Choosing a proper motor is important for your RC vehicle. You can drastically change your vehicle’s performance by installing a proper motor. But it can be confusing sometimes when choosing a perfectly compatible motor.
What are the differences between 10 vs 12 vs 15 vs 20 turn motors?
Turns in motor mean the amount of times wire is turned around the motor. These wire turns have different effects on RPM, torque, and battery life. Motors with fewer wire turns have a faster RPM but low torque. On the contrary, more turns generate higher torque and require less charge to operate.
Anyway, that was just a short answer to the entire comparison. There’s a lot more to cover and discuss in detail. But we’re glad to do it for you!
Stay with us to know more about turns in motors and their significance.
10 vs 12 vs 15 vs 20 Turn Motors: Primary Differences
Before we begin the detailed comparison, let’s talk about the key differences first. Noting the basic dissimilarities will help you understand the comparison better.
For example, when choosing an alternative to a lipo battery, you’ll need to compare. Let’s not waste any more time and get started!
For your convenience, we’ve made a small chart for you-
| Factors | 10 Turn Motor | 12 Turn Motor | 15 Turn Motor | 20 Turn Motor |
| Wire Turns | 10 | 12 | 15 | 20 |
| RPM | Highest | High | Medium | Low |
| Torque | Low | Medium | High | Highest |
| Battery Life | Shortest | Short | Long | Longest |
| Speed | Fastest | Fast | Slow | Slowest |
| Drivability | Hardest | Hard | Medium | Easy |
| Price | Check on Amazon | Check on Amazon | Check on Amazon | Check on Amazon |
After going through the table, which one do you prefer more?
The difference in torque between 10, 12, 15, and 20-turn motors
10 vs 12 vs 15 vs 20 Turn Motors: Full Discussion
If you haven’t made a decision yet, that’s alright. We’ve compared them head to head in multiple categories for you.
Go through all the categories and you’ll be reaching a conclusion in no time.
Wire Turns
The first category that we’ve put here is pretty basic and self-explaining. The term “turn” indicates the total amount of times the wire is turned.
For example, a 10-turn brushed motor means the wire in the motor is turned 10 times. This is also the same case for a 10-turn brushless motor.
Likewise, 12 and 15-turn brushed motor wires can be turned 12 and 15 times respectively. Finally, the 20-turn RC motor wire can be turned 20 times around the motor.
RPM or Revolutions Per Minute
The RPM or revolution per minute indicates how fast a motor can rotate. This is directly related to the speed of the motor.
In simple words, higher RPM will make an RC vehicle faster. But there are some consequences that we’ll talk about shortly after.
The wiring works against the RPM of a motor. In other words, the more wiring in a motor, the higher resistance it’ll face. In fact, the wiring is added to slow the motor’s spin.
That’s why a 10-turn motor is the fastest out of the motors that we’re comparing. They have the highest RPM; meaning these motors will spin most times in a minute. If you want a fast vehicle, these kinds of motors are great choices.
Then there are the 12 turn motors. These motors are also fast but not quite fast as the 10-turn motors. Some of the Traxxas RC vehicles use the Traxxas 12-turn motors. Their RPM is the 2nd highest in the comparison.
The 15-turn brushed motor RPM is lower than the other two we’ve mentioned so far. But it’s still significantly higher than the 20-turn motor.
The 20-turn motor rpm is the slowest of all motors; having the lowest RPM. These low RPMs help with the drivability of a car.
Relation between motor wiring and its RPM
Torque
People often question:
Is RPM related to torque?
Yes. In fact, the torque of an RC is calculated based on the RPM. This means that the torque of an RC motor is highly dependent on the RPM it produces.
Torque is also related when comparing the different turns in a motor. A higher torque in lower RPM means you get more horsepower in low RPM. This helps with acceleration.
Also, higher torque in high RPM means it’ll increase the power. In other words, this will result in higher top speed.
Torque increases with the wire turning in a motor. Simply put, a motor with a higher number of wire turns will have more torque.
That being said, according to 10t motor torque chart, a 10-turn motor has the least amount of torque. Its bigger brother, a 12-turn motor will generate slightly more torque. All thanks to the higher wire turn count.
After that, the 15-turn motor has a high torque; second to the 20-turn motor. A 15-turn motor also has a significantly higher RPM. This makes it a great balance between two factors.
And finally, the 20-turn motor has the highest torque out of all motors.
Battery Life
Battery life is also connected to the turns of the motors. The quicker a motor spins, the faster the battery will be drained.
Since the 10-turn motor has the highest RPM, it’ll be the fastest to drain a battery. That’s why always remember to match the LiPo battery with your motor.
Batteries used for 12-turn batteries will have slightly higher longevity. This is due to the motor being slower.
Likewise, the 15-turn motor is a great pick for better battery longevity. If you want a longer session, they’re great for that.
Finally, the 20-turn motors are the best when it comes to battery life. They drain the least amount of charge. But this comes at the cost of RPM. On the bright side, you get to enjoy a longer session.
Speaking of 20-turn motors, we have some fantastic 20-turn motors lined up for you. Their superior build, followed up with superb performance got them a place in our recommendation-
| Product | Features | Price |
| Traxxas 1275 20-Turn Stinger Motor | Made of high-end materials durable and Long-lasting | Buy Now |
| Dynamite 20-Turn Brushed Motor | Heavy buildWaterproof540 size motor | Buy Now |
| ARRMA 540 Brushed Motor 20T | Lightweight3mm output shaft size | Buy Now |
You can choose whichever you like more and get started! Pick whichever you like more and hook it in your RC vehicle!
Our Winner
If you still haven’t made a decision, that’s totally alright. We’ve given our own verdict to help you reach a conclusion.
If you’re building an RC vehicle focused on tracks, then you want something fast. In that case, 10-turn motors or 12-turn motors will be perfect.
On the contrary, if you want a slower car with easier controls, pick 15-turn or 20-turn motors. 20-turn motors fit perfectly in that criteria.
If you want to enjoy a longer session, pick a 15 or 20-turn motor. They drain the least amount of charge. But you can also pick a 10 or 12-turn motor if you have spare batteries.
Source: learn.adafruit.com
Also, remember to keep your motors clean at all times. Otherwise, it’ll affect the overall performance of your RC vehicle.
FAQs
Does a Higher Turn Motor Have More Torque?
Yes! The torque generated by a motor totally depends on the turns of a motor. More turns in a motor mean there’ll be a higher torque. Torque is also related to the drivability of the car. A car with higher torque is easier to drive. It also means there’ll be more power at low RPM.
Is a Higher kV Motor Better?
Yes, higher kV is better if you want higher RPM. The kV rating indicates wire turns in a motor just like basic wire turns. Except it works in reverse. Simply put, a motor will low wire turns will have a higher kV rating. A motor with a high kV rating will have a high RPM. For example, a 19T motor will have a lower kV rating than a 15T motor.
What is a Good Motor for an RC Crawler?
A motor with high torque is going to be good for a crawler. Usually, a 55T motor is great for most RC crawlers. You can always go higher or lower depending on your needs. But motors around 55 turns are enough for most crawlers out there.
Take Away
That was everything we could gather and explain on 10 vs 12 vs 15 vs 20 turn motors. We hope this comparison has helped you understand what motor you really need.
You can also buy used motors from online marketplaces like eBay. This is useful especially if you want to try out different motors. It’s a cheap alternative and you get to tune the car perfectly.
Finally, have a nice day!
