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Mixing and matching ESC / Motors
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 2:35 am
by Synergy
Can you mix and match brushless ESC and motor manufacturers or do they have to be the same? I ask as I am pretty close to buying an LRP Sphere ESC and wondered if I can successfully run a sensored motor from another manufacturer with it?
Thanks.
Re: Mixing and matching ESC / Motors
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 10:19 am
by RER40
Synergy wrote:Can you mix and match brushless ESC and motor manufacturers or do they have to be the same? I ask as I am pretty close to buying an LRP Sphere ESC and wondered if I can successfully run a sensored motor from another manufacturer with it?
Thanks.
Only RULES I am aware of
Sensored BL motor ESCs can run any sensored BL motors (regardless of manufacturer).
Non-sensored BL motor ESC can run any non-sensored BL motors (regardless of manufacturer).
Non-sensored BL motor ESC can NOT run sensored BL motors.
So as long as the Sphere is a sensored unit you should be good.
I've mixed and matched Novaks and Tekins and LRPs and Mambas, following the above simple rules, with no problems. Some companies only make motors, so you have to use somebody's ESC. (inferior cheaper brands I would guess would follow the same rules, though I guess there could be exceptions)
Re: Mixing and matching ESC / Motors
Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 3:23 am
by Synergy
Thanks that makes sense, I have purchased the LRP Sphere (sensored) combo with X11 7.5 motor for my 2WDs, I'm probably going to also purchase a 5.5t from another manufacturer for my 4WDs.
Re: Mixing and matching ESC / Motors
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:00 am
by Bugle
RER40 wrote:
Non-sensored BL motor ESC can NOT run sensored BL motors.
Wrong, sensorless ESCs can run anything. So far with the Mamba Max i've run sensored motors from 3 different manufacturers with no problems.
Re: Mixing and matching ESC / Motors
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:58 am
by THEYTOOKMYTHUMB
Bugle wrote:RER40 wrote:
Non-sensored BL motor ESC can NOT run sensored BL motors.
Wrong, sensorless ESCs can run anything. So far with the Mamba Max i've run sensored motors from 3 different manufacturers with no problems.
Thanks for adding that. I wasn't aware. Opens up the options.

Re: Mixing and matching ESC / Motors
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:20 am
by RER40
Bugle wrote:RER40 wrote:
Non-sensored BL motor ESC can NOT run sensored BL motors.
Wrong, sensorless ESCs can run anything. So far with the Mamba Max i've run sensored motors from 3 different manufacturers with no problems.
I wasn't aware of that, but instead going by what a tech I know at Novak told me. I do understand that Mamba esc's are a little more versitile, maybe that has something to do with it, but personally I don't know how happy I'd be about having a sensor wire dangling off a motor or in paying for a sensored motor and not using its sensored capabilities.
But the premise of my answer was primarily based on the original poster's question asking if one manufacturer's sensored BL esc could run another manufacuturer's sensored BL motor - and the answer is yes.

Re: Mixing and matching ESC / Motors
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:46 pm
by Bugle
Yeah Novak are a bit anti-sensorless. Funny the Novak velociti 5.5t runs as well on a Mamba Max as it does sensored. I run the same sensored motors on a cheap Hobbywing Ezrun and they work just as well too. You only get problems with cogging taking off from a stand still running high turn motors like 17.5 turns.
Re: Mixing and matching ESC / Motors
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 1:06 pm
by RER40
Bugle wrote:Yeah Novak are a bit anti-sensorless. Funny the Novak velociti 5.5t runs as well on a Mamba Max as it does sensored. I run the same sensored motors on a cheap Hobbywing Ezrun and they work just as well too. You only get problems with cogging taking off from a stand still running high turn motors like 17.5 turns.
Most, but not all, cogging issues can be addressed with proper batteries.
But sensored is just soooooooo smooooooooth throughout th rev-range.

Re: Mixing and matching ESC / Motors
Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:17 pm
by Bugle
Yeah if it's cogging on low turn motors it's the batteries, nothing can stop cogging with a 17.5 unless they figure out a way to avoid it with the software.
Sensored/sensorless makes no difference once the motor is spinning, even some sensored ESC's just use the sensor to get the motor turning then go sensorless.