null

Electronic Speed Controllers ESC

Electronic Speed Controllers ESC

ESC & Motor Choice

 

Because of the many different types and sizes of RC cars, and the big range of different products available, choosing a suitable electronic speed control (ESC) and motor for your car can be a challenge. If you’re thinking about buying a new ESC and/or motor, the thing first on your mind is often speed, but there are numerous things to take into account, so here we’ll go through the basic things you need to know.

ESC

Starting with the speed control, the choice is very much dependent on what motor you plan to run, as the ESC and motor need to be compatible between each other. Basic things to consider is first if the ESC needs to be for brushed or brushless motors. For most uses today you’ll be looking at a brushless ESC, however, you then need to pay attention to if it is for sensored or sensorless motors, or if it can handle both types.

Finally you also need to check that it can handle the type of battery voltage and motor specs you have in mind. ESC’s typically have some sort of motor limit (in kv or turns), which you need to adhere to. If the ESC specifications says that the motor limit is 8.5T on a 2S battery, then you must use a motor with 8.5 turns or more. If a kv rating is used, then you need to choose a motor with a lower kv value than the limit.

Other ESC related factors to take into consideration include the size of the ESC, making sure it fits properly into your car. Additionally, some ESC’s are waterproof or protected, while most are not, so you also need to consider if this is a feature you need.

A more expensive ESC will usually give you better control, more features and adjustability, as well as better overall quality and lifetime.

 

Motors

With motors, the first thing to check is the actual size and measurements, as there are various motor sizes available for different types of cars. The car specs usually specify what size of motor the car is designed for, so do check this before making a choice if you are unsure.

What’s perhaps still the most common motor size used in RC cars, is often called “540”. These are used in many lighter 1/10 cars, while larger “550” or “1/8” sized motors are often used in heavier 1/10 vehicles and 1/8 scale cars. Brushless motors in this size are today often “4-pole” motors. Smaller motors (like 370 or 380) are used in some smaller cars, while large scale cars use even larger motors.

In addition to differences in length and diameter of the actual motor, there are also differences in motor shaft diameter. The most common shaft size is 3,175mm (1/8”), while many larger motors use a 5mm shaft. The shaft diameter directly influences on the selection of gears available.

The mounting hole positions in each motor are also depending on its size, so because of all these factors, it’s very important to check what motor fits your car.

 

Another thing to decide on is brushless or brushed, but with the development in brushless technology over the past 15 years, in most cases this is no longer a factor to spend much time considering. Unless you use your car in some very specific class or conditions, we’ll almost always recommend a brushless setup. Do remember though, that if you are changing from a brushed to a brushless motor, you will also have to get a brushless ESC.

 

Brushless motors are available sensored or sensorless, the difference being that the sensored motors have sensors inside the motor that register the position of the rotor. The sensored motors are more responsive from low rpm and give a more precise feel, and is therefore used more in competition than the sensorless motors. The sensorless motors are simpler and usually more affordable, and often used in RTR’s and for more general hobby use.

Again, it's important to remember that motor and ESC needs to be compatible. Some ESC's can only power sensorless motors, while other only work with sensored motors.

 

The power of a motor is usually indicated in “kv” or “turns”, or both. A motor’s kv refers to its rpm per volt of electricity. This means that a 3000Kv motor will spin at 25200rpm at 8.4V (3000 x 8.4 = 25200). Turns are often used in place of kv to indicate power on 540 size motors, especially 1/10 competition motors. The turn number, like 8.5T or 13.5T, refers to the number of times the wire in the motor is wrapped around the stator. To make it simple - the fewer the turns, the more power the motor produces.

With all these turns and kv’s, it’s important to remember that different cars require different things, and it’s not only about rpm’s. The larger and heavier a car is, the more important it will be to have enough torque, meaning that for a heavy 1/8 vehicle, a low kv but high torque motor will often be the better choice.

With any motor choice, it is vitally important to have the right gearing. So if you’re planning to change to a significantly different motor from what you have been running, always remember to change the gearing at the same time, following the motor manufacturer recommendation to start with.

Going to a higher power motor will also shorten runtime on one charge, and produce more heat.

  • Product
  • Qty in Cart
  • Quantity
  • Price
  • Subtotal
  • On Sale
    Hobbywing Quicrun Fusion SE 1200KV Sensored Brushless 2in1 HW30404318 Hobbywing Quicrun Fusion SE 1200KV Sensored Brushless 2in1 HW30404318

    Hobbywing Quicrun Fusion SE 1200KV Sensored Brushless 2in1 HW30404318

    Hobbywing

    MSRP: £79.99
    Now: £71.99
    Was: £79.99
    Additional Information - HOBBYWING QUICRUN FUSION SE 1200KV SENSORED BRUSHLESS 2IN1SPECIFICATIONSTypeScale:1/10thBrushed/Brushless:BLSensored/Sensorless:SDWaterproof:WaterproofSpecificationsCont./Peak Current:40AInput Voltage:2-3S LiPo/6-9 Cell NiMHBEC...
    HW30404318
    MSRP: £79.99
    Now: £71.99
    Was: £79.99
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    MSRP: £79.99
    Now: £71.99
    Was: £79.99
    Subtotal:
  • Hobbywing Quicrun WP 10BL60 Waterproof 60A Brushless ESC HW30107100 HW Hobbywing Quicrun WP 10BL60 Waterproof 60A Brushless ESC HW30107100 HW

    Hobbywing Quicrun WP 10BL60 Waterproof 60A Brushless ESC HW30107100 HW

    Hobbywing

    MSRP: £55.99
    RRP £51.99
    Additional Information - HOBBYWING QUICRUN-WP-10BL60 WATERPROOF 60A BRUSHLESS ESCThe QuicRun WP 10BL60 ESC brushless sensorless is specially designed for new beginners and intermediate modelers. This ESC is applicable to all-weather sport of 1/10th short...
    HW30107100
    MSRP: £55.99
    RRP £51.99
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    MSRP: £55.99
    RRP £51.99
    Subtotal:
  • Castle BEC Pro - 20A Voltage Regulator, 50V Max CC0401 Castle Creations 20 amp Castle BEC Pro - 20A Voltage Regulator, 50V Max CC0401 Castle Creations 20 amp

    Castle BEC Pro - 20A Voltage Regulator, 50V Max CC0401 Castle Creations 20 amp

    Castle Creations

    RRP £57.50
    Additional Information - Battery Eliminator Circuits are small devices that eliminate the need for a receiver and servo battery pack. They draw higher voltage from the motor batteries and drop it to a voltage level that is suitable for your receiver and...
    CC0401
    RRP £57.50
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    RRP £57.50
    Subtotal:
  • CC BEC 2.0 Waterproof 15A Voltage Regulator 50V Max CC010-0153-00 Castle CC BEC 2.0 Waterproof 15A Voltage Regulator 50V Max CC010-0153-00 Castle

    CC BEC 2.0 Waterproof 15A Voltage Regulator 50V Max CC010-0153-00 Castle

    Castle Creations

    RRP £64.99
    Additional Information - CC BEC 2.0 Waterproof - 15A Voltage Regulator, 50V Max P-CC010-0153-00 The CC BEC 2.0 complements our established line of BECs hobbyists have relied on for years. With hundreds of thousands in the field, users can count on...
    CC010-0153-00
    RRP £64.99
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    RRP £64.99
    Subtotal:
  • Outcry III Dual Motor Waterproof ESC Z-E0114 RC4WD Brushed LiPo 3A BEC 320 amp Outcry III Dual Motor Waterproof ESC Z-E0114 RC4WD Brushed LiPo 3A BEC 320 amp

    Outcry III Dual Motor Waterproof ESC Z-E0114 RC4WD Brushed LiPo 3A BEC 320 amp

    RC4WD

    MSRP: £68.49
    RRP £58.49
    Additional Information - Outcry III Dual Motor Waterproof ESCThis new Outcry II Waterproof ESC features great characteristics for scale trail driving, making it the perfect choice for any scale build!Specifications:Input Voltage: 2-3S Lipo/5-9 Cells...
    Z-E0114
    MSRP: £68.49
    RRP £58.49
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    MSRP: £68.49
    RRP £58.49
    Subtotal:
  • AXIAL AE-5 Waterproof Forward Reverse ESC Drag Brake Deans Bullet AX31144 rc

    AXIAL AE-5 Waterproof Forward Reverse ESC Drag Brake Deans Bullet AX31144 rc

    Axial

    RRP £54.99
    Additional Information - The AE-5 ESC features include 3S LiPo capability, adjustable drag brake and it's waterproof! Settings can be easily switched “in the field" between LiPo and NiMH battery types with a simple jumper – no more complex...
    AX31144
    RRP £54.99
    Qty in Cart: 0
    Quantity:
    Price:
    RRP £54.99
    Subtotal:
  • Total: items /

Adding your products to cart