MOTOR FAQ
 

Why use MEGA Motors?
There are laws of physics that one cannot escape when choosing the proper motor for your radio control model.  Furthermore, some argue that "what you cannot see in the motor" is one of the most important characteristics of a motor.  These characteristics include the number of windings, gage of the wire in the windings, and magnet material used.  MEGA Motors are made with neodymium, the best magnetic material on the market.  Additionally, they are  small in size and weight with dual ball bearing armatures which are wrapped in Kevlar to prevent magnet ejection at high speeds.  MEGA Motor users enjoy the vented housing which improves thermodynamic characteristics allowing for a more robust operation.  The MEGA Motor design is like none other with a 6-pole 3-phase alternating current (AC) field with a permanent magnet rotor.  Additionally, the DC battery voltage is electronically commutated or switched to 3-phase delta AC and the frequency is changed to control motor speed.  A striking feature is the high efficiency (up to 86%) of these motors when properly operated. ACn & RC Series are precision machined from quality materials. They are designed for direct drive or ducted fan (EDF) operation, but can also be used with gear-head attachments for lower RPM higher torque applications.  Most importantly, MEGA motors stand behind their motors by offering a two-year limited warranty.

 

Why use electric motors?
Electric motors are quieter, cleaner, and require fewer tools and accessories than gas powered motors.  Ultimately this results in fewer trips to and from the car. Electric enthusiasts find that they can navigate their toys in places gas powered motors can not go including the back yard, indoors, or the park.

 

How do you wire a MEGA Brushless Motor to a speed control?
MEGA Brushless motors have three wires that come out of the back end of the motor.  These three wires connect directly to the speed control wires.  Brushed motors often have two wires and should NEVER be used with a brushless speed control.  We have created a wiring diagram to help you wire your MEGA brushless motor.
  What is the maximum temperature a Mega Motors can reach?
MEGA Motor recommends that your motor not exceed 140 degrees F. As a rule of thumb, you should be able to hold your finger on the motor after operation.  If the motor burns your finger or is uncomfortable to hold, it is too hot. Motors that are continuously operated at high temperatures will suffer from demagnetization of the permanent magnets and lose power. Models such as airplanes should be designed with air flow around and through the motor. For helicopters an impeller or fan blade can be added to the motor shaft to create cooling and increase air flow.  Heat sinks added to the case are also a good option for cooling.  Cool motors such as MEGA Motors run better and last longer.
 

Why do electric motors fail? 
The number one reason electric motors fail is faulty mounting.  Using screws that are too long can damage insulation or cut wires in the motor windings. The second mistake is operating the motor at too high of a current or at too many amps which can cause the motor to overheat. Letting the motor hit a stationary object while the motor is moving, otherwise known as crashing is the third most common reason for failure of a MEGA motor. 

  What is the difference between brushed and brushless motors?
To understand the difference between brushed and brushless motors, we suggest referencing an electric drill or a circular saw.   Take a look at the air vents at the rear of your drill and pull the trigger. You should see sparks through the air vents which is magnetism powering your electric drill. Similar to the motor in your drill, a brushed motor has a north pole that is stationary (field) and a south pole that is mobile (armature).  The north and the south poles are attracted towards each other causing the south pole to move toward the north pole. Back when electricity was discovered, brushes were used to switch the electricity to the armature (south pole). As the south pole approached the north pole, the current flow would  reverse (by the brushes) and it become a north pole.  Repulsion by the stationary field (north pole) caused the motor to keep turning. The switch point is called the "timing." The sparks you see in your drill are wasted energy converted to radio interference or wide band noise. The speed of a brushed motor depends on the strength of attraction the magnetic poles have (how much current flows), the timing, and the input voltage. The current flow is regulated by the speed Control which varies the voltage from the battery pack to the motor.
 

Brushless motors rely heavily upon the electronic speed control (ESC) because it varies the voltage from your battery pack to your motor. In hobby motors, the field magnets are usually fixed and the rotor or armature is an electro magnet (coil of wire with current flow). Brushless motors operate on a different principal because they are AC (alternating current) 3-phase 6-pole motors. The speed of a brushless motor is controlled by the speed control which controls the number of poles and the frequency of the supply voltage. DC (Direct Current) from the battery is converted to AC and the frequency is changed by your thumb (and the speed control) causing the prop to change speeds accordingly.
  Which electronic speed control to you recommend with MEGA Motors?
Any sensorless brushless electronic speed control (ESC) can be used with our brushless motors. We have tested motors with Castle Creations, Jeti, MGM and Schulze speed controls and have experienced success with each.  Our recommendation for a quality speed control that works extremely well with MEGA Motors and is sold at a reasonable price is Castle Creations.  We do NOT recommend speed controls designed for two-pole motors such as Hacker and Kontronic.