Neu 1512 vs. 1515

Hey guys,

I think it's time to move up to a real motor. I just can't keep the Feigao cool in race situations. I've done everything from adding fans to even making a heatsink sleeve that covered the entire motor. No matter what I do, the Feigao overheats. I've been able to delay it a bit, but it's going to happen sooner or later.

Anyway, I have my sights on two motors. The first is the 1515 2.5d and the other is the 1512 1.5Y. I am more than satisfied with the performance of the Feigao 9XL. The only problem is the heat. I want to put this motor into my 8ight T truck. I've asked Mike what he thought, and he said he'd go for the 1515, but then there were a couple who said that they are running a 1512 in 13lb trucks, without issues.

Will the 1512, equal the performance of the Feigao? Will it run hot in my truck. I really want to get the 1512 because I think it will be snappier, as the L motors are compared to the XL motors, and the 1512 will give better runtime. Do I really need the 1515 motor?

I'd appreciate comments from those running the 1512 in their 1/8 scale trucks.

Thanks.

[BrianG]

Being a more efficient motor, the 1512 will easily surpass the XL Feigao. Believe me, the 1512 is PLENTY for my buggy even though it is geared quite a bit taller than necessary - I find myself setting the EPA to about 60-70% just to keep it controllable and the speed down. However, if you are running a truggy, you might benefit from the extra torque. And since Mike recommends the 1515, I'd go with that.

Brian, I suppose that the root of my questions is that I'd like to know if the 1512 will equal the power of the XL motors. I'm not interested in surpassing it. I don't need any more torque. I've just gotten my truggy setup so that it won't wheelie on the track.

If a 1512, will at least equal the performance of the XL motors, then it's a no brainer for me. My truggy only weights 9lbs, without the battery. With the 9XL, and after 30 minutes of running, my 4S 8Ah pack only took back just under 6A. If it get the current sipping 1512, then I can run a 6Ah pack for less weight and still make the 30 minute mains.

Bottomline, what I just want to make sure of is that the 1512 is at least equal to an XL motor and won't overheat with extended running. Besides, the 1515 is only .3" longer than the 1512. Is there really that much of a difference? The 1515 is relatively a lot heavier.

[jhautz]

I actally prefer the 1512 to the 1515. I had a 1515/2.5D and traded it to get another 1512/2.5D. The 1512 is MORE than enough power for any truck except for maybee the absolute heaviest. Even at 13 lbs you will still be turning your epa down.

Compared to a xl motor it will run tons cooler and have just as much power, probably more.

IMO would 1512 will make you very happy, especially if you like a snappy feel like me.

[BrianG]

Yeah, if your question is simply "Does the 1512 have as much torque as an XL", then the answer is a resounding YES. :)

I do like that snappy feel. I have found it kind of strange, in that I've been running the XL motors because they don't get as hot as quickly as the L can motors; but I recently put the 8L back into my buggy, just to see. After having had a bunch of runtime with the XL motors, I did notice more of a snap to the L can motor. If the XL is instant power, then the L can was instant, instant power.

I figure that my truggy will go 13lbs., at its heaviest; that's with the big 40 series Moab tires and a 5S2P 8Ah pack. In race form, it shouldn't exceed 11lbs. It's really starting to look like it's going to be the 1512 1.5Y for me. I don't see much difference between the 1.5Y and the 2.5d in terms of rpm/v; however, I believe that the 1.5Y is more efficient and I'll take all that I can get.

Does the 2.5d have more torque than the 1.5Y? I'd like to get the 1.5Y as it has good numbers that indicate good performance on 4S, but a kv low enough for 5S when I feel so inclined.

Brian, there you go!!! An unqualified answer. That's what I like.

Now, the only thing that's killing me is the 1512 2Y on ebay right now. That price is almost too low to pass up, but that will likely be too slow on 4S.

[jhautz]

I run the 1512/2.5D on 5s all day long. Motor heat is no issue. I run one in my buggy and one in my revo. In the buggy I acutally run a 3s pack on the track is its set up tight. On a big track 4s is great and for bashing 5s is just retarded.

Th revo runs great on 5s bashing and 4s track.

Oh, thank goodness. The 2Y on ebay has been sold, but I did pick up a spare chassis for $50.

I figure that my 8ight weighs as much as a Revo, the 1512 should do fine.

i'll throw my input out there.. I have jhautz 1515, and he's got my old 1512. I simply couldn't gear my truck to keep the 1512 temps down. I believe I was around 16/46 on my LSP, and without a fan on the 1512, the motor got too hot to touch in under 5 minutes, on a 90 degree day. I've got the 1515 now, and also using the same gearing.. the motor was barely warm without a fan in the same conditions after 10 minutes, and with a fan on the motor, I couldn't feel any heat at all. I lost about 10 mph, but can easily gear the 1515 back to the ~40-45mph I was at with the 1512, but won't have any heat problems at all. My Quark runs alot cooler as well. before you couldn't hold it, now I barely feel any heat.
depending on how you can gear your truck, I think the 1512 2.5d is too hot on 5s, but would probably run excelent on 4s. a slightly lower kv 1512 would probably run great on 5s as well.

A4DTM, are you saying that the 1512 got too hot because it wasn't enough motor? Perhaps 16/46 on a 2000kv motor was a bit too high gearing. Did you try gearing to perhaps 12/46 or 14/46?

I'm running my 9XL geared at 16/46 and that's pretty much in line for the 1515 2.5d as well, since they are similarly rated, kv wise. I'm thinking that if the motor and esc were running hot, it might have been a gearing problem.

Perhaps I should go for the 1512 3D. After having run the 7XL both on 4S on the track and on 5S for clowning around, I think that I really like a motor with that kv rating.

At this point, I'd kind of like to run larger pinions, 14T on up. I don't know if there is any validity to it, but when I was running my HEAVY Muggy, there were occasions when I was running a 9T pinion with a 46T spur gear and I stripped the spur gear when landing after a jump with the brakes applied. This only happened on surfaces where the tires were really hooking up, but I think that the larger pinions get you more gear contact and might prevent this. It might not be a big deal to most, but when I'm bashing, I run 40 series all terrain tires and that's a lot of rolling mass to try to stop.

AAngel, that was exactly the problem. on my lsp, with mike's motor mount, a 16t pinion is the smallest that will work with a 44t diff gear i was using. I replaced the 44t with a 46t, because the 44t just barely reached, and got stripped. 14/46 might have worked, but wouldn't run nearly as cool as the 1515 2.5d is now.

[jhautz]

I have a 46T center diff and Truggy f/r diffs in my revo so gearing wise its the same as your lsp and on 5s I run 15/46 gearing on the 1512/2.5D with no issues. If I'm running in grass or want to gear down I usually go down to 14T and on pavement I run up to 16T or even 18T for speed runs. 14T-16T seems to be the sweet spot for the 1512 in my setup. I never have an issue with motor heat. If anything I have ESC heat issues before motor heat issues.

I think bottom line is you will be happy with either choice. They are both far superior motors to the XL you are used too. Its kinda hard to go wrong here. Just a matter of preference.

A4, they problem that you had with the gearing is something that I won't have to worry about. My mount lets me use a 9T pinion with a 44T spur. If I go with the 1512 1.5y, I'm thinking along the lines of 12-14/46 gearing. If I go with the 3D, I'm thinking 14-16/46 for the gearing. I really like the 1700kv motor. It does all that I want. If the 1512 3d will perform the same as the Feigao 9XL, but run lots cooler, I'll be a happy camper. The 9XL already has the potential for more torque than I can use. If the 1515 puts out more torque, I don't need it.

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by AAngel

If the 1515 puts out more torque, I don't need it.

Confucius say "Tis better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it". :)