Terry Plumridge 1 Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 I have a brushless motor that has been in close proximity to an exploding ESC that caused a small fire. There is no obvious visual damage to the motor. My question is, is it possible using a multimeter to ascertain the condition of the motor. If so, how? I don't want to damage a new ESC. Cheers, Terry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Griff Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 I thinks it's best as a precaution and for your "records" to do a resistance check of the motor windings when the motor is new. These readings/records can then he compared with the manufacturers and your records at a later date, but, a resistance check does not check the insulation "strength" under load. If the insulation strength is compromised then problems could happen. New to model electric motors used in planes so insulation check may not be of importance as voltages seen by the motor may not be high enough, but current draw seems guite high. Just a lay persons view but experienced modelled will know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatMc Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 The resistance of the motor windings is too low to be measured without a special meter. A normally available meter would register an apparent short circuit across any pair if the windings were OK. Conversely if a one or more windings were burnt out the meter would show an open circuit across one or each winding. If you have a digital multi-meter you could test if there is any breakdown in the windings insulation to the motor frame. Set the meter to read the highest resistance scale & measure across each winding, the readings will be zero if OK. What cause the ESC to be damaged in the first place ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Plumridge 1 Posted July 18, 2021 Author Share Posted July 18, 2021 Hi PatMc. I was flying a Para Motor, it stalled and one or two lines tangled with the prop and stalled the motor. I hit the dead stop switch I had set up on the Tx, obviously not soon enough. Have decided to buy a new motor to be on the safe side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 My own view is it would be most unlikely the motor would be damaged by the ESC overload. The electronics in the ESC it would fail far faster than the motor. If the resulting fire 'scorched' the motor then there is a possibility the winding insulation could be damaged but in brushless motor there are pretty buried. The wires leading to the motor are a different matter. Were they damaged in any way? I always check and record the full power amps for each plane. If the motor pulled the same amps with the same prop and battery I would have little hesitation in reusing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Plumridge 1 Posted July 19, 2021 Author Share Posted July 19, 2021 The winding insulation looks as though it has melted in places, so not going to chance it for the sake of a 16 euro replacement, but thanks for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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