The motor is one of the most important components in a copter! That's why we've put together the most important information for you in this blog post. We will focus on brushless motors, i.e. electric motors that do not require brushes. Brushless motors are installed in most new drones (with the exception of some micro drones).
Of course, a drone will not get far with just one motor. To power a drone, you need a combination of motor, propeller, ESC (speed controller) and a battery. The brushless motor is superior to the brushed motor in several ways. As it has a simpler design, it is much more robust and generally has more power for the same size. In addition, it works much more efficiently.
So how does a brushless motor work?
The motor is supplied with DC voltage via a battery. To generate the rotating field, a three-phase three-phase current is required, which is generated in the ESC from the direct current of the battery. The electric coils inside the motorconvert this in such a way that they generate a magnetic field that moves in a circle. The permanently installed magnets in the motor are attracted or repelled by this magnetic field, resulting in the rotary movement.
Here you can see the individual components of the motor. Since no electrical connection to the rotating part of the motor is necessary, the entire construction is quite simple.
The most important key figures
Motor size
Motors are available in different sizes. The size is specified, for example, as "1806", where the first two numbers indicate the diameter of the stator and the last two the height.
For example: 1806 (motor size) means a stator diameter of 18mm and a stator height of 6mm.
But beware: some manufacturers take it a little differently and interpret the numbers 18 and 06 as the total diameter and total height of the motor.
KV number
KV refers to the revolutions per volt. If a motor with 1,000 KV is connected to a voltage of 1 V, this means that it rotates at a speed of 1,000 revolutions per minute. This figure is important for the battery, as it must be matched to the motor. An incorrect battery-motor-propeller constellation can quickly lead to the motors becoming hot and being damaged. In the worst case, the coil windings can burn out and the drone crashes.
Last but not least:
If you fly a lot, you also crash a lot. As a result, sand, soil or other debris gets into the motors, and this can quickly become very unsightly, especially with sand. Find out herehow you can keep your motor clean. You can find a special on the subject of "magnetic sand" on our YouTube channel.
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