonetheless Utilizing PH2.0
That is the place NX69 makes probably the most sense. In the event you’re nonetheless utilizing PH2.0 in your whoop, NX69 battery packs will provide you with a right away efficiency increase, respiratory new life into your outdated tiny whoops. In the event you nonetheless have a bunch of PH2.0 batteries, hold the PH2.0 energy cable in your whoop, this manner it really works with each PH2.0 and NX69 batteries. You’ll nonetheless profit from the NX69 battery’s improved design when used with PH2.0. As soon as all of your outdated PH2.0 packs are retired, you’ll be able to then swap the whoop over to a devoted NX69 connector to take full benefit.
That mentioned, you may also need to think about BT2.0 or A30 as a result of:
- They’re already broadly adopted within the trade, there are extra batteries to select from.
- The following whoop you’re gonna purchase is more likely to include BT2.0 or A30 as an alternative of NX69.
- It’s probably that NewBeeDrone will stay the one model that helps NX69, for a similar purpose why they by no means adopted BT2.0.
Briefly: NX69 is superb should you’re staying within the NewBeeDrone ecosystem. However exterior of that, BT2.0 and A30 stay safer bets for long-term compatibility, at the least in the intervening time.
