48V brushless motors are synchronous electric motors that move or are “switched” electronically with direct current supply magnets that move the rotor inside the stator. Instead of brushes and a switch, this kind of motors use a step motor regulator to create the rotation that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.
48V brushless motors have many advantages over their brushed direct current counterparts. The most obvious advantage of a brushless motor is its lack of brushes and physical switch. This difference means that there are far fewer parts that can wear out or break and that need to be replaced than in a brushed motor. 48V brushless motors tend to be more reliable, last longer and are more efficient. In fact, these motors have life expectancies of over 10,000 hours.
Another advantage of a 48V brushless motor is that it can operate at speeds in excess of 10,000 rpm in both loading and unloading conditions. It is also able to operate with less noise and electromagnetic interference compared to a brushed motor, because its internal parts are completely closed.
Any job that uses a direct current brush motor can use a 48V brushless motor instead. These motors are used in PC fans, DVD players, turntables and even electric cars. They are also required for use in model aircraft due to their ability to provide the power needed for a low weight. If you are looking for an increase in engine efficiency, check if you can replace the brush motor you are using with a 48V brushless motor. In case you can, it will be definitely worth it.
The parameters of interest when choosing an engine are the KV value, the maximum absorption, and the total power. Power consumption and power are related to the supply voltage.
The KV represents the number of revolutions depending on the supply voltages, for example if the KV value is 900 rpm / V means that, if we power it with a 3.7V LiPo cell, the motor will perform 3,330 rotations per minute (900 x 3.7) . In the event that we supply it with a 2-cell LiPo battery (7.2V) the motor will perform 64,800 revolutions per minute.
Given their frequent use in drones, some parameters that characterize the engine refer to the propellers and their lifting capacity. Another parameter is the maximum current that can be absorbed by the motor. This value is fundamental because, based on this data, we should size the ESC and the battery.The technical data of the engine shows the absorption, calculated using a test propeller, and the relative thrust generated.
In the last times, we are witnessing the spread of a 48V brushless motors that have a flat case and are therefore called “pancakes”. And now we come to the last fundamental thing in the choice of a brushless motor: The battery. For instance, it is very important that the battery voltage is compatible with that of the motor. For example, if a brushless motor is at 48V, a 24V battery will not have enough energy to move the electric charges in the conductors and, therefore it will not have enough power. A 48V battery is perfect. A battery of higher voltage could also be fine, since it would make the motor “sprightly”. However, in this case we should know very well how the electronics behave. If the control correctly rescales the values, for example, then there is no problem for the motor, but if it doesn’t, then in the long run the motor could wear out more quickly than expected.
Therefore, it is important to consider all characteristics, especially the voltage, in a 48V brushless motor. In case of doubts, it is always recommendable to ask the experts, like the team of Axor Industries.
