Brushless basics tutorial

[Katana Man]

Is there a web site somewhere that explains the brushless motor basics? The difference design technologies, how they work, diagrams, what's required for speed controllers and batteries, pros and cons, racing rules, comparisons to brushed motors, etc..

[tcolesen]

There is a diagram that shows how the different phases of a brushless motor interact with the motor in an animation:
http://www.servomag.com/flash/2-pole/2pole-bldc-motor.html

[marcelo]

This may help you....


http://4wdrc.com/podcasts.htm click the one that say Novaks Charlie Swanka talks about......

[CharlieS]

You can do a search on Motorola's website for "DC Motors" and it comes up with a great link for the basics of how each type of motor works.

I don't know about that "Pod Cast"..... :) I was caught a little off guard.......

[Katana Man]

Thanks for the info guys. It seems the answer to my question is "no". There is no web site with all of this info. I think to bring brushless into the public's eye faster, there needs to be a website for the topic. We still need answers on things like" what's required for speed controllers and batteries, pros and cons, racing rules, comparisons to brushed motors, etc.. It would be nice if someone made a tutorial for brushless systems.

[Katana Man]

Here's the full list of questions that people like me will have for brushless motors:


1. How do they work? Diagrams?
2. What is required for speed controllers?
3. What batteries can be used?
4. What are the pros and cons to brushless motors?
5. Are they allowed in certain racing classes?
6. In terms of speed and run times, how do they compare to brushed motors?
7. Can the timing be adjusted?
8. If wired differently, can the be run in reverse? If so, are they just as efficient in reverse?

[tcolesen]

A lot of those questions can be answered by using the search feature.

1. Look at my first post (the second in the thread).
2. That it is for cars and can handle the amps that the motor requires.
3. Any batteries can be used. If you are looking at lithium polymer, then you want something that can handle the amp draw.
4. No maintenance, except for those that have bearings that can be removed, occasionally cleaning the bearings and getting dust/dirt out is a good idea.
5. Depends upon the track mainly. Unless it is the LRP or Novak, it can't be run in regular classes with ROAR rules. But sometimes you might be allowed to run a brushless in a nitro class (depends on the track).
6. Since brushless motors are so much more efficient than brushed (up to 30%!), runtimes will be longer. Speed can be achieved through using slow motors and high voltage (which is actually more efficient), or with fast motors. Since there is no commutator, brushles motors can draw more amps, and still be efficient. And, amps correspond to torque, so the torque of a brushless motor IS much greater (for example, a brushless motor in an E-Maxx can easily replace 3 brushed motors of the same size).
7. Timing is adjusted via the controller
8. To make the motor run the opposite direction, switch the outer 2 wires. There is no "correct" direction of the motor, so it's the same both ways.

[kufman]

8. To make the motor run the opposite direction, switch the outer 2 wires. There is no "correct" direction of the motor, so it's the same both ways.

You can switch any two wires to make the motor reverse. A sensorless controller doesn't care which wire is the middle wire.

****NOTE****
You cannot do this to novak motors or other sensored motors!!


For the motor and controller ratings I have a simple rule. Try to keep the Peak motor current near the continuous rating of the controller. For example, the U-force 75 can handle 75A continuous and 100 peak (for a very short time). I try to run a motor that has a peak current that is at or below 75A.

These run very well on the u-force.
Basic 4200=55A max
Basic 5300=60A max

This is not a good motor to run on the u-force 75.
BasicXL 4200 = 110A!!!

[SpEEdyBL]

I think the amp ratings for the lehner basics are max continuous ratings.