Traxxas Velineon vs Castle Sidewinder: Which One Should You Buy?

Introduction 

Are you trying to choose the best brushless motor for your RC truck? It can be thrilling at first. But you can easily become frustrated once you start reading the details. 

So, which motor is the better one, Traxxas Velineon vs Castle Sidewinder? 

Castle Sidewinder supports both brushed and brushless motors while the Velineon supports brushless motors only. Also, the Velineon has 3 built-in profiles. However, with Sidewinder, you can make 6 fully customizable profiles which creates more possibilities. 

Anyways, these are not the only differences. Stay with us till the end if you want to know more. 

Let’s not waste time and jump right in – 

Traxxas Velineon vs Castle Sidewinder: Specifications and Differences 

Despite being almost alike, these ESCs have many differences; like Redcat Volcano vs Blackout. So, knowing these differences will help you make up your mind. 

That’s why we’ve made a chart for you – 

Which one do you like more after reading the chart? Well, there’s more to know! Now let’s discuss it in more detail. 

Traxxas Velineon vs Castle Sidewinder: In-Depth Comparison 

Well, these do not cover the whole debate. Keep reading and you may find the information you’re looking for. 

Input Voltage 

First thing first, let’s talk about their input voltage. It’s the amount of voltage that you can supply to the board.

Starting with the Velineon, you can fit 2s to 3s LiPo batteries. But if you want to use NiMH batteries, you’ll require at least 4 cells. It can fit up to 9 cells for maximum output. 

On the other hand, the Sidewinder needs more NiMH cells. It requires at least 6 NiMH cells but only requires 8 cells to deliver maximum output. Although, you can fit 2s to 3s LiPo batteries here as well. 

Supported Motor

Normally brushed and Brushless ESCs support brushed and brushless motors respectively. But the Sidewinder creates a difference here. 

The Sidewinder is a versatile ESC that works with brushed motors as well. However, you have to turn it down to 19 turns. This is very good for rock crawling applications. You can even look into quality crawler shocks for these.

Unlike Sidewinder, the Traxxas Velineon comes with a sensorless motor with flexible upgrading options. Traxxas Velineon VXL-3s ESC has Tri-mode operation that can auto detect the motor type for sensor, sensorless, or brushed motor.

Velineon 3500 is a 10-turn motor capable of producing 3500kv RPM/v output. Similarly, you can expect Velinieon 3800 to have 3800kv RPM/v.

The velineon 3500 can reach a maximum RPM of 50000 with contact 65A current rating which can reach up to 100A at peak/burst. It uses TRX 3.5mm bullet connectors.

Compared to Traxxas Velineon, sidewinder comes with 4mm female connectors. It can provide about 3800kv RPM/v output.

Cooling System

Because of ESCs containing BEC circuits, it generates a lot of heat. So, you need a good cooling system to avoid overheating your ESC. 

That’s why the Velineon comes with a big heatsink as a countermeasure to this problem. However, you can separately buy a cooling fan for your Velineon if you want to further cool it down. 

Whereas, the Sidewinder comes with a built-in cooling fan. Also, it has a better design for heat dissipation. So, the Sidewinder has a lot of advantages here. 

Waterproofing

Waterproofed ESCs let you venture into watery areas and not worry about damaging your ESCs. 

Is Traxxas Velineon motor waterproof?

Yes, the Traxxas Velineon motor is a brushless power system waterproof motor. It can operate seamlessly in water.

In fact, both Velineon and Sidewinder are waterproof. However, they’re not for submerged applications. Also, corrosive materials such as Saltwater can corrode your ESC very easily. 

Always wash your car with clean water after a session in water or mud to avoid corrosion. 

Profiles 

Most ESCs come with built-in profiles. These profiles allow you to keep different settings that you can quickly apply to different situations. 

So, the Velineon comes with 3 built-in profiles. They are called Sports mode, Race mode, and Training mode. The training mode locks the throttle at 50% to make it easy for beginners. 

However, the Sidewinder has 6 profiles that are completely customizable. You can customize them yourself via Castle Link software. You’ll need a Castle Link USB adapter which is sold separately. 

So, if you’re looking for more customization, Sidewinder is the right choice. 

Our Verdict

After this comparison, we can see that most aspects are the same; just like Revo vs Tmaxx. But we think Castle Sidewinder is a clear winner here. Because it has multiple customizable profiles which are really useful. 

Also, the Sidewinder weighs less and works with Castle motors which produce more torque than Velineon motors. 

However, if you’re a beginner, you can just get a Velineon for its built-in programs. 

FAQs

What kV is Traxxas Velineon? 

Answer: It’s a 3500 kV 10-turn motor. It’s very optimized for lightweight vehicles. 

What does Castle Link do? 

Answer: The Castle Link Bluetooth adapter allows you to program settings on Castle ESCs wirelessly anywhere and anytime. 

What is the difference between 2s and 3s LiPo? 

Answer: The 3s Lipo spins around 38850 RPM. While 2s only spin at 25900 RPM. So, you’re gonna go faster if you can have more voltage. 

Conclusion

And that’s everything from us on Traxxas Velineon vs Castle Sidewinder. We sincerely hope that it has at least cleared some of your confusion. 

So, which ESC is better for you? If you have anything to ask or share, please use the comment section below. 

Finally, happy racing!