370 vs 380 Motor: Which One to Choose

You may have a large collection of RC cars if you are an RC vehicle lover. We typically anticipate an RC motor to provide us with greater mileage for less money. Which motor will be the most efficient? Is it because of the 370 vs 380 motors?

A 370 motor has a great speed with a higher RPM. On the other hand, a 380 motor is used in heavier cars and has more torque and efficiency. Not just this, the motor also differs in various aspects. Like the speed, KV, number of turns, etc. If you want to choose one of these two, we have made the choice easier for you. We have also given a final choice between them both.

Now, without waiting any further, let’s jump right in.

What Does a Motor Number Mean Anyways?

Usually, the number indicates a manufacturer’s indication to specify the motors. The diameter of the cylindrical can and length of the motors can be different. The diameter of a 380 motor is 28 mm. Whereas the diameter for a 370 motor is 24mm. 

There are two versions of this model. One is the brushed motor and the other is brushless. In a brushed motor exterior, permanent magnets are placed with a revolving armature. The ‘stator’ is made out of stationary permanent magnets. The ‘rotor’ is the revolving armature that houses an electromagnet. A brushed motor is the best choice for applications that need high torque to get up to speed rapidly. There are different top-notch brushed motors available in the market.

Brushless motors on the other hand operate differently. They have an inside-out brushed motor that doesn’t require brushes. The rotor of a brushless motor is attached to a permanent magnet. These electromagnets are attached to the stator. These motors are somewhat more efficient than their brushed counterparts. They have an average efficiency of 85-90 percent. Whereas for brushed motors it is 75-80 percent.

Head to Head Comparison

Well, by now we had an idea of the measurements and variations of 370 and 380 motors. There are other comparison grounds for these two models. To know more, let’s get into the head-to-head comparisons.

Length

The length of a motor usually refers to the length of the can of the motor. A 370 motor has a length of 30mm and for a 380 motor, it is 38mm. Now you might be thinking, how does this affect performance?

Bigger motors create greater torque while using more electricity. The majority of vehicles are meant to be utilized with a certain motor size. The length of the motor is to accommodate the extra number of turns. A 380 motor is the Sport-Tuned variant. It is virtually as quick as, if not faster than, a standard Silver Can owing to its power to weight ratio. Whereas, the 370 motors are smaller with faster speed.

So, considering the length, 380 motors have higher longevity as their torque is more.

Kv and No. of Turns

There’s a difference between KV and no. of turns, in both brushless and brushed motors. Turns can be considered as a  motor’s physical characteristic, whereas Kv is equivalent to horsepower. The voltage of 370 motors is  12 V and for 380 motors it is an average of 3 V -7.2 V.

The number of turns represents the amount of wire wrapped within the motor. The larger the number of turns, the more wire power and resistance there is. This results in a slower, lower-quality motor. The turn rating is calculated as inversely proportional to the motor’s power.

Kv rating will assist you to calculate how fast it will revolve when a certain voltage is provided to a motor. It is calculated when 1V (one volt) is delivered to a motor with no load attached. Then the number of revolutions per minute (rpm) it rotates is measured. The ratio of the motor’s unloaded rpm to the peak voltage on the wires connected is the KV of brushless motors.

So for the 370 motors, the speed is more but the torque is less i.e. fewer turns has less resistance. Whereas for 380 motors, the speed is less with more resistance.

Speed

The 370 motor is very similar to the 380 motors. But one of the main differences is their speed. High T motors can create considerably more torque. But low T motors can still provide adequate torque when needed. They’re better for speed and excellent for drifting. The RPM of a 370 motor is about 21,000 rpm and for a 380 motor, it is 12,500 rpm.

A 370 motor has a greater speed performance than a 380 motor. A low-KV motor is slower and less powerful than a high-KV motor. Its torque may give superior off-road traction.

Torque shows the maximum load an engine can bear to create enough power to rotate the engine on its axis. So a 370 motor will have greater speed but will last less time than a 380 motor.

So, as for speed, a 370 motor has more speed compared to 380 motors. But they have less torque.

Shaft Diameter

For motor specifications and characteristics, the rotor shaft diameter is very important. In other words, the greater the shaft diameter, the more robust the rotor. This is especially true for high-rpm and large-scale motors. 

When long-term reliability is more important. When it comes to shaft diameter, one thing to bear in mind is pinion gear selection. 

The pinion attaches directly to the rotor shaft. It’s critical to choose pinions that are compatible with your motor. Bigger diameter shafts are used in motors built for larger, heavier vehicles.

The shaft diameter of a 370 motor is 2mm and for a 380 motor, it is 2.3 mm.

Which One Should You Go for?

A 370 motor is designed for lightweight vehicles with high efficiency. It has heat dissipation with maximum efficiency. It is high-temperature resistant and is best for 1/18 RC car series cars, trucks, and truggies. There are other similar differences between motor models such as 540 and 550 motors. Oh, some of our top picks of 370 motors are given below.

A 380 motor is appropriate for an optimum-speed automobile or aircraft. It optimizes power and is efficient in 1/16th scale vehicles. They have low maintenance and high power output design. They have high-speed ball bearings with a precisely balanced rotor. So if you are going for a 380 motor, here are some best ones.

So, which one will be best for your use will depend on your vehicle type, model, and speed requirement.

FAQs

You might still have a few confusions. Here are some queries that might come to your mind.

What does “T” Indicate in a Motor?

The letter “T” represents the number of turns. This is the total number of times the motor’s wire is wrapped around the stator. Less resistance and higher power are associated with a lower number of revolutions. A higher number indicates greater resistance and decreased power.

What is the Fastest RC Car?

The Traxxas XO-1 is the fastest RC vehicle on the market right now. The automobile accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds. It has the biggest brushless motor available. This automobile is not only attractive, but it also has a top speed of nearly 100 miles per hour.

Conclusion

That is all from us on 370 vs 380 motors. As you have come this far, we have an added tip just for you. You may often get confused about the number of turns and KV’s impact on power. So, always remember that more KV= higher power and lesser turns= more power.

Before we end, do you have any quarries? Let us know in the comment section below. Till then, have a good day!