Brushless vs Coreless Servo: Which is the Best Option?

RC vehicles need some essential parts to work properly. The most important one of them is servos. They control all the functions of the vehicle. The best in the market are brushless and coreless servos. Although, both may have the same function they are built very differently.

So, which one’s the best, brushless vs coreless servo?

Both servo motors are the best in the market. But you’ll need to think through which one is better for you. We went through some common criteria like, build quality, features, maintenance, cost and decided which one is the superior servo to use. 

Like the preview, you’re seeing? Let’s dive into the details and learn more about it!

Quick Comparison

Before jumping into the details of which servo is better for your RC to build, let’s go through a quick comparison between these two types of servos

Feature	Brushless Servo	Coreless Servo
Mechanical Structure	Permanent magnet core on a rotary function	Solid steel core with a brushed wire structure
Maintenance	Very low maintenance, once every 3-4 years or more.	Low maintenance, once every 1-2 years.
Efficiency	Higher output using less energy, creating more torque	Design constrictions influence efficiency.
Electrical Noise	Not audible	Audible
Size	Reasonably compact-sized	Extremely compact-sized
System Cost	High, due to more external components needed.	Basic design and structure make it affordable

Now, let’s get into the detailed comparison and see which servo is the better one.

How Brushless Servo Works

Brushless servo, as its name explains, has no conducting brush structure within its motor to produce the power needed. It uses permanent magnets on the core. The electrical switching inside can move the magnets back and forth using a solid-state device.

Source: maxongroup.com

Brushless servos are the most advanced type of servos available in the market. The electrical switches are used instead of the mechanical parts that are found in the most common servos. 

It makes them very power efficient, less electrical noise, gives higher torque power, and most of all, it’s reliable.

How Coreless Servo Works

A coreless servo works with a 3-5 pole wire-wound servo motor. It’s a motor using a steel core and wires wound around it with a commutator at one end. This structure spins inside where there are permanent magnets attached. Giving it the power to function.

Source: maxongroup.com

Coreless servos work in a basic function that has been used for years. It makes them cheaper to produce. Making them very easy to find. 

The coreless motor has a faster response time, higher efficiency, and better operation. As well as, the lower cost makes it a very good product to be used in standard RC vehicles.

Detailed Comparison

Now, let’s get into the detailed comparison between the brushless and coreless servo. Both products are built to be good servos for RC vehicles and various other electronic components. 

But they have some slight deviance in function, reliability, and working process. Let’s learn more about these two servos and see which one’s the best for you.

Build Quality

Every kind of electrical component needs good build quality. This makes them more durable, reliable, and efficient. As well as, making them a good option to be used in an RC build.

Brushless motors are usually built heavy and durable. The design of brushless servos is quite complex due to not having any brush structures. 

Whereas, coreless servo uses physical contacts to the com of the motor to turn the core into an electromagnet that switches polarity as the motor spins. 

As servos are built to be used heavily and for prolonged periods of time, the materials used are of higher quality. Making it a good performer. The device uses a solid-state device to run better than regular armature.

But as coreless servos use brushed wiring, it uses an armature-based mechanism. Nevertheless, both use good quality materials. 

Although, the metal wiring of the coreless servos does get worn down on continuous heavy usage. Which you won’t get from a brushless servo.

All over, the brushless servo gives a better quality than the regular servos. Making it a better product to use.

Features

The function and features these products can bring are crucial to deciding which one can be the best one for your use. 

Both servos have their unique design and function to use. Giving a better output and experience for the user.

Brushless motors are typically faster and offer more torque. They’re more efficient, less likely to cause brownouts because they can pull less current. Also, they can be made waterproof. Making it a versatile product to use on RC vehicles. 

The coreless servo is fast acceleration and deceleration. Which in turn creates a more precise servo

Brushless motors are also quieter than other servo motors due to their design. The friction of the brushed wirings creates the humming sound of a servo motor. Like we hear from a coreless servo.

But the brushless motor, due to having a magnetic switch structure, creates less to no noise. Making it good for stealth drives.

As features go, it’s a resounding yes to the brushless servo. The efficiency and better noise canceling design make it a better deal.

Which One is More Compact-Sized?

In the case of size, brushless motors are larger sized. Commutators and brushes create motors larger and heavier. 

It makes the motor kind of irrelevant for robotic functions, where size matters. The coreless motor however is much simpler and that gives it a better compact size.

Coreless servo being compactly sized due to its simpler design is better for compact spaced RC builds of robotic functions. 

But in the case of RC models, it’s better to use larger spacious models. That’ll ensure better usage. Plus it keeps the limit of use higher. As compact-sized electronics have heating issues.

In this round, the brushless servo wins in terms of the RC build. But for robotics functions, the coreless will get the edge

Maintenance

Knowing how much maintenance a part would need makes a big impact. It lets you know how much downtime you’ll have. Servos are made to last but maintenance is needed for any electrical and mechanical component.

Brushless servos have a less maintenance routine. If built well and has a smooth workload, a brushless servo can work without any major maintenance for years. 

This is due to it having no brushed wires inside the motor. Making it more reliable and less risk of having broken parts.

Coreless servo has its durability and reliability profile with flying colors as well. But they tend to need a bit of maintenance from time to time.

The wounding wires inside the motors are made of steel. That means in time, they get worn down and it lessens the function of the servos. Changing the wirings and worn-out wires can be a lot of work.

There are some problems the brushless servo can have as well. Like, the magnets in the motor might get damaged or misaligned. 

Also, the switching component could get burnt out within time. These problems occur over time. But they are easy to repair. Just replacing them will make it good as new.

In the case of replacing magnets in your dyno motors, you should procure some strong, good-quality magnets. There are many in the market nowadays, but we’d like to recommend to you some of the best ones we’ve tried out:

These magnets are the best ones you can use without any fear. They’ll give you the best performance if not better than the worn-out ones.

Overall, it’s very easy and doable work for both of them. Most of all, you’d need to do this maintenance once or twice every few years. That makes it less work for you. 

Cost

The most deciding factor of all, which one costs what? And what we can get from the products. Servo motors are in itself an expensive part of an RC vehicle. 

But there are cost differences between different types of servo motors. Let’s go through which one’s the better value for money. The brushless servos are more expensive to buy.

Why are brushless servos more expensive?

Brushless servos cost more because of their expensive build process. It has an intricate design and function that makes it costly to manufacture. 

Due to that, the cost of a brushless servo is more than regular servos found in the market. But its costly value is worthwhile when comparing the reliability and longevity of its function. 

In contrast, coreless servos are less expensive than brushless servos. They’re made simpler and work. Making it cheaper to manufacture. 

Along with its good functionality and power delivery, it makes it a perfect component for your RC build. A product you can trust not to fail unless there are any precarious situations.

In case of cost, both of the products are valued for money. Albeit one costs more than the other, the usability and functions do make both of them good enough to be bought.

Which One’s Better?

So, going through all the comparisons and detailed overview, we can say that the brushless servo motor is the best option for your RC build. It is slightly expensive compared to a coreless servo. 

But the advantages of smooth power delivery and supreme longevity make it the best option for your RC experience.

If this is your entry to the RC enthusiast world, then you can go for basic core RC servos. The cored servos are the most basic level products that are used in low-end and basic RC vehicles. We can recommend some good core servos for you to consider. Within the various price ranges, these servos are the best ones

You can use these servos and start to fuel your passion for RC vehicles.

But if you’re serious about getting the best one, you can always test a servo using servo testers. Investing in a good servo tester can be of massive benefits for the long run.

Coreless servos are good products as well, but in terms of RC building components, we’d recommend getting brushless over the coreless servo.

That’s all about the subject of brushless vs coreless servo. 

FAQs

What are the 3 types of servos?

Servo motors come in many sizes and in three basic types. The three types include positional rotation, continuous rotation, and linear. Depending on your needs, you’ll need to choose the right type of servo motor.

How long do RC servos last?

RC servos are made to last. The rigid build and reliable parts make it one of the most durable components of an RC build. They can last years depending on the workload and usage.

Why are servo motors so expensive?

Servo motor costs. Servo motors require feedback, use more expensive magnets, and often incorporate gearboxes. They also consume more power at zero speed. As a result, a servo motor is generally more expensive than a comparable stepper motor.

Final Words

That’s all about brushless vs coreless servo and which one you should get for your RC build. All-around, brushless servos are the better option and they give you the best performance. Even though it costs more, you’ll always get consistent output for a longer period of time.

A pro tip would be to consult about it with someone who’s deeply into RC builds and has expertise about it. You’ll get the best advice from them for choosing the best servo.

If you have any queries, let us know in the comments.

Have a great day!