Brushless Baja with 2 Castle 1717s?

[KaztheMinotaur]

What are your initial thoughts on a brushless Baja running (2) Castle 1717s on 6s?

[coolhandcountry]

Go bigger and single motor.

[Bondonutz]

+1
Mo Bigger Mo better

How many cells can a 1717 handle?

[lincpimp]

Well, you will have to have some small pinions and may run into issues getting the larger diameter 1717 to physically fit with those small pinions. Keep in mind the gas engine never gets much over 25k rpm, and the 1717 on 6s would be doing 35k or so. Maybe go down to 5s for 29-30k rpms? Just a thought... I would go for 6s and lower gearing, longer runtimes...

Stock pinion size is 18 IIRC, so you would need to go down to a 12t or so. Maybe throw that into BG's speed calc and see what it gives you?

As for power, I see no reason why 2 1717 motors would not move the baja just fine. A BL baja would not be twice as heavy as my lst and the 1 1717 I have in there throws it around.

2 1717, 2MMM and 2 of the zippy flightmaxx 5000mah 40c 6s lips would make a nice setup. Given the cost of 1717 motors right now you could almost buy all of the motors, escs, and lipos for the cost of a 22 series neu... 140 for the motors, 240 for the escs and 200 for the lipos. 580 total...

Keep in mind the dual vxl and similar emaxxs run just fine.

[KaztheMinotaur]

I'm trying to decide on that vs. a Leopard 5692 730KV on 12S. Probably use a Phoenix ICE 160HV w/ Pistix if I did that.

[KaztheMinotaur]

Theoretically the Leopard will produce 4882 watts and the (2) 1717s will produce a total of 5328.

The 1717 setup will weigh 1.1 pounds more.

[lincpimp]

From what I have read the leopard motors are not all that great...

Best part of the dual 1717 and MMM would be motor brakes and reverse. With a decent radio you could even setup a mix for front mech brakes and then be able to switch it off for reverse... That way you would have 4 wheel braking.

[lincpimp]

Originally Posted by KaztheMinotaur

Theoretically the Leopard will produce 4882 watts and the (2) 1717s will produce a total of 5328.

The 1717 setup will weigh 1.1 pounds more.

Hmm, if the 1.1 lbs is mainly motor then you will have a much more powerful system with the 2 1717 motors. OSE claims 3000watts from that leopard. I have a feeling that the 1717 would easily overpower that leopard. Why not go with 2 1520 castle motors? Easier to package than the 1717...

[JERRY2KONE]

I would just love to see this thing opperate with two 1717's. This is what prototyping is all about, right? Give her a shot and share your results with us.

I'd say go for it! Two 1717s will beat a single Leopard motor any day. You do run into issues using two motors on a single gear though, I think I read somewhere on here that if the motors aren't within 3% they end up just fighting each other and you get a worse result.

[KaztheMinotaur]

It may be theoretically more powerful but when you figure in the added weight it will be about the same. Or am I missing something?

From what I have read the Leopard motors eem to be well like in the boat world. Where have you seen that it isn't?

Any data on the 1520? Those aren't on sale though are they?

Really wishing I hadn't sold my 2215...

Has anybody used the Leopard Ground 150A ESC?

Ah the 1520 WAS on sale, guess I just got one of the last ones. :/ So that might be out of the question for you now. Also, I wouldn't trust the specs on the Leopard Motor, my very uneducated guess is that one 1717 is almost as powerful to what that Leopard motor can actually put out. I have a 1717 and it's no joke, it could probably push a Baja around at stock gas speeds. Two would be a really nice setup IMO.

Edit: You could always consider the new Castle 5th Scale System (Mamba XL) if it's not out of your budget. I think the motor was going to be priced around $250-300? not sure on that one though...

Double Edit: If you happen to want to go the 1520 route and can get your hands on a motor I can give this new one to ya for less than I paid for it on sale.

[simplechamp]

Originally Posted by KaztheMinotaur

From what I have read the Leopard motors eem to be well like in the boat world. Where have you seen that it isn't?

Many people take issue with the fact that they pretty much cloned/imitated/stole (however you want to look at it) their designs from Castle/Neu. It's generally assumed that the Chinese knock-offs are lower quality, cutting corners to save money, etc. Not sure how true that is here, they might work fine. But I'd say pick up a few of the 1717 while the Castle sale is still going, support the company that actually made the design, and then you know you have a solid motor for sure.

[KaztheMinotaur]

I hear ya on that. Still just kind of thinking out loud...