540 Vs 550 Motor: The Indisputable Battle!

Introduction

A Lot of confusion arises if we want to select the motor for our RC. We might want to get the best bang for our buck. 

But, are you confused about 540 vs. 550 motors?

There is not much difference between 540 and 550 motors to distinguish by a landslide. However, it is still distinguishable. The 550 motor has a stronger power output if put into the correct cell. On the other hand, the 540 is smaller and much more compact. Moreover, 540 has higher RPM but 550 has more KV ratings.

Want to know more about them? Then read in detail about the facts.

540 Vs 550 Motor: Which One Is Better?

The 540 and 550 motors have very little difference between them. But they do differ in a number of ways due to both being different variations of the same thing. Some might have improved power while others might have more torque. 

Let’s dig deep to find the solution.

Head To Head Difference

The 550 and 540 both motors are great for use. Moreover, we can not tell the difference if we are new in this sector. However, this is a complete head-to-head collision given below:

Power Output

The power gap in these motors is what many people are perplexed by. These guys do experiments on a variety of RCs but never identify the difference. 

Stronger batteries are required to operate a 550 efficiently and effectively. Besides, they will not function the same on something like a 540.

For instance, on a 540, a 2s Lipo battery or lower is appropriate. Whenever it comes to a 550 nevertheless we must use a 3s or 4s Lipo battery.  If we are considering the discharge rate of the battery, we can know here.

Now, let’s dig deep into these cells to distinguish more

2s Lipo Battery

Assume we test out both the motors with a 2s. We will barely feel the difference. In comparison to a 550, a 540 has a much smaller engine. 540s perform best when powered by 8.4 V or less.

Anything above that will overheat the motor. The electricity will be useless and we’ll have sacrificed a much more powerful battery for almost nothing.

Considering a 550 as an appropriate upgrade for a larger engine. These engines can provide significantly greater power. However, we must contribute our bit by providing them with the required fuel. We’re talking about voltage here, not gasoline.

3s or 4s Lipo Battery

A 550 motor requires a 3s or a 4s for efficient capacity. On the other hand, they won’t operate as well on a 540 motor.

Because 550 motors consume a lot of power, we need to use batteries with high C ratings. Numerous people might say that using a C2 battery with a 550 motor is fine. However, we would advise that using a C4 would be better.

You can choose either C2 or C4 batteries as their differences are minor. However, if we are unfamiliar with it, it is best to become informed about it. If you are looking for such batteries, I have some recommendations for you.

On a 2s, a 550 motor may reach speeds of up to 25 mph. However, on a 3s, it may reach speeds of up to 34 mph. As soon as we change the batteries, we will notice a difference in power.

A 2s battery will be unable to manage that amount of power. Overheating can happen in plastic inlays, metal bushings, and input wires. However, if we use a 3s on a 540, the motor will overheat. A 3s is overpowered for a 540.

Size

The lengths of the motors differ. A 540 motor is any motor that is less than or equal to 50 mm in length. 550mm motors are somewhat longer than 53mm.

Almost all 540 motors have a maximum length of 53mm. Hence are nearly the same length. However, 550 motors differ. A few are somewhat longer than 50 mm. While others are less than or equal to 62 mm. There are also several new 550 motor versions with 70mm lengths.

550 motors have a longer length and more torque than 540 motors.

Speed

The basic RS-540 motor has 27 revolutions and works at around 18,000 RPM. If we want to go faster, the motor is a good first improvement. A 550 motor, on the other hand, has an average speed of 5800 RPM.

Since we all understand, the length of a 540 and 550 motor is about the same. For brushed motors, the extra length allows for a wider armature and magnet. A brushless motor has a rotor and a stator. 

A longer 550 motor armature or stator is wire wrapped around the body, either brushed or brushless. The magnetic field generated by the 550 magnets or stator is greater.

A 550 motor has a lower rpm than a 540 motor, but it produces more torque. A 550 in a large vehicle runs cooler than a 540 within this truck. A 550, on the other hand, draws a higher current out from ESC or battery.

Even though there are very strong 540s with four poles available. Those have much less torque than the 550.

Greater torque implies more battery longevity. As a result, 550 motors have a longer battery life as well as increased speed.

KV (RPM) And Number Of Turns 

KV rating in motors refer to the number of RPM a motor delivers per volt input. RPM is the abbreviation for revolutions per minute. Higher Kv indicates that the motor’s RPM and power are higher.

The body of a motor is frequently indicated as T. It represents a number of turns. The number of spins indicates the quantity of wire wrapped within the motor. More wire is indicated by a higher turn number. As a result, more resistance results in a slower motor.

A 540 motor typically has 20-27 turns and a voltage range of 4.8V to 12V. An average number of turns for a 550 motor with 6V to 24V is 12.

Final Verdict 

540 and 550 are both excellent motors. However, they are indeed champions in their own areas. The 540 works well in lighter cars and the 550 works best in heavier cars.

It all boils down to the automobiles we want to drive. If we are novices to the RC realm, they’ll both be of great assistance.

If we’re satisfied with a standard-powered vehicle, the 540 is the way to go. However, if we really want a bit more power, go along with the 550s.

FAQs

Which RC Motors Last Longer?

When compared to a brushed motor, a brushless motor can survive far longer. The brush type limits the life of brushed motor. It spans from 1,000 to 3,000 hours on average. Brushless motors, on the contrary, do not have brushes to wear out. They can survive for tens of thousands of hours on average.

Are RC Motors Interchangeable?

No, because RC cars are all distinct and come in a variety of manufacturers. The RC motors are not interchangeable. However if we have multiples of the same RC car, the motors will be interchangeable.

Conclusion 

Well, hope this article helped you to decide between the 540 vs 550 motor match.

Although 550 wins by power, but the 540 ain’t so bad either. It has its perks pretty well for a  normal powered RC.

Till next time!

Thank you for reading.