Motor Overheating

[SamM]

I am thinking about using drone motors in a class project for Engineering. Does anyone know if the propeller air flow is a part of the cooling mechanism for most drone motors? Ideally, I would not attach propellers in my project. Thanks for your help!

 

[holtneil]

Hi most cooling is done as the quad is flying air passing around the motor , the props will give down draft so will push air into the motor, the only brushless motor that has a cooling fan built in the motor is RC Helicopter motor the fan is cut in to the bottom casing
heli motor with fan on bottom

quad motor No fan


It may not get very hot if you dont run it for a long time , also dont use full throttle as its not turning a load ( no prop fitted) it can over rev the motor and damage it

 

[GJH105775]

I am thinking about using drone motors in a class project for Engineering. Does anyone know if the propeller air flow is a part of the cooling mechanism for most drone motors? Ideally, I would not attach propellers in my project. Thanks for your help!

Yeah, you need props and testing on the bench does not 100% simulate cooling like flying.

However some motors (emax red bottoms w/ cooling for example) tell you not to bench test for over 30 seconds or so. And just as holtneil said no load allows the motor to get too fast and damage can occur that way.