How Cold Is Too Cold for a Brushless Motor (7 must-knows)

ByOliver Moore

Brushless motors work exceptionally in the cold. However, they can also be too cold to run. Why? When the temperature gets lower than normal, it hinders the speed limits and performance of the motor while encouraging quick wear of your motor parts.
Plus, it may also cause your RC car to fail on the track. The last thing you want is to have your motor burn out on the last lap on the track. To avoid this, you want to keep the temperature levels above 100°F, preferably around 150°F. 

A decrease in the motor’s temperature below 100°F can cause potential damage to your brushless engine.
When it gets cold outside during the winter, below 40°F (5°C), it’s better not to run your RC outside since the low temperatures affect your brushless motor’s running temperature.

At What Low Temps You Shouldn’t Run Your Brushless Motor?

Temperatures above 160°F can damage your car as they run too hot on the race track. But, did you know that when the temperature goes lower than 100°F, you also stand a risk of damaging your brushless motors? 

Like 100°C, which is the boiling temperature of the water, a brushless motor temperature dictates its performance capacity.
When running temp drops lesser than the 100°F, it becomes too cold to run. If you observe this and still end up racing on the track, you might risk potential damage to your brushless motors and definitely experience a drop in performance.  

At What Temperature Should a Brushless Motor Run?

As a rule of thumb, you want to keep your brushless motors running temperatures between 150°F and 160°F on average. 

Most RC car hobbyists will consider temperatures between 110°F and 150°F as the safe running temperature for their brushless motors. So, once you notice the temperature becomes increasingly higher, it’s best to change gearing and battery.

What Happens to a Brushless Motor in the Cold?

Brushless motors come with a sensor that measures their RPM, making them a lot functional and smarter and also able to withstand the effects of cold. However, when exposed to freezing temperatures, they tend to experience demagnetization powers, which reduces their motor performance. This means that their speed also suffers. Likewise, the cold temperature may affect the batteries of your brushless motor making them lose performance power in cold temps. 

When the cold temperature continues to increase, it degrades the current and torque of your brushless motors. The good news, high temperature during the cold can help increase the rotation velocity of the motor.

Can a Brushless Motor Be Too Cold to Run?

Most RC car hobbyists feel that when it comes to motor temperature, running too hot is the only bad effect on their RC cars. Here’s the thing- like every other electrical engine that gets too hot to run, brushless motors can also get too cold to run. The optimal working temperature of a motor is 150°F. However, most brushless motors can run on higher levels up to 100°C and survive.

The truth is that it’s not healthy for your brushless motors to run too cold.
If the temperature drops below 100°F, it could hinder the speed functions of your brushless motors. 

Does the Brushless Motor Need to Warm Up?

The reason most motors need to warm up is to ensure they don’t stall or idle. Sometimes RC racers find it difficult to race on the snow due to quick wear of the RC motors in the cold and decreased performance capacity on speed. 

Unlike nitro-powered motors, brushless motors are electrically-powered and don’t stall or Idle. Plus, they work effectively in cold weather. Hence, brushless motors do not need warming up before use in the cold since it adapts well to the cold climate condition. 

Are There Brushless Motors That Can Run at Very Low Temps?

Brushless motors that can run on very low temps exist. Some of them include:

  • ENT Surgical Gearmotor (B0512N4081)
  • High-Speed Surgical Motor (B0512N1029)
  • 16ECP52 Ultra EC
  • 22ECP35-2A Ultra EC
  • 21BF nuvoDisc

Can You Damage Your RC Car’s Brushless Motor if You Run It in the Cold?

Brushless motors love the cold and will improve the speed levels when cool. However, you can damage the motor if you run it in an overly low temp. It’s always best to keep the temperature at its safe limit to prevent the wear of your brushless motors. 

So, Does Low Temp Affect the Performance of a Brushless Motor?

In the winter months, when you’re out on the track for a racing adventure, your RC motors can protest due to the low temps in the environment. The good news, brushless motors adapt quickly to cold climate conditions. However, excessive temperatures can lead to diminished performance or even motor failure on the track. It’s always best to watch out for really low temps and keep your motor running well at all times. 

Sources

https://www.portescap.com/en/products/brushless-dc-motors/bldc-motor-design

https://www.celeramotion.com/news/articles/5-reasons-brushless-motors-better/

Discover More:

Winter Is Coming: RC Cars And Cold Weather (Complete Guide) Default ThumbnailHow Hot Should A Brushless Motor Get [too hot can damage it] How Cold Is Too Cold for a Brushed Motor (Avoid Damage) How Cold is too Cold for RC Batteries (LiPo&NiMH)

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