How to Choose FPV Drone Motors

by Oscar

Let’s dive into the fascinating world of FPV drone motors! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of motor construction, design features, and the factors that can influence a motor’s performance and efficiency. Having a solid understanding of the design choices involved will equip you with the knowledge to pick the ideal motor for your next drone build.

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If you’re still unsure about which motor to choose, don’t worry! I’ve got you covered with my top FPV drone motor recommendations: https://oscarliang.com/top-5-best-motors-mini-quad/

Recommendations

The “best motor for an FPV drone” is subjective, as each motor performs differently. Ultimately, your choice will depend on your flying style, requirements, and budget. Personally, I use my quads for freestyle, cinematic, and occasionally racing and aggressive flying. Therefore, I prefer versatile and “all-rounder” motors.

When selecting motor KV, 1600-2000KV is designed for 6S, while 2300-2800KV is appropriate for 4S. Higher KV options tend to be more aggressive and power-hungry, while lower KV options are conservative and efficient. Your choice will depend on your flying style and application. Follow this link to a table with recommended combinations of frame size, prop size, motor size, and motor KV: https://oscarliang.com/table-prop-motor-lipo-weight/

Motors for 5-inch

T-Motor Velox Veloce V2207.5 V2 (Budget Motor with High Quality)

T Motor Velox V3 V2207 1750kv Motor

At $14.9 a piece, the Velox V2207 V2/V3 is perhaps the cheapest worth having motors you can buy today. It’s a budget offering from T-Motor with modern design and features: N52 magnets, titanium shaft and manufactured by the reputable T-Motor. They offer different KV options, for cinematic and endurance types of flying, I think 1750KV is great on 6S. For racing or more aggressive freestyle flying opt for 1950KV-2050KV. For 4S battery, opt for 2550KV.

Get the T-Motor Velox from:
RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-ahy5
GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-gch4
AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DDjg899
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Qp4W1Z

RCinPower Wasp Major (Best Performing)

One of the very best all-rounder 5″ Motors available today, with outstanding performance in both raw power and efficiency. It’s an ideal choice for both freestyle and racing builds.

Find the RCinPower Wasp Major 22.6-6.5 1860KV here:

AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dd3sjt3
GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-f8kc

EMAX ECO II 2207 (Cheapest Worth Having)

Emax Eco Ii 2207 Motor

These motors have strong N52 magnets and solid build quality at an attractive price point. While you can find motors for less money they are rarely worth buying.

According to rumour, Emax is selling the ECO II motors at a lost, just trying to match the cheapest motors on the market. I found it to be believable because this motor is only $16! We have no way to prove it, but the Emax ECO II has been proven to be some of the best budget FPV motors over the years.

Perhaps not the best motor for raw performance, but you can’t really ask more as they are probably the cheapest worth having motors currently available. These are great if you are just starting out or want to build a basher. It’s also an extremely efficient motor if flight time is important to  you.

They offer 1700KV and 1900KV for 6S, 2400KV for 4S. They also do 2306 motor size too, but personally I prefer the bigger stator size 2207, it’s more powerful and responsive for the same price.

Purchase the EMAX ECO II 2207 from:

AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBfROTx
RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-6vdt
GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-8mns
Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-zlmz
NBD: https://oscarliang.com/product-vc8d

iFlight Xing2 2207 (Tried and True)

Iflight Xing2 2207 2306 Motors Fpv Drone

State-of-the-art in FPV motors right now. Unibell design, titanium shaft, slotted arc magnets for faster response, strong N52 magnets and a protective o-ring to keep the bearings smoother for longer.

The Xing series from iFlight has to be one of the best FPV drone motors made in 2019, and now they have a new series in 2022 – the Xing2 which are even better. Apart from the distinctive and unique curved unibody motor bell that makes it super durable, the Xing2 2306 and 2207 motors also come with lots of great features. For example, a single piece titanium alloy motor shaft, robust 9x4x4 bearings, single-strand winding, and the damping ring between bell and bearing that improves durability.

The Xing2 is a powerful motor with high torque, which translates into responsiveness and snappiness in flight. For $21 per motor, you are getting a top tier performance motor that are normally sold around the $30 price range, making it extremely good value. I have been flying the Xing2 on my new Source One V5 build, and it’s one of the smoothest in my fleet.

The iFlight Xing2 motor line-up offers many different KV depending on what LiPo voltages you plan to use (4S or 6S), propellers and flying styles. For 2207, there are 1855KV (6S) and 2755KV (4S), for 2306, there are 1755KV (6S) and 2555KV (4S).

Get the iFlight Xing2 2207 here: 

AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DefjM73
RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-2bz1
GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-hzvo
Banggood: https://oscarliang.com/product-ag8w
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OJa4v3

Motors for 7-inch

Here are my motor recommendations for 7″ FPV drones. What we focus on is efficiency at cruising speed (longer flight time) and smoothness (less vibration and heat) since 7″ drones are normally used for long range flying. 1300KV is great for 6S, for 4S you probably want to opt for 1500KV or even higher.

EMAX ECO II 2807 1300KV

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The EMAX ECO II 2807 motor presents itself as a heavyweight contender in the world of 7-inch quads. Weighing in at 54 grams with 7-inch wires, this motor immediately stands out due to its larger stator size.

The motor features multicore windings and a two-piece bell design, accompanied by an M2 shaft screw. An intriguing addition is the glue between the windings, a unique approach to securing multicore windings. Performance-wise, the EMAX ECO II 2807 delivers a robust combination of thrust, torque, and efficiency. The torque, in particular, is noteworthy, leading to a responsive and stable flight experience, especially crucial for capturing smooth footage. Its maximum torque and magnetic performance are impressive, pushing it to the top of the leaderboard in my tests.

However, the added weight of the motor could be a slight disadvantage for pilots conscious about the overall weight of their build. But if weight isn’t a primary concern, the EMAX ECO II 2807 offers excellent performance, making it a solid choice for enthusiasts looking for power and stability in their 7-inch quad setup.

Get the EMAX ECO II 2807 here: 

AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DC1zRl3
RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-i258
GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-yn40
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RLyvLL

T-Motor F90 2806.5 1300KV

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One of the most efficient motors out there with balanced performance. However it’s relative low in responsiveness. If you are looking for motors for a long range drone, not a freestyle one, this is worth considering. For a responsive motor, the Flyfish Flash 2806.5 might be a better choice.

Get the T-Motor F90 here: 

AliExpress: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Del6L3f
RDQ: https://oscarliang.com/product-fq2e
GetFPV: https://oscarliang.com/product-t3k7
Amazon: https://amzn.to/47P8Q9y


Where to Begin?

If you’re new to the FPV scene, I highly recommend checking out our beginner’s guide to FPV drones first for the basics: https://oscarliang.com/fpv-drone-guide/

Before choosing a motor, it’s important to have at least a rough idea of the size and weight of the drone you plan on building. I’ll walk you through the process of determining motor size based on the drone you are trying to build, but if you’re focusing on building a 5″ FPV drone, feel free to skip ahead to the “Motor Size” section.

Some of the most crucial factors to keep in mind include:

  • Motor weight
  • Power (thrust)
  • Efficiency (grams per watt)
  • Torque and response (RPM changes)

Brushless vs. Brushed Motors

In the world of RC, there are two primary motor types: brushless and brushed motors. Generally, we tend to brushless motors as they are more durable and powerful, while brushed motors are often used in toy drones as they are cheaper to make. In this guide, we’ll be focusing solely on brushless motors, which are the go-to choice for most FPV drones.

Estimating Drone Weight and Frame Size

When considering your FPV drone’s total weight, make sure to account for all components: frame, FC, ESC, motors, propellers, RX, VTX, antenna, ESCs, LiPo battery, GoPro, and so on. While it doesn’t have to be 100% accurate, a close estimation is essential. It’s better to overestimate the weight and have extra power than to underpower and struggle during takeoff.

By determining your frame size, you’ll be able to establish the maximum propeller size allowed. For more information on propeller selection, check out our guide on how to choose propellers for FPV drones: https://oscarliang.com/propellers/

Determining Thrust Requirements

To calculate the minimum thrust required for your motor and propeller combination, you’ll need the estimated total weight of your drone. A general rule of thumb is that the maximum thrust produced by all motors should be at least double the total weight of the quadcopter. Insufficient thrust can result in poor control response and difficulties to lift off.

For example, if you have a 1kg drone, the total thrust generated by all of the motors at 100% throttle should be at least 2kg. That’s 500g thrust produced by each motor for a quadcopter. Of course, having more thrust available than needed is always a bonus.

For racing drones, the thrust-to-weight ratio (or power-to-weight ratio) should be significantly higher than the example above. Ratios of 10:1 or even 14:1 are not uncommon. For acro and freestyle flying, I recommend having at least a 5:1 ratio.

A higher thrust-to-weight ratio gives a quadcopter greater agility and acceleration but can make it more challenging to control, especially for beginners. Even the slightest throttle touch can “shoot the quad into orbit like a rocket.” Piloting skill and experience play a significant role in managing this power.

Even if you only plan to fly a slow and stable aerial photography rig, aim for a thrust-to-weight ratio higher than 3:1 or even 4:1. This not only provides better control but also leaves room for extra payload.


Connecting a Brushless Motor

To drive a brushless motor, you’ll need an ESC (electronic speed controller). Unlike brushed motors that have only two wires, brushless motors have three wires. You can connect these wires to the ESC in any order. To reverse the rotation direction, simply swap two of the three wires. Additionally, it’s possible to reverse motor direction through software settings: https://oscarliang.com/change-motor-spin-direction-quadcopter/

Brushless FPV drone motors spin direction


Motor Size Explained

Brushless motor size in RC is typically indicated by a four-digit number – AABB:

  • “AA” represents the stator width (or stator diameter)
  • “BB” represents the stator height, both measured in millimetres

The stator is the stationary part of the motor, consisting of “poles” wrapped with copper wires (windings). These poles are made of several layers of thin metal plates laminated together, with an ultra-thin insulation layer in between.

FPV drone motors anatomy stator bell magnets bearing

Let’s break down the key components of a motor:

  • Motor stator: The stationary part of the motor consists of multiple metal coils. The coil wire is coated in enamel to prevent short-circuiting as it’s wound in multiple loops. When an electrical current passes through the stator coils, it generates a magnetic field that interacts with the permanent magnets on the rotor, creating rotation.
  • Magnets: Permanent magnets produce a fixed magnetic field. In FPV motors, they are attached to the inside of the motor bell using epoxy.
  • Motor bell: The motor bell serves as the motor’s protective casing for the magnets and windings. Generally made from lightweight metals like aluminium, some motor bells are designed like miniature fans to direct more airflow over the motor windings for additional cooling as the motor spins.
  • Motor shaft: Connected to the motor bell, the shaft is the working component of the motor that transfers the torque generated by the motor to the propeller.

Increasing either the stator width or height increases the stator volume, the size of the permanent magnets, as well as the electromagnetic stator coils. As a result, the motor’s overall torque is increased, enabling it to spin a heavier prop faster and produce more thrust (at the expense of drawing more current). However, the downside of a larger stator is that it’s heavier and less responsive.

Comparing Taller and Wider Stators

Wider motors have larger inertia when spinning because the mass of the motor is further from the rotational axis, requiring more energy to change RPM. Consequently, wider and shorter motors are usually less responsive than narrower and taller motors, even if they have the same stator volume and generate the same torque. Wider and shorter motors also have smaller magnets on the motor bell, which can reduce the motor’s power.

However, wider motors offer better cooling due to the larger surface area on the top and bottom. Temperature is crucial to motor performance. As a motor heats up, its ability to generate magnetic flux decreases, impacting efficiency and torque production.

In essence, the width and height of a motor stator represent a balance between responsiveness and cooling. The decision depends on your flying style. For instance, for slow cinewhoops carrying a heavy GoPro, you might want motors with wider stator for better cooling. For fast and responsive racing or freestyle drones, taller stators might be preferred.

Wider stators also allow for larger bearings, which can improve efficiency, smoothness, and longevity.

Bigger stators aren’t always better. For example, 2207 motors can handle typical 5″ propellers, but using much heavier 2506 motors of the same KV may not provide noticeable benefits since they’d produce the same thrust using the same propellers, or even provide worse responsiveness because of the weight. To improve performance without adding weight, consider higher KV motors. The 2506 motor in this example, however, would likely work better for 6″ props than 2207 due to the increased torque requirements.


Motor Torque

High torque motors provide rapid RPM changes and faster response time, leading to less prop wash oscillation and snappier responses.

Motor torque depends on several factors, including:

  • Stator size (volume)
  • Materials: the type of magnets and quality of copper windings
  • Motor construction: such as air gap, number of poles, etc.

Since FPV motors have similar specifications and designs in recent years, stator size is the simplest way to quantify torque.

Stator size can be calculated using the volume of a cylinder formula:

volume = pi * radius^2 * height

For example, a 2207 motor’s stator volume is:

pi x (22/2)^2 x 7 = 2660.93

The larger the stator volume, the more torque a motor can generate. Comparing a 2306 motor with a volume of 2492.85, a 2207 motor has more torque.

When choosing a motor, compare the motor stator volume and weight. A lighter motor with the same volume is preferable, assuming other factors being equal. So, why not pick the largest motor available? The answer lies in weight. Motors with bigger stator volumes are heavier, so it really depends on the application.

For example, lightweight drones don’t require much throttle to stay airborne, leaving more torque available. Paired with lighter pitch propellers, motors can spin them with less torque. In this case, motor torque requirements are low, allowing for smaller, lighter motors that keep overall weight down.

The only time a less powerful motor (with less torque) is preferred is when smoothness is prioritized over responsiveness. High torque motors can change RPM so quickly that they may feel jerky and less smooth. They can also create more voltage spikes and electrical noise in the power system, potentially affecting gyro performance and overall flight performance if noise filtering isn’t optimal, leading to oscillations.


KV

“KV” indicates the number of revolutions per minute (rpm) a motor turns when 1V (one volt) is applied without any load (e.g., propeller) attached to the motor. For example, a 2300KV motor powered by a 3S LiPo battery (12.6V) will spin at approximately 28,980 RPM without propellers mounted (2300 x 12.6). KV is typically a rough estimation specified by the motor manufacturer.

When a propeller is mounted on the motor, RPM decreases drastically due to air resistance. Higher KV motors will try to spin the propeller faster, generating more thrust and power (while drawing more current). Larger props are typically paired with low KV motors, while smaller, lighter props work better with high KV motors.

Motor KV is determined by the number of copper wire windings in the stator. In general, a higher number of winding turns decreases motor KV, while a lower number of turns increases it. The magnetic strength of the magnets can also affect the KV value, with stronger magnets increasing KV.

If a high KV motor is paired with an excessively large propeller, the motor will try to spin fast as it would with a smaller prop, requiring more torque. This increased torque demand will lead to higher current draw and heat generation. Overheating can cause the motor to burn out, as the coil’s coating may melt and cause electrical shorts inside the motor. That’s why a higher KV motor is likely to run hotter than a lower KV motor of the same size.

KV also impacts the current and voltage limits of a motor. Higher KV motors have shorter windings and lower resistance, reducing the maximum voltage rating and increasing the current draw for the motor and propeller combo. However, the motor’s product page will specify the allowable voltage and maximum current.

Betaflight’s “Motor Output” limit allows you to reduce the motor signal and use higher voltage batteries (for example, flying 4S motors on 6S battery). However, while this workaround may work, it can potentially blow your ESC with high KV motors. By limiting motor output, you are setting a limit on how long the MOSFET remains switched on, but you still expose the motor to higher voltage. This is more likely to cause issues than using a lower KV motor rated for the higher voltage. It is recommended to choose the right KV motors for the battery voltage you plan to use.

Not sure how to choose motor KV? Check this table: https://oscarliang.com/table-prop-motor-lipo-weight/


KV vs. Torque Constant

Motor KV does not directly affect torque, but it does impact the torque constant. The torque constant of a motor defines how much current is required to produce a certain amount of torque. KV doesn’t influence the actual torque generated; factors such as magnet strength, air-gap, and coil resistance have a much more significant impact on torque production.

Higher KV motors have a higher torque constant, meaning they need more current to generate the same amount of torque compared to a lower KV motor. To generate the same amount of torque, the higher KV motor requires more current, resulting in additional losses in the ESC, battery, and wires. Moreover, more heat builds up in the motor due to the higher current, less magnetic flux is generated. Overall, a higher KV motor is less efficient if you were to fly at the same speed as the lower KV motor.

Therefore, it’s a good idea not to go overboard on KV; try to keep it moderate. This is especially important when building a long-range rig that prioritizes efficiency and flight time.


Motor Mounting

Common mounting patterns (hole distance) for 22xx, 23xx, 24xx motors are 16x19mm and 16x16mm. Modern 5″ FPV drone frames should support both patterns. The mounting holes of these motors use M3 screws. Use screws with a thread length 2mm longer than the thickness of the arms; for example, for 5mm arms, use 7mm screws, and for 6mm arms, use 8mm screws.

drone motors mounting pattern


Poles and Magnets

When browsing motors for your FPV drone, you might come across specifications such as “12N14P” printed on the box. Here’s what those numbers mean: the number preceding the letter “N” indicates the number of electromagnets (poles) in the stator, while the number before “P” represents the number of permanent magnets in the bell.

Fpv Drone Quadcopter Brushless Motor N P Poles Magnets Number 12 14

Different motor sizes have varying numbers of poles; for instance, 22XX and 23XX motors generally feature 12 poles and 14 magnets.

The number of poles has a direct impact on motor performance. If there are fewer poles, you can incorporate more iron content into the stator, resulting in greater power output. However, a higher number of poles leads to a more evenly spread magnetic field. This, in turn, provides a smoother-running motor with finer control over the rotation of the bell.

In a nutshell:

  • More poles = Smoother performance
  • Fewer poles = Increased power

Since FPV drone motors are typically 3-phase, the pole configuration must be a multiple of 3 (i.e., 9, 12, 15, 18, etc.). This is due to the presence of 3 wires connecting to the motor. Consequently, the pole number isn’t easily changed and isn’t a critical factor when selecting motors, particularly for FPV drones. But you should pay attention to the pole number as you have to enter this number in Betaflight when enabling RPM filter. If you can’t find this number, you can simply count how many magnets in the bell.


Motor Windings

The number of copper windings or ‘turns’ on a stator pole determines the maximum current a motor will draw. Simultaneously, the thickness of the wire influences the motor’s ability to handle current before reaching the point of overheating.

In simpler terms, fewer turns translate to less resistance, resulting in a higher KV. However, this also leads to a reduced electromagnetic field on the stator and, consequently, lower torque.

On the flip side, when there are more turns in the coil, the increased copper creates a more substantial magnetic field on the stator pole, generating greater torque. But there’s a catch – the longer wires and higher resistance cause the motor’s KV to decrease.

So, how do manufacturers address these challenges when boosting the power of FPV drone motors? The answer lies in increasing the number of windings while utilizing thicker copper wires. This ingenious approach effectively reduces the winding resistance, thereby improving power without sacrificing efficiency and torque. Moreover, a motor with a larger wire gauge can handle high current without burning out.

It’s important to note, though, that the use of thicker wires and additional windings results in a heavier motor. Additionally, the winding occupies more physical space, which requires a larger stator. That’s why we’re witnessing the emergence of bigger and heavier motors in the market, which also explains their increased power.

Multi-Stranded vs. Single Stranded Windings

When it comes to motor windings, there are two primary options: single stranded and multi-stranded. Each has its own set of advantages and drawbacks, making them suitable for different applications.

Single stranded windings use thicker wires, which handle heat more effectively, making them ideal for demanding flights that pull a lot of amps (e.g. racing, acro, freestyle etc). However, the thicker wires result in larger gaps between them, limiting how many can be wrapped around the stator.

On the other hand, multi-stranded windings replace a single, thicker wire with multiple smaller ones. These thinner wires don’t carry heat as efficiently and are more prone to physical breakage.

Despite these limitations, multi stranded windings might offer superior performance over single stranded windings due to the tighter packing around the stator, with smaller gaps between the wires, resulting in a stronger magnetic field. This can result in improvements in power and efficiency. However, multi-stranded wire generally is more challenging to achieve the same neatness as single-stranded wires, coupled with the fact that there is more insulation layers between multi-stranded coils, it results in more air gaps between the wires, which might offset the benefits mentioned above.

It’s important to note that the neatness of the windings plays a vital role, both aesthetically and electrically. Messy windings with numerous wire crossings lead to less efficient magnetic fields, as the wires don’t cross the stator perpendicularly. So, when evaluating motor windings, don’t overlook the importance of a tidy and well-organized winding job.

Finally, multi-stranded wire can overheat more quickly than single-stranded wire, which impacts raw power and efficiency of the motor. Overall, single-stranded winding is probably the better choice in practice.


Bearing

Motor bearings might not be a frequently discussed topic due to the lack of info online, but they play a crucial role in your FPV drone’s performance. Let’s take a closer look at the basics of motor bearings.

The size of a bearing is determined by the difference between its outer and inner diameters, not the diameters themselves. Wider bearings can accommodate larger balls (or marbles) inside them. While larger balls provide greater durability and crash resistance, smaller balls offer more stability and smoothness at high speeds and RPMs.

Some motors are marketed as featuring “ceramic bearings,” which use ceramic balls instead of steel ones. While these bearings are indeed smoother, they are also more prone to breaking.

The bearing’s inner diameter also dictates the size of the shaft that can be used. A 9mm x 4mm bearing offers a good balance between durability and smoothness.

Popular bearings used in FPV drone motors include Japanese brands such as NSK, NMB, and EZO. Although EZO bearings are often hyped as the best, it’s challenging to quantify their superiority over other brands. Moreover, it’s important to consider the possibility of manufacturers using counterfeit products instead of genuine ones.


Choosing the Right Motor Size for Your Drone

To determine the ideal motor size for your drone, follow this sequence: Frame Size => Prop Size => Motor Size.

By identifying the frame size, you can estimate the appropriate motor size to use. The frame size constrains the prop size, and each prop size demands a different motor RPM to generate thrust efficiently—this is where motor KV comes into play.

Additionally, ensure that the motors produce sufficient torque to spin your chosen propeller. This consideration involves the stator size. In general, a larger stator size and higher KV result in increased current draw.

The table below offers a general guideline. It is not a rigid rule, as you may find people using slightly higher or lower KV motors than the table suggests. However, it serves as a good starting point. This table assumes you’re powering your quad with 4S LiPo batteries, and the frame size refers to the wheelbase (i.e., the diagonal motor-to-motor distance).

For a more detailed table encompassing various prop sizes and LiPo voltages, check https://oscarliang.com/table-prop-motor-lipo-weight/

Frame Size Prop Size Motor Size KV
150mm or smaller 3″ or smaller 1105 -1306 or smaller 3000KV and higher
180mm 4″ 1806, 2204 2600KV – 3000KV
210mm 5″ 2205-2208, 2305-2306 2300KV-2600KV
250mm 6″ 2206-2208, 2306 2000KV-2300KV
350mm 7″ 2506-2508 1200KV-1600KV
450mm 8″, 9″, 10″ or larger 26XX and larger 1200KV and lower

Considering Voltage and Current Draw

Understanding the role of voltage in your motor choice is crucial. When using a higher voltage, your motor will attempt to spin faster, leading to increased current draw. Be mindful of the thrust your motors generate and the current they demand.

Once you have a clear understanding of the current draw for your motor and propeller combination, you can confidently select the right ESC for your drone. Keep in mind that the ESC should be able to handle the maximum current draw of the motor without exceeding its limits to ensure safe and reliable operation. Learn how to choose ESC here: https://oscarliang.com/esc/


How to Evaluate Motor Performance

After narrowing down your motor size, you’ll likely still have several options to choose from. To determine the best motor for your specific needs, take the following factors into account:

  • Thrust
  • Efficiency and Current Draw
  • Weight

Ultimately, your choice of motor will be influenced by your intended application, flying style, and desired performance characteristics.

Thrust

When it comes to choosing a motor for your FPV drone, thrust is often the first thing that comes to mind. After all, it’s the force that propels your drone through the air and allows it to perform those impressive aerial maneuvers.

While higher thrust translates into faster acceleration, it’s crucial not to overlook other factors such as current draw and efficiency. Opting for a motor and propeller combination that demands excessive amperage can put undue strain on your batteries, potentially shortening their lifespan.

If your drone draws a significant amount of current at high throttle, it’s essential to ensure that your battery’s maximum discharge rate is up to the task.

While thrust is undoubtedly a vital aspect to consider when selecting a motor for your FPV drone, it’s essential to weigh it against other factors as mentioned below.

Motor Weight

Motor weight is an often-overlooked factor in FPV drone motor selection, yet it plays a crucial role, especially for high performance drones, such as racing drones and freestyle drones.

Motors are mounted at the four corners of the frame, which means they have a significant impact on the quadcopter’s responsiveness. Heavier motors increase the angular moment of inertia, requiring more torque (not just thrust) for the motors to alter the drone’s attitude.

In real-world flight scenarios, when your quadcopter performs flips and rolls, it takes time to gain angular acceleration, reach the desired position, and then come to a stop. Heavier motors take longer to reach the necessary angular speed and decelerate, making the drone feel less responsive. This is particularly important if your flying style involves rapid changes in direction, such as freestyle and racing. For those primarily focused on cruising in a straight line, like cinematic cruisers, motor weight may not be as critical.

Efficiency and Current Draw

When choosing an FPV drone motor, it’s important to consider motor efficiency, typically calculated by dividing thrust by power at 100% throttle, measured in grams per watt (g/w). A higher number indicates a more efficient motor.

However, don’t just look at efficiency at the top end. Analyze efficiency throughout the entire throttle range, especially around the throttle range you will be mostly fly at. Some motors may be efficient at lower throttle levels but lose efficiency as they draw higher current nearing their limits.

Another useful metric for gauging efficiency is “grams per amp” (thrust/current).

Generally, as thrust increases, so does the current required to produce it. Therefore, motors with high thrust and low current draw are preferable. Inefficient motors may generate insufficient thrust or draw excessive current.

Each motor reacts differently to various propellers. Choosing the right propeller is crucial for balancing thrust and efficiency.

Keep in mind that efficiency and current draw also influence battery selection. An efficient motor with a high current draw may abuse your battery and cause voltage sags, so it’s essential to strike the right balance to optimize your drone’s performance.


Advanced Motors Performance Factors

Some drone motor characteristics are not explicitly mentioned by manufacturers and can only be discovered through more in-depth technical testing. Here are a few advanced factors to consider when selecting a motor:

  • Torque
  • Response Time
  • Temperature
  • Vibration and balance

Motor Torque

Torque is the force responsible for turning the propeller, determining how quickly a motor can increase and decrease its RPM. In other words, it gauges how easily a motor can move the rotor, propeller, and most importantly, the air.

The torque of a motor significantly impacts your quad’s performance, specifically its precision and responsiveness during flight. A high-torque motor delivers a snappier response due to faster RPM changes. You may even experience reduced prop wash with increased torque.

Additionally, high torque enables the use of heavier propellers (though at the expense of higher current draw). If a low-torque motor is tasked with spinning a propeller that is too heavy for it (also known as over-propping), the motor will struggle to generate enough force to reach the desired RPM, resulting in poor efficiency and overheating.

However, high-torque motors do have one potential drawback: oscillation. These motors can change RPM so rapidly that they may actually amplify errors (in the flight controller PID loop), leading to oscillations that can be difficult to eliminate even with PID and filter tuning.

Torque is directly influenced by the stator size, generally with a larger stator equating to more torque. Other factors that can increase torque include:

  • Stronger magnets
  • Minimizing the air gap between permanent magnets and the stator, such as using arc magnets
  • Thinner stator laminations

Another advantage of high-torque motors is their increased tolerance for larger propeller pitch and size, allowing them to perform better with a wider range of propellers. However, using lighter propellers can also be beneficial, as RPM changes occur more quickly.

Response Time

Motor response time is closely related to torque, with high-torque motors typically having faster response times. An easy way to measure response time is to assess how long it takes for a motor to reach maximum RPM from 0.

Response time is heavily influenced by the weight and pitch of your chosen propeller. Keep in mind that atmospheric conditions can also play a role. For instance, at lower altitudes, the air is denser, meaning there are more air molecules that the propeller needs to move in order to generate thrust. At higher altitudes, your propellers will spin faster and respond more quickly to throttle changes, but the overall thrust will be diminished due to fewer air molecules for the prop to interact with.

Temperature

Temperature plays a crucial role in the performance and longevity of brushless motors. The magnets used in these motors exhibit a weaker magnetic field at higher temperatures, which can lead to faster demagnetization and affect the motor’s lifespan.

Over-propping your motors or excessively using full throttle can cause your motors to run hot. This, in turn, can degrade the motor’s performance and the magnets over time. As a result, motor designs that facilitate cooling often correlate with longer lifespans.

Vibration

Vibration stemming from motors can lead to several undesirable consequences for your quad’s performance.

A motor with poor balance or subpar build quality may generate vibrations that can impact your PID controller. With vibration frequency changing at different throttle levels, tuning your quad can become increasingly challenging.

Additionally, a motor experiencing vibration will produce more electrical noise than a smoothly running motor. This electrical noise can interfere with your gyro sensor, further hampering flight performance, and may even degrade your FPV video quality if your FPV system is powered directly from the drone battery.

To mitigate vibration issues, most flight controllers come with soft-mounted solutions such as rubber grommets, which provide significant improvements. However, it’s essential to remember that damaged, bent, or unbalanced propellers can also contribute to problematic vibrations. Make sure to inspect your propellers regularly and replace them as needed to maintain optimal performance.

Key Features of FPV Drone Motors

Motor performance can be influenced by many factors, making it a complex and sometimes controversial topic. Motors with the same stator size and KV can exhibit varying thrust, current draw, and response times, even when using identical props. Both design and material choices can significantly impact performance.

In this section, we’ll explore various motor design features that contribute to enhanced performance and can alter the motor’s characteristics.

Motor Shaft

The motor shaft is an integral part of a brushless motor, as it’s responsible for mounting the propeller securely. Most brushless motors designed for 3″, 4″, 5″, and 6″ propellers have M5 shafts with a 5mm diameter.

Motor shaft construction has evolved over time to provide better performance and durability:

  1. Solid Aluminum Shafts: In the past, motor shafts were made from solid aluminum rods. While they were lightweight, these shafts were less stiff and more prone to bending.
  2. Hollow Titanium Shafts: To address the issues with solid aluminium shafts, manufacturers began using hollow titanium shafts. These shafts offered similar weight savings but were significantly stiffer and more resistant to bending. However, drilling a hole through the center of the titanium shaft increased production costs.
  3. Hybrid Shafts: More recently, some motor manufacturers have developed a hybrid shaft design by inserting a steel rod inside the hollow titanium shaft. This innovative design combines the stiffness and strength of steel with the lightweight properties of titanium, providing superior performance and durability.

Magnet Type

Magnets used in brushless motors are graded according to their magnetic field strength, such as N50, N52, N54, with higher numbers indicating a stronger magnetic field. For example, a motor with N52SH magnets will be better than one with N50SH magnets.

A stronger magnetic field theoretically enables the motor to generate power more efficiently, resulting in higher torque and faster response times. However, a motor with a stronger magnetic field will typically produce more notches when turned by hand. This is not necessarily a good thing, as it indicates a less even magnetic field, which can lead to a less smooth motor. You might notice some motors would feel more “notchy” than others when spun by hand, that’s a reflection of how strong the magnets are. Stronger magnets make the motor more notchy.

It’s also important to note that magnets can lose their magnetic strength at high temperatures, which can impact motor performance. To address this issue, motor manufacturers often use N52H magnets, which are designed to withstand high temperatures. Some motors even use N52SH magnets, which are believed to be able to withstand even higher temperatures.

Finally, it’s not uncommon for magnets to become loose in crashes or due to vibration. To fix this issue, you can use Loctite 438 to glue the magnets back in place within the motor bell.

Curved Magnets

Using magnets, also known as arc magnets, is a technique that enables magnets to be brought closer to the stator, allowing for a smaller and more consistent air gap. This, in turn, provides better performance in motors.

With curved magnets, the strongest magnetic point of each pole is no longer on the surface of the magnet, unlike standard non-curved magnets. The epicentre of the field of the pole on the outside of the curve will be below the surface of the magnet, and the epicentre of the pole on the inner curve will actually be above the surface, bringing the magnetic fields of the permanent and electromagnets even closer together.

In addition to the shape of the magnets, some manufacturers test mini quad motors with different thicknesses of magnets, and have found that a slightly thinner magnet (and therefore a weaker magnetic field) can also make a noticable difference in performance.

Air Gap

“Air gap” in a motor refers to the distance between the permanent magnets and the stator. Magnetic force degrades non-linearly with distance, so reducing the gap between the two significantly boosts the power of the motor. A smaller air gap not only makes the motor more powerful, it also improves torque and response.

The downside of tighter airgap is the increase in current draw and decrease in efficiency. Also there is concern regarding durability, if the motor bell takes any sort of impact and it gets out of alignment and shifted at all, the magnet can run into the stator and end up getting shattered.

Stator Laminations

A lamination is the thickness of the individual sheets of metal stacked up in the motor stator. Thinner lamination allows for more layers of stator plates to be stacked for the same height of the motor stator.

In general, thinner stator laminations are better for motor performance. They help to reduce a phenomenon known as Eddy Current, which generates heat in a changing magnetic environment. Thinner laminations mean less power is wasted on generating eddy currents, resulting in more efficient and powerful motors.

Motor Stator Lamination

Motor Stator Lamination

C-Clip / Shaft Screw

When it comes to securing the motor shaft, FPV drone motors use one of three methods: C-clips, E-clips, or screws. Each method has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, making it difficult to determine which one is the best.

C-Clip vs. Screw on the bottom of a Motor Shaft

C-Clip vs. Screw on the bottom of a Motor Shaft

Generally speaking, screws are easier to remove and are better for user maintenance than C-clips or E-clips. However, screws have a higher risk of being over-tightened, which can lock the shaft and make the motor harder to spin.

On the other hand, there have been reports of C-clips popping off during flight, which can cause the motor bell to fly off and lead to a crash. While screws may seem like a safer option, they are not immune to this problem.

Aluminium Alloy

The metal used for the motor bell and motor base determines the durability of the motor. There are two common types of aluminium alloy used in FPV motors: 7075 and 6082. The number designates the different series of aluminium alloy grades and chemical composition.

In a nutshell, 6082 has more ductility and is more formable while 7075 is more rigid and hold up better against crashes. 6082 is used back in the days before 2016/2017, but 7075 is the most common in modern motors and is thought to be stronger against impact.

Unibell

There are two types of bell designs: 2-piece bell design, and Unibell design.

The 2-piece bell design involves a machined top aluminum part coupled with a steel flux ring bonded below it, a traditional and widely used construction in motors.

The Unibell design features an aluminum bell extending down over a steel flux ring – like a thin protective sheath surrounding the steel flux ring.

The one-piece construction of the Unibell design adds a slight weight gain to the motor over two-piece bell design, however it improves durability and reduces the risk of the motor bell slipping down—a common issue in some two-piece bell designs. Motors with a two-piece design can suffer from a separation of the flux ring from the top part of the bell during a hard crash, rendering the motor useless. However, this is virtually unheard of with the Unibell design due to the extensive adhesive area, which ensures a firm and secure bond between the two components.

Despite the small weight penalty, the added durability provided by the Unibell design justifies the cost in my opinion. After all. A negligible increase in weight leads to a substantial gain in resilience, a trade-off that’s worth making.

Flux Ring Design

A flux ring is the round steel ring inside the bell that contains the magnets. The bell is usually made of aluminium, while the flux ring is made of steel because it has to respond to magnetic field lines.

The latest flux ring design is a custom shape instead of the usual round shape, which can help direct more magnetic field lines back into the motor and improve the torque.

O-Ring

O-ring under inside of the motor bell is a great feature to have in a motor.

The o-ring acts as a buffer/cushion, absorbing some of the shock from physical impacts. This can help maintain the smoothness of the bearing over a longer period, potentially increasing the lifespan of the motor. The added protection the o-ring provides can also reduce maintenance needs and the frequency of part replacements, offering both economic and practical benefits to the users.

Bottom Design

In motor base design, there is the more traditional “closed bottom” approach, and the more recent “naked bottom” style. There are pros and cons to both of these designs.

Motor with Naked Bottom (Open Motor Base)

Motor with closed bottom

The “closed bottom” design means a stronger base, however the “naked bottom” tend to be lighter by removing the excess material, the weight saving is around 2g.

Closed base motors are less likely to get dirt trapped inside the bell, against the argument that, naked bottom are easier to clean the dirt out.

With naked bottom, you can see clearly how far the screws are going in, and you have less chance of shorting the motor winding if the screws are too long. (This happens often to beginners with closed bottom motors.)

Naked bottom motors are easy to get dirt inside the motor, but it’s also easier to clean

However, the closed bottom provides better strain relief to the wires in case of crashing and stretching.

Silver Plated Copper Wires

Both silver and copper are renowned for their exceptional conductivity. But silver, being a larger atom with more internal electron shells, holds onto its outermost electron very loosely. This means it can more readily dissociate its electrons, allowing them to move more freely through the metal to carry heat and electricity. Thus, silver is an even better conductor than copper.

By plating silver onto the outside of copper wire, you enhance its electrical and thermal conductivity, which are both beneficial for motors.

However silver plated copper wires are way more expensive than normal copper wires, therefore it’s not very common in budget motors.

PoPo Technology

The “Pop on Pop off” system is basically a motor shaft with spring loaded bearing for installing and removing props quickly. For a more detail overview and product list check out this article.

Other Features

  • Soldering tabs
  • ESC integration
  • Cooling design

Motor manufacturers are constantly experimenting with different designs and levels of hardware integration, which has led to advances in cooling and even integrating ESC inside the motor. Personally I think solder tabs on the motor can come in handy, it allows you to use a lighter gauge wire to save weight on less amp hungry applications. They should also be easily repairable if the wires get pulled off, which can often spell the end of a motor of typical design.

CW and CCW Drone Motors

You will rarely see brushless motors labelled as CW (clockwise) and CCW (counter clockwise).

This does not indicate the direction the motor spins. Brushless motors can spin either direction. This label differentiates the direction that the motor bolt is threaded. This is done so that as the motor spins, the torque from the propeller pushes  the motor nut to tighten rather than loosen. This keeps your props from loosening and coming off while you fly. This means you will need two of each for your 4 motor layout in standard Betaflight rotation.

  • Front Left: CW
  • Front Right: CCW
  • Back Left: CCW
  • Back Right: CW

To tell if you have the correct threaded motor on, simply hold the prop nut on the shaft, then start turning the motor with your hand in the direction it should spin. If the nut tightens then you have the correct one :)

Personally I prefer to have the same threads on all my motors, so I don’t confuse myself with the different prop nuts. If you have to replace a prop nut at the hardware store, it can be a real headache trying to find a CCW threaded nuts  (or more commonly in the hardware jargon, a ‘left hand thread nut’). Prop nuts these days are lock nuts (have rubber inside), they stay on relatively well when tightened down and doesn’t get loose easily.

Edit History

  • Oct 2013 – Article created
  • Nov 2016 – Updated with new facts
  • May 2017 – Added “Motor Features”
  • Jan 2018 – Corrected some grammar mistakes
  • Mar 2018 – Added info about “windings”, “poles”, “bearing” and “Torque”
  • Oct 2018 – Added info about mounting pattern, PoPo technology
  • Oct 2019 – Updated connection to ESC
  • Apr 2022 – Added info about Unibell
  • Mar 2023 – Article revised, updated product links

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67 comments

Bob 22nd January 2024 - 4:11 pm

Can I run a 4s battery on 1855KV motors?

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Lee 22nd December 2023 - 12:10 pm

Very interesting article. I use drone motors for slot car drag racing on a 16.4 volt track. The fastest motor I use is a Rcinpower gts v2 1207 7500kv. Hits 67mph. Car weighs 97g. Would you know what motor would give me more thrust,torque and power that utilizes a 2mm shaft. Thanks for the help. Lee

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Alain 9th December 2023 - 2:50 am

Brilliant article. Just found OscarLiang and already love it.

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Chris 3rd December 2023 - 9:55 am

Very interesting read thanks.
I’m just getting into drones & chose a 2207 1750KV Motor for a GEPRC Mark5 on the thought that it would have a slower response + better flight time. I chose a higher pitch prop 5x4x3 & plan to experiment with both 4S & 6S.
Does this sound reasonable or am I heading for a bad experience?
Thanks

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Nick W 10th October 2023 - 1:15 am

One thing I notice is that whilst there are loads of motors up to 14xx size, and again from 22xx upwards, there is now a dearth of anything in between apart from some lightweight cine type motors. So if you want a high performance 4″ craft with aggressive props and still well under 250g, it’s hard to find a suitable motor.

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Stephan 29th September 2023 - 7:06 pm

Hi Oscar, thanks for sharing all that knowledge!
Could you please fix the part “single stranded windings can offer superior performance over single stranded windings”

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Oscar 30th September 2023 - 2:25 pm

thanks for finding the typo! it’s fixed now.

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Manu 11th September 2023 - 4:27 pm

Hello! I read this article and possibly late…

I build a custom cinelog35″. So I decided to put some motors with a little more KV (Used: Rcinpower GTS V3 M2 2104 3000KV) different from the factory ones (Factory: SPEEDX2 2105.5-2650KV). So I have two questions, my intention was to make more cinematic and longer lasting flights, have I done well by choosing these motors? On the other hand, what size battery would be good for me to use. I currently have a 1200mah one, but I want to purchase some more 1050mah or 1300mah ones, what do you recommend?? So many information makes me doubt my choice.

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Oscar 11th September 2023 - 5:28 pm

It’s hard to say without actually testing and comparing them with data.
slight KV difference might not make much a difference in efficiency, especially when the KV figures provided by manufacturers are not always true.
If efficiency is your main priority I would have chosen motors with a wider stator.
When it comes to battery, it depends on your application. If you mainly do freestyle, maybe get the smaller one, if you want longer flight time and doesn’t care as much about agility, then get the bigger packs.

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David 14th August 2023 - 4:41 pm

Loved the article, you have explained to the T. I have a question, I got a 5” build going speedybee master 5 v2 with the F7 stack. I’m debating on the iflight xing2 2207 1855kv or xing2 2306 1755kv running 6s. What would you recommend for cinematic with some freestyle added into it?

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Oscar 16th August 2023 - 2:15 pm

Unless you fly only long range, personally I’d get the 2207. It has a slightly bigger stator which gives you slightly more torque, also the higher KV will also give you a bit more punch when you need it especially as you mentioned you want to do some freestyle with it.

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Rene 28th July 2023 - 7:44 am

Hey thank you a lot for your effort and help to the community!
I just stumbeld over a BIG mistake: the number of poles (p) is NOT the number of electromagnetic coils on the stator (N). The number of poles IS ALWAYS the number of magnets in the rotor!
So in the picture the motor has 14 magnets, this means it is a 14 pole motor.
Here is a link how to proper calculate poles: tytorobotics.com/blogs/articles/how-to-calculate-motor-poles-and-brushless-motor-kv#motor-poles

Could you please CHANGE the wrong picture,
thanks a lot and best greetings, Rene

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Oscar 28th July 2023 - 2:02 pm

The number of coils in the stator are sometimes called stator poles, while the number of magnets are sometimes called magnet poles. It can be confusing without the context. But if you want to make sure you are counting motor poles correctly I did explain it in a bit more detail in my RPM filter setup guide here, where they actually mean magnet poles: https://oscarliang.com/rpm-filter/#Betaflight-Configuration

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Johnny 8th June 2023 - 10:51 pm

I need some advice. I really hated how my Flywoo CineRace 20 flies. You think a new frame like the Lumenier QAV-Pro Nano 2″ or the AxisFlying CineOn C20 v2 2″ would be better? I want to move all the electronics from the CineRace 20 to either one of those frames. Both of those new frames recommends the 1303.5 motors, but the CineRace 20 comes with the 1203Pro NIN v2 4850Kv motors….What you think?

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Sandro 24th April 2023 - 8:48 am

Hi Oscar,

your site is a great resource for beginners and all other categories of drone enthusiasts!!

I have been out of hobby for a while and have started again with DJI O3 and Googles.
Now, looking for LR frame 5″……

I have 2 sets of motors spare, 2403/2300kV and 2306/2700kV. Any of them suitable for LR? I plan to use, AIO FC, and 4S Li-Ion battery.

Thanks!!!

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Oscar 24th April 2023 - 9:49 am

Yea either motor should be ok, but I’d go with the 2306 2700KV. Maybe set a motor output limit at 90% or 80% etc, to effectively lower the actual KV a bit.

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Piotr 30th November 2022 - 11:12 am

Hi, I have 4x 23061800kv but one is just ending its life. Can’t find 1800kv anywhere.. Can I buy 1700kv instead to replace this one (or 1900kv) or it won’t work. What do you think?

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Tehllama 27th March 2023 - 5:55 am

Yes, you can mix and match with fairly limited problems – the easiest would be running a 1900KV one, on the back.

I keep a pair of racing drones on deliberately mismatched motors (some with random non-original bells), that I fly on mismatched props for good measure, just to show how little it matters. The 1700KV one would actually limit performance slightly, the higher KV on the replacement motor means nothing should change performance-wise.

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opie 24th September 2022 - 1:57 pm

can i get the bearing for the prop

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Paul 15th July 2022 - 4:52 pm

When building a drone do you buy extra motors in case one gets broken or burns out? If so, how many extras do you generally get for a mini quad?

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Oscar 16th July 2022 - 6:29 pm

it’s quite rare to have a faulty motor or burnt out. You could get one extra if you want to be safe, but in the last few years I only get just enough for my builds.

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Tehllama 27th March 2023 - 5:57 am

As a racer, I would try and buy in 9-packs or 13-packs, because that is about the ratio I’d need to keep matching builds up and running.
Another strategy is to just buy a very popular motor, because you’ll be able to pick up spares anytime in the future. Things like Emax Eco2’s, TMotor F40s, RCINPower GTS, or FlyFive33 Headsup motors are going to be very well supported even years from now.

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Mark 1st July 2022 - 2:47 am

This is the most comprehensive write-up on drone motors I’ve yet come across… and it was a very easy read and easy to understand. Thank you.

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ANTIMO FUSCO 11th January 2022 - 12:19 pm

Salve e grazie in anticipo… Come si verifica se un motore gira più o meno degli altri??

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Willem Nijntjes 2nd January 2022 - 2:29 pm

Very very good article!
Thanks a lot.

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pankaj 17th July 2020 - 4:25 pm

This is the amazing website where i cleared all my doubt about choosing the correct parts with it’s full details and specification.
seriously you guys are amazing, a lot of thanks from my side.
keep spread your knowledge and talent to the whole world…
again thanks a lot……

Reply
vikrant 28th June 2020 - 4:26 pm

one of the best articles on drones.
can you help me with the motor,
frame: 450mm
props: 1045
weight: could be around 1kg

can i get 1000kv motors, and what should be the wattage and acceptable efficiency i can expect?

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Mario 25th May 2020 - 4:11 pm

Hi Oscar,
I realized that DJI uses motors that have much (~2x) taller stators than comparable motors for DIY projects.
Is that right? What is the reason behind this?
Best regards,
Mario

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Vlad 7th November 2019 - 3:04 pm

Hi Oscar!

I am giving a reply to this answer: “Some prefer power and longevity over efficiency, and really the difference isn’t too big anyway.”

Why do you say that brushed motor have more power and longevity? From what I read here and on other websites, brushless are superior in power/weight and lifetime. Brushed might be only cheaper. Please correct me if I am wrong!

Best regards,
Vlad

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Vlad 6th November 2019 - 4:22 pm

Hello!

I would have one question related to this article. Why did you mention that brushed motors are preferred when it comes to micro drones? Aren’t bushless more efficient??

Best regards,
Vlad

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Oscar 6th November 2019 - 9:39 pm

Some prefer power and longevity over efficiency, and really the difference isn’t too big anyway.

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Arpit Kumar Singh 3rd February 2019 - 12:21 pm

I am trying to build a quadcopter for the first time for a competition having judging criteria as speed for1st round and for 2nd round both stability and speed. can you help us out

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Wortex 30th August 2018 - 4:38 pm

Hi newbie here i just build first 150 mm quad with 1806 motor but i fu**ed up with gemfan flash 2540 propellers and 160 grams battery… So is there a way to fix this ? whole set without battery is 215 grams and with battery 380… What is better idea:
buy 110X with 6000KV-7500KV ?, 1306-1406 with 4000KV+ ? or buy bigger frame and bigger propellers ? ESC is up to 30 A ;)

what i have:
Realacc purple 150 mm frame
reciever and FC AIO: FrSky XSRF4O AIO
motors: racestar BR1806 2280KV
ESC: BLHeli 30A
PDB: Matek mini power hub (2S-6S)
gemfan flash 2540 don’t ask me how i made those propellers fit on mounting hole XD but they fit very well with no wiggle
and 11.1V 35C 2200mah battery (160 g)

don’t counting VTX and camera

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Krotow 11th September 2018 - 3:51 pm

2540 props on 150mm frame with 160g only for battery weight… Well, I believe you wanted to build Acro quad for freestyle or small quad races. Maybe I didn’t understood something, but for me it look like your build is underpropped and a way too heavy for 25xx props. With 2.5″ props all build together with battery must weight no more than 120g and for outstanding flight performance less than 100g. In this hardware combination tiny props simply can’t generate enough thrust. 150mm frame usually have arms long enough for 3″ and even 4″ props and your motors are perfect for them. Replace 2540s to decent 3040, 3045, 3050, 3150, 4×3 etc. props with M5 hole (default for your motors). 3S 2200 mAh battery is too heavy and 35C doesn’t support enough for performance flying. All those mAh-s doesn’t make sense if battery weight alone pull you down. For Use 3S (11.1V) 800-1000 mAh batteries with at least 50/100C batteries (65/…C, 75/…C and above is cool too). I’ll bet that BR1806 2280KV motors with 3″ propellers can easy support light 4S (like 850 mAh, 75+C) batteries as well, but that you should test by yourself.

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Hitesh Kher 25th July 2018 - 9:01 am

Hi Oscar sir, maybe my noob equation but i am little confused for ratio like 1:10 etc..
So please explained and try to easy clear confusion.

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Oscar 30th July 2018 - 7:43 pm

it’s just how much thrust the propellers and motors can generate in total, versus the weight of the quadcopter. The higher the ratio, the more power it is generally.

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Robin 10th May 2018 - 11:54 am

I am building a 250mm quad. Will a 2450kv motor be too much?

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Oscar 14th May 2018 - 4:54 pm

Not really, 2000KV to 2700KV are very common for 5″ and 6S mini quad. It depends on the propeller and battery voltage you want to use.

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Manjulal 20th March 2018 - 9:05 am

Hi Oscar, Excellent article!

I am trying to build a quad with EMax 810KV motors and EMax 30A Simon Series ESC’s (I believe the firmware is BL_Heli). My FC is DJI Naza M V2, but the motor test using Naza software assistant is not working…all I am hearing a is a click sound from the individual motors and slight twitching of them trying to rotate! I did ESC and receiver throttle calibrations also. Anything I am missing or something I should take care of? I did not find any articles from you on this particular flight controller! Would appreciate if you can give some pointers. Am I using the right ESC’s? The Naza manual says we should use ESC’s with 400Hz frequency…I am totally confused.

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Afif 8th March 2018 - 11:51 am

Hey oscar,Ive got a 230mm would it be alright using a 35amp aio esc with max burst of 45amp on a 2700kv motor with max burst of 51amp @ full throttle on a 3blade 5052. Would adding a 350uF capacitor to help to maintain the amp within the 45amp range of the esc?

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devendra 19th February 2018 - 8:03 pm

Hey, im planning to make a drone do you think a emax 2205 2600kv motor will work with a 330mm drone frame also i am using 30A esc’s should what frame size should i choose and will it work with a 330mm frame ?

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Oscar 6th March 2018 - 5:24 pm

I will recommend bigger motors and lower KV for this size.
Something like 2208 or 2306/2307 1600KV-1800KV running 6 or 7″ props :)

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PeterDenFPV 4th February 2018 - 9:03 pm

I’d add 1407 motors in the 3” class. Motors like Brotherhobby Tornado T1 1407 are a perfect fit for a very powerful 3” quad.

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Mike Prestwich 2nd February 2018 - 5:09 pm

Thanks for sharing all your knowledge Oscar!

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Joshua Crane 26th December 2017 - 3:56 pm

Hey is there a chart somewhere with every motor on the market with the details about every motor?

I’m trying to find a good high KV motor that is lightweight for racing and without having to do tons of research.

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Albert Vugrinec 17th October 2017 - 1:52 pm

Hi Oscar
I have a Phantom 1 V 1.1.1 and thinking about going from its standard 920kv motors to 800 kv. Would they generate more trust? Also planning on using bigger 9 in props as it has 8 in now. I am looking for more trust so that it struggles less with the gimbal and camera

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Oscar 19th October 2017 - 3:56 pm

If you are using the same props, it’s likely not generate more thrust, but less.
You should be looking at higher KV motors or larger propellers (if your ESC’s support the extra current draw).

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Martin Shores 17th September 2017 - 12:47 am

Great Read! Thanks

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Lawrence 4th September 2017 - 8:28 am

17 amps x 4 motors is 68 amps. You battery needs to discharge at least 68amps. The MAH of the battery can be as high as you want it to be as long as it not to heavy. A 4000MAH at 20C discharge is 80 amps. Your ESC’s should be at least 20 AMPS for this motor. Use the prop size recommended by the manufacturer.

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Joshua Miller 14th May 2017 - 1:51 am

Hello Mr. Liang
Thank you so much for everything you teach us through your articles, few people are willing in teach us in this interesting way that you apply.
I have a quad whose stock engines are brushless 2212 1150Kv, few days ago, I ordered two engines of the same reference for have extra engines but they sent me reference 2212 950Kv.
Then, can I mix 950Kv engines with 1150Kv engines?
Another thing: the new engines are X2212.
Does that ‘X’ have some relevance? I don’t know what is the difference between 2212 and X2212…

Many Thanks again.

Thanks.

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Oscar 15th May 2017 - 2:47 pm

maybe, but the motors will output different power at the same throttle level.
the flight controller might be able to handle it and make it fly… but it will oscillate and flies poorly, so try to avoid it.
The letter X is probably just a model set by manufacturer, it doesn’t mean anything to me.

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Matthew Alexander Thomas 16th January 2017 - 6:38 am

I’m being 100% serious when I ask this.
I’m working on mobile air structures, I’ve already figured gargantuan sized batteries and have figured my total weight to be around 8,000-10,000 lbs.
Does anyone have any kind of idea the propellar size, and engine size I would need for this kind of weight?

Please and thank you in advance.

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FlyNfool 6th May 2017 - 11:30 pm

You will need something about the size of a CH-47 Chinook. Seriously.

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marcel 30th March 2015 - 10:49 am

hi there
your blog is great thank you for this..
my name is Marcel im from czech republic….
so my question is how i can improve longer time in air….
i have this quadcopter… ebay.co.uk/itm/X525-V3-4axis-QuadCopter-Glass-Fiber-Folding-Kit-w-KK2-15-KK-MK-T6-2-4ghz-TX-RX-/331514381283?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4d2fcc03e3
total weight is between 650g to 700g without battery..plus gopro and gimbal….im not sure what battery is best for use ….3s battery but how many Mah for best economy…
also if i can improve propeller or motors for longest time in air….
im sorry for this questions but im new…)))))
best regards

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Oscar 31st March 2015 - 1:20 am

it’s difficult to say without actually test it, every quad setup is different.
I think for your setup, 3S 2600mah would be a good one.
But to identify the best capacity VS flight time, check out this post.

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Nick 10th November 2014 - 9:17 pm

Awesome article, really helpful. Thank you!

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kaluya moses 14th October 2014 - 8:54 am

Thanks a lot Oscar for the generous heart to all drone /flight hobbyist like myself now I think now I have got the way to my vision. Though i come from third world country ( uganda) but think you will able to guide me where possible please!
best regards moses kaluya.

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Oscar 14th October 2014 - 10:15 am

You are welcome Kaluya! Glad you like my content :D

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Tristan Semmelhack 27th July 2014 - 5:13 am

Hi!

I am a 12 year old and have built a small 330 size quad. I am slightly worried about my motors not being powerful enough for the quad. My quad specs are 1.1kg, D2822 Turigy Aerodrive 1100kv Motors (which have a thrust amount of 540g per motor) and a 2200mah, 3s 40c lipo battery. Am I straining my motors? Oddly, the battery, ESCs and motors are barely warm at all after flight. I also carry a gopro and the motors and other parts are fine. I look a the dji phantom which is much lighter and it has 935kv motors… Am I missing something? The quadcopter is also still quite maneuverable has normal flight characteristics as my others. Just want to make sure I don’t damage my quad!

P.S. I am running 8*4.5in props for lifting more!

Thanks!

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Tristan Semmelhack 28th July 2014 - 12:20 am

Update: the weight is actually 1.2 kg and the motors are also quite warm now after flight and with a go pro, I take off at 1/2 throttle (a bit more in fact). Without a go pro, I take off at less than 1/2 throttle.

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Oscar 28th July 2014 - 9:41 am

Hi Tristan,

it’s great to see young people like you picking up this hobby. But I am concerned about your safety since you are only 12! Are you being supervised by an adult when doing this project?
Quadcopter is not a toy, it can be very dangerous!

what you have is flyable. But I would use stronger motors, because 330 size quad should be very agile being able to do arobatics, you probably want to have 1:3 weight to thrust ratio as a minimum, that means having 3KG of thrust in total, 750g thrust per motor (or more) would be better.

But I think 1.2KG for a 330 size quad, is too heavy. I think normally that size should be around 800 to 900 grams (including gopro).
try to reduce the weight down, and your proposed motor should be fine.

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Fonse 10th July 2014 - 6:37 am

Hello, I have a beginner’s question.
Generally speaking which type of motor will draw more power,
The Low Kv or the High Kv motor?

I’m building a quad and I want to get a few more minutes of flying time and I don’t know if I should use a 1000 kv motor or something around 700kv, I know I’ll be using different size propr obviously but which motor requires more power to spin?

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Oscar 11th July 2014 - 10:25 am

Hi, if it’s the same model motor, the higher KV motor will draw more current with the same voltage and prop. For example, the Cobra 2204 2300KV will draw more current (higher power) than the Cobra 2204 1960KV using the same 3S battery.

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Imi 6th June 2014 - 8:09 pm

Hi,

Usually I order from hobbyking, but I can’t find at the thrust data in the data sheet of the motors.
How can I calculate the thrust of the motors? If it possible of course.
What would you recommend (motor and prop) for 2kg weights fpv flying?

My quadcopter: SK450 with “landing gear”, KK2, turngy plush 30A, NTM Prop Drive Series 28-26A 1200kv / 286w, 1045 prop.

First I tried to fly this config with 845 prop, but it could not take off, then I changed to 1045. It lfew for a while but I recognized the motors where to hot, and the battery also, so I stopped. I knew this config won’t enough strong for that flying but I had to try it.

Thank you in advance!
Regards,
Imi

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Oscar 7th June 2014 - 12:24 am

HI,
there is no way you can calculate the thrust of a motor accurately, unless it’s provided by the manufacturer, or measured by yourself.
have you checked the “file” tab in the product page on Hobbyking? sometimes there is a datasheet file in there, or data from some users.
If no, try google it, I am sure someone has measured this and share on the internet.

NTM Prop Drive Series 28-26A – This motor seems to run best with 1060 props, each motor can generate 967g thrust for 19A at 100% throttle, so this motor should be good enough for 2KG quad.

However, also make sure your battery’s C rating is high enough.
Good luck!

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shivam 16th April 2014 - 11:40 am

i am using 1800 kv motor with a2200mah and 11v battery is it work propery

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Antony usha 15th October 2013 - 11:14 am

its so obvious to know these things

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