17 replies to this topic

[Phil Smith]

I tried to put together some info that newbies could use to get started with brushless. This is posted on the 'Brushless Drag Slot Car Racing' Facebook group. What do you guys think about this? What needs to be changed and/or could be better?

 

Components and info required to build your own brushless drag slot car! Thanks to Martin and Tom for making this possible!

 

Motor: An 1106 or 1108 4500kv brushless motor seems to be the best choice for use with the Castle Talon 25 electronic speed controller (ESC). When other ESC's specifically made for slot cars become available, this may change, but for now it's the best/safest choice. Emax is the most popular motor brand, but who knows, they may all be made by the same manufacturer, so other brands are probably fine. The size and KV rating is important though, especially the KV. Best to stick with 4500KV. Here's one source to buy a motor: https://emaxmodel.co...-2-3s-4500kv...

You'll need to replace the motor shaft. This video explains how to do that: https://www.youtube....h?v=yFwEOuxhfLA

This is the Castle Talon 25 electronic speed controller. It's the only ESC I'm aware of that can be modified (flashed) for slot car use: https://www.castlecr...esc-010-0128...

You'll need this Castle "link cable" to flash the ESC for slot car use. This is the link cable: https://www.castlecr...-link-v3-usb...

A video (by Martin) showing how to flash and program the ESC for slot car use. You can not skip this. It's essential. The ESC will not work with a slot car otherwise: https://www.youtube....h?v=6KXI_k7pv4Y

A lot more info about brushless slot cars available on the SlotBlog forum: http://slotblog.net/...car-technology/

[Bags]

Motor: For Drag racing on 16+ vdc should be rated for at least 3-4s preferably 4-6s.

Also 1100 series (1106 1108) aren’t rated for more than 2-3s ( road course motors)

 

A 1204-1207 1306 1308 1404 1407 etc are suitable for drag racing on 16+ vdc.

 

Motors less than 4500Kv can also be used in slot cars with good success.

 

A Talon25 will run a sensorless  brushless motor rated up to 110 watts with no problem.

 

A coupon comes in the package with the Talon25 that can be redeemed for a free Castlelink from Castle Creations.

Follow the instructions on the coupon.

 

Hope this helps everyone out.

[Phil Smith]

 

A coupon comes in the package with the Talon25 that can be redeemed for a free Castlelink from Castle Creations.

Follow the instructions on the coupon.

 

 

 

Dang, I didn't know about that!

[Bags]

Mr. Smith you might want to change the shaft replacement video. The shafts have a shoulder on them and if pushed out the bottom, the rotor hub can be damaged. Here are pictures of the shafts and shoulders on them. Note the shoulder is BIGGER than the 2mm shank.

 

 

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[Bags]

Not a lot of meat on the rotor hub, it won’t take much to damage it. 
The shaft is a press fit into the rotor from the top down. That’s what the shoulder is for.

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[Bags]

Coupon for free Castlelink in the clamshell with the instructions for the Talon25.

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[Phil Smith]

Tom, I will try to update this a little at a time. Shaft video updated.

 

Components and info required to build your own brushless drag slot car! Thanks to Martin and Tom for making this possible!

 

The two main components you're going to need are a motor and an electronic speed controller (ESC).

 

Motor: The brushless motor type typically used is called an "outrunner". See photo (courtesy of fishpepper.de).

 

There is a 4 digit number that designates motor size. The first 2 numbers designate the rotor diameter. The bigger the number, the bigger diameter. So a 12XX motor is smaller than a 14XX, etc. 12XX is probably as small as you should go. The last digit designates the length of the rotor. XXX4 is shorter than XXX6, etc.

 

Sizes 1204-1207, 1306-1308, 1404-1407, etc are suitable for drag racing on 12-16+ volt tracks.

 

There is also a kilovolt (KV) rating. The higher the KV rating the higher the motor RPM. 4500kv and lower is the best choice for use with the Castle Talon 25 electronic speed controller (ESC). Higher than 4500kv can can be problematic. When/if other ESC's specifically made for slot cars become available, this may change, but for now it's the best choice.

 

You will need to replace the motor shaft. This video (by Tom) explains how to do that:

 

 

Electronic Speed Controller:

 

The Castle Talon 25 electronic speed controller (ESC) is the only ESC I'm aware of that can be modified (flashed) for slot car use: https://www.castlecr...694b2CPe2AIZI2M

 

You'll need the Castle "link cable" to flash the ESC for slot car use. A coupon comes in the package with the Talon25 that can be redeemed for a free Castlelink from Castle Creations. Follow the instructions on the coupon. If for some reason you need to buy one, this is the cable: https://www.castlecr...MpDXL5-PqBceBlY

 

A video (by Martin) showing how to flash and program the ESC for slot car use. You can not skip this. It's essential. The ESC will not work with a slot car otherwise:

 

 

 

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[Phil Smith]

What do you think about these settings, Tom?

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[Zippity]

For what size motor, and what voltage is the track?

[Bags]

What do you think about these settings, Tom?

LIke Zip said…..it depends on motor,car and type of track you are running on.

I would say to each their own as in what you might like as far as settings the next guy won’t.

 

A drag setup would have all the settings set at maximum.

 

Throttle 10

Motor startup 100

Timing 6

 

Test test test! That’s the way to find out what you will like.

[Phil Smith]

Tom,

 

I should have clarified. I want to include it with the drag racing beginner's guide. I just need a good starting point that will get people going.

[Bags]

Mr. Smith like I stated above.

 

A drag setup would have all the settings set at maximum.

 

Throttle 10

Motor startup 100

Timing 6

 

Keep ‘em Green!

Bags

[Phil Smith]

OK thanks, Tom! I updated the Facebook group.

[Phil Smith]

I keep finding errors in this. It's getting long. That and being dyslexic doesn't help. Let me know if anyone spots anymore errors/omissions.

 

Updated 05/26/2022.

Components and info required to build your own brushless drag slot car!

This is a compilation of info gathered from Tom Bagley, Martin Shaffer, and the 'Brushless slot car racing association' Facebook group. A big thanks to them for making this possible!

The two main components you're going to need are a motor and an electronic speed controller (ESC).

Motor: The brushless motor type typically used is called an "outrunner". See photo at the bottom of this post (courtesy of fishpepper.de).

    There is a 4 digit number that designates motor size. The first 2 numbers designate the rotor diameter. The bigger the number, the bigger diameter. So a 12XX motor is smaller than a 14XX, etc. 12XX is probably as small as you should go. The last digit designates the length of the rotor. XXX4 is shorter than XXX6, etc.

    Sizes 1204-1207, 1306-1308, 1404-1407, etc are suitable for drag racing on 12-16+ volt tracks.

    There is also a kilovolt (KV) rating. The higher the KV rating the higher the motor RPM. 4500kv and lower is the best choice for use with the Castle Talon 25 electronic speed controller (ESC). Higher than 4500kv can can be problematic. When/if other ESC's specifically made for slot cars become available, this may change, but for now it's the best choice.

    You will need to replace the motor shaft. A 2mm slot car axle should work well for this: https://e-slotcar.co...RSE-zlARXi6aDFA

This video (by Tom) explains how to replace the shaft:



Electronic Speed Controller:

    The Castle Talon 25 electronic speed controller (ESC) is the only ESC I'm aware of that can be modified (flashed) for slot car use: https://www.castlecr...694b2CPe2AIZI2M

    You'll need the Castle "link cable" to flash the ESC for slot car use. A coupon comes in the package with the Talon25 that can be redeemed for a free Castlelink from Castle Creations. Follow the instructions on the coupon. If for some reason you need to buy one, this is the cable:  https://www.castlecr...MpDXL5-PqBceBlY

    A video (by Martin) showing how to flash and program the ESC for slot car use. You can not skip this. It's essential. The ESC will not work with a slot car otherwise. Suggested settings to use as a starting point are listed at the bottom of this post.


The images below are:

Outrunner brushless motor part names.

Talon 25 ESC suggested settings to use as a starting point.

[Bags]

Mr. Smith 

You can shorten this up a bit: There is also a kilovolt (KV) rating. The higher the KV rating the higher the motor RPM. 4500kv and lower is the best choice for use with the Castle Talon 25 electronic speed controller (ESC). Higher than 4500kv can can be problematic. When/if other ESC's specifically made for slot cars become available, this may change, but for now it's the best choice.

 

To this: Brushless motors come with a Kv rating, that will determine the RPM the motor will produce on the VDC provided.

A simple formula is Kv x VDC = RPM that the motor will turn. The Talon will run Brushless motors up to 8000Kv in drag cars without a problem. Motors that strong will probably need glued on the starting line though.Motors rated at 3-4s will work but to be safe the S rating should be 4s (16vdc) and higher to avoid blowing them up 

[Phil Smith]

Tom, guys on the 'Brushless slot car racing association' group are saying they're having trouble running higher than 4500KV with the Talon 25 because of something to do with the Talon's switching frequency limits. You haven't experienced that?

[Bags]

Tom, guys on the 'Brushless slot car racing association' group are saying they're having trouble running higher than 4500KV with the Talon 25 because of something to do with the Talon's switching frequency limits. You haven't experienced that?

Not in a drag car on 16.2 vdc, Martin took out an 8000 Kv Inrunner and put a 6000 Kv 1207 Outrunner motor in the old Mule F/C.

Here is the result on a 1/4 mile. We are going to make a video of it soon. 

 

The “trouble “ they think they are having doesn’t exist on the track, only when the motor is free wheeled with no load on it. It’s called overrun, the motor can’t keep up with the pluses coming out of the Talon. That’s why the Timing is set at 6. Any higher will start to effect the performance somewhat.

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[Phil Smith]

Tom, it dawned onm me that this suppose to be "beginners" guide, not a deep dive, detailed guide. So I used the motor you used in your latest video as the motor to start with. And added your gearing.

 

Components and info required to build your own brushless drag slot car!

 

This is a compilation of info gathered from Tom Bagley, Martin Shaffer, and the 'Brushless slot car racing association' Facebook group. A big thanks to them for making this possible!

 

The two main components you're going to need are a motor and an electronic speed controller (ESC).

 

Motor: A good choice to start with would be a 1207,  6000Kv outrunner brushless motor. You can buy them from multiple sources, here’s one of them: https://www.aliexpre...18657079141!sea

 

You can see one in action here:

 

You will need to replace the motor shaft. A 2mm slot car axle should work well for this: https://e-slotcar.co...-axle-rf.../...

This video (by Tom) explains how to replace the shaft:

https://www.youtube....h?v=EQruUK5fI9o

 

Electronic Speed Controller:

The Castle Talon 25 electronic speed controller (ESC) is the only ESC I'm aware of that can be modified (flashed) for slot car use: https://www.castlecr...esc-010-0128...

You'll need the Castle "link cable" to flash the ESC for slot car use. A coupon comes in the package with the Talon25 that can be redeemed for a free Castlelink from Castle Creations. Follow the instructions on the coupon. If for some reason you need to buy one, this is the cable: https://www.castlecr...-link-v3-usb...

 

A video (by Martin) showing how to flash and program the ESC for slot car use. You can not skip this. It's essential. The ESC will not work with a slot car otherwise. Suggested settings to use as a starting point are listed at the bottom of this post.

https://www.youtube....h?v=6KXI_k7pv4Y

 

Gearing: This gearing is listed in Tom’s video that I linked to in the motor section.

Tires: 1 3/16” X .500”.

Gearing: 64 pitch gears, 15 tooth pinion gear, 46 tooth crown gear

 

The images below are:

1) Outrunner brushless motor part names.

2) Talon 25 ESC suggested settings (to use as a starting point).