03 August 2007
I've been running this setup in my buggies and trucks for over a year. Here's what I know.
|
The system consists of the Novak Super Sport Plus sensored brushless ESC and the SS5800 motor (which has gone through a few name changes and is now called the EX 8.5 at the time I'm writing this). All sorts of parameters can be set on the ESC. Among the more useful ones are drag brake setting, reverse on/off, and there is also a Sportsman mode, which limits the motors' RPM to 24,000. I never thought I'd ever use such a feature, but I ended up doing so at an endurance race to conserve my battery (read the race report here). |
| The ESC is a little bulky (33.5mm X 44.4mm X 26.7mm according to the manual) and could be difficult to fit in some cars. The dangling power cap is a real nuisance to keep tied down. The sensor wire is permanently attached to the motor, unlike the LRP/Nosram systems which have detachable/replaceable wires available in different lengths. |
|
|
The motor spins freely as the magnets don't seem to pull on anything inside the motor. This actually takes some getting used to because I can no longer rely on the motor drag to hold the gears in my car still while I pushed the wheels to feel the diff. I actually have to remove the spur cover on my truck and grab the spur before I can feel the diffs working. The motor actually stays very cool compared to a brushed motor of similar performance. |
| Installed in the XXX-T. So far, I've managed to also install the system in a Tamiya DF-02 and an Academy SB V2, but generally, it is a monster to install with that big ESC and all those cables, especially in touring cars. |
|
Conclusion: The SS5800 performs like a mild modified brushed motor (I would say like 15-turn machine-wound) and is almost maintenance free (although checking the bearings once in awhile is also a good idea). The chunky ESC is not easy to mount on some cars, so that's something to think about. The little amount of drag brake takes some getting used and honestly makes me drive slower than I like around tight bends, but down the straight, the feeling's great! I definitely would recommend a system such as this (the latest incarnation is actually the Novak XBR ESC and EX series motors) to any backyard basher looking for some decent speeds without worrying about brushes ever again.
To read about the Super Sports Plus successor, the Novak XBR Sport, go here.
