Help Choosing Between 2 T-Motors and a Tarot

[questech]

Hello Everyone

I'm making my final motor choice for my new 1200mm build.

- Octocopter
- 2 X 6000mAh 6S Lipos at least 35C (more mAh if I can find them)
- 80A Hobby Wing ESCs (can I flash these with SimonK?)

I have researched for hours and would appreciate your opinions as to what motors to go with.

For many reasons I have boiled it down to the following 3 motors. Each has it's strong points and they share attributes that I need, but their

missions may vary a bit.

I realize that for lighter loads the Tarot 5008 or the TM MN4120 may be a little more efficient, but when lifting heavier payloads the U7 may be a

far better choice... or not

Here are my picks with URLs to pages that have some specs published for your convenience:


Tarot 5008 KV340: (http://www.foxtechfpv.com/5008340kv-brushless-motorblack-p-1149.html)

MN4120 465kv: (http://www.rctigermotor.com/html/2013/Navigator_1019/100.html)

U-POWER U7 490KV: (http://www.rctigermotor.com/html/2013/Power-Type_0928/92.html)

The little Tarot seems to keep up with the big boys at lower throttle settings, but looses the battle at the higher end...

The Tarot is a third of the price, which has an appeal to it. It is quite the little motor and may be one of the best values going. If I didn't

have a steep payload requirement, I would choose this hands down (given the build quality is sufficient).

The 2 T-Motors are pretty close in thrust capability, again especially at the lower throttle settings, but real close. Here the edge might go to

the better build, or the more tested motor.

Here are my questions that will result in a choice.

* One question I have about the Tarot, is do you guys think it has the build quality, durability, and reliability of the T-Motors?

* Do you think one or both of the T-Motors have the build quality approching the Avroto?

-- If not both, which one?

* Of the two T-Motors, does any one of them have the edge in reliability?

* Do the cost savings of the Tarot (build quality not being an issue) outweigh the loss of lift capability?

My gut instinct would make me lean towards "No" because I'll be lifting a heavy camera from time to time... so the Tarot still has to do the job.

* With an AUW of 35lb + which motor would give me the longest flight times?

* With an AUW of 25lb which motor would give me the longest flight times?

I know this is long and I'm asking a lot, but I know it will be helpful for others as well.

I appreciate all of your suggestions and feedback, and I thank you in advance for your help !!!

Anthony

 

[SleepyC]

I am building an octo with the U7 motors and they are HUGE. Scary huge. I hope they don’t eat efficiency, as all i can run is 15/5 props unless I convert to an X8.

Here are the U7’s next to T-motor...MN4014 11 330KV motors

View attachment 15060

 

[questech]

Holy Sazuki... they are monsters.

When will you have your first test flight?

 

[questech]

Oh Yeah... What do you think of the build quality of the T-Motors?

Can you make a comparison with the Avroto motors?

Thanks!!

Anthony

 

[SleepyC]

Avrotos are awesome, and the T-Motors are right there.

I think either one will last for the long haul. very similar.

Personally i think the avrotos are REALLy nice as Jim from Monto is in Ohio.. if you have an issue, he’s the owner and designer. Service is within 24 hours.


I hope to have this thing in the air in the next 2 weeks. It’s a big review rig that will be a test bed for gimbals, so I have to get it flying!

 

[questech]

I hope to have this thing in the air in the next 2 weeks. It’s a big review rig that will be a test bed for gimbals, so I have to get it flying!

I can't wait to hear your results and maybe see a video

Personally i think the avrotos are REALLy nice as Jim from Monto is in Ohio.. if you have an issue, he’s the owner and designer. Service is within 24 hours.

I am intrigued by the Avroto and I know I could trust it, but I can't find any prop and thrust data anywhere, and I don't know how to accurately compare the motors without it.

I know that there is probably some math that will help guesstimate the results, but there's nothing like actual bench results in my opinion.

So I don't know if the Avrotos would be a little light compared to the U7, and I think that if it's closer to the MN4120 465kv then the extra $20 X 10 makes a difference too.


What do you think of the Tarot?


Thanks, I respect your opinion!!

AM

 

[SleepyC]

The Avroto 3520 and the U5’s are almost identical. Same thrust everything.

Here’s the beast as it sits now... few more nights and I should have it ready to fly.

I’m doing a review of the Betview 3 axis gimbal, so i’m still looking for retracts, but if not, it will be set to follow me.
View attachment 15068View attachment 15069

 

[questech]

I love that frame. It's a great aid to aerial photo/video work.

I believe I read somewhere that the frame was quite expensive.

What is the cost of just the frame?

Thanks SleepyC... Great Job... I'm a Fan

 

[SleepyC]

With the quick release gimbal mount, batt holders, legs, mount gel, extra motor supports, power distro and bits as well as the 1080mm mantis frame it would come in around $1350 US.

 

[questech]

Thanks

 

[Emowillcox]

Wow Sleepy you planning to haul around a studio camera with that rig (-; And will u need a special Flight Controler to run that frame?

 

[jfro]

Questech, I have never heard anything good or bad about the Tarot brushless motors. T-Motors are a know quality so I'd tend to go that route. New Avroto's look good to. I've never used lower KV motors, so have no experience. Just opinions from what I've read, which isn't worth much. So far, my experience is Avroto and Tigers, but on the 770kw and up range, no low kv experience.

I'm contemplating modding my x8 to low kv motors and I'm having the same issues looking at thrust specs. I'm not sure your going to find a motor setup that's going to fly with light loads and heavy loads and be efficient on battery loads. Just doesn't seem to be 1 size fits all on the 14-24lb rigs and I think you wanted 35lbs.

Looking at Sleepy's pics, those new tiger motors are HUGE..

Go luck and let us know what you end up doing and how it works out a few months from now your 1200 Octo.

 

[SleepyC]

Wow Sleepy you planning to haul around a studio camera with that rig (-; And will u need a special Flight Controler to run that frame?

ThIS rig is basically have a rig to basically fly anything my job requiers me to review. Gimbals, Buicks, small elephants other stuff etc.
And I am starting to get some decent work involving larger cameras.. so.. maybe use it for that as well.
I’ll be using a SuperX on the rig.. from what others have said, the FC has no idea the motors are not all just flat, as they are in the same linear distance and provide the same thrust, just a tad higher. We will see!

To get the most out of teh motors I may convert it to an X8 and run 18” props... time will tell...

 

[questech]

Questech, I have never heard anything good or bad about the Tarot brushless motors. T-Motors are a know quality so I'd tend to go that route. New Avroto's look good to. I've never used lower KV motors, so have no experience. Just opinions from what I've read, which isn't worth much. So far, my experience is Avroto and Tigers, but on the 770kw and up range, no low kv experience.

I'm contemplating modding my x8 to low kv motors and I'm having the same issues looking at thrust specs. I'm not sure your going to find a motor setup that's going to fly with light loads and heavy loads and be efficient on battery loads. Just doesn't seem to be 1 size fits all on the 14-24lb rigs and I think you wanted 35lbs.

Looking at Sleepy's pics, those new tiger motors are HUGE..

Go luck and let us know what you end up doing and how it works out a few months from now your 1200 Octo.

Thanks for the input and the disclaimers. Every opinion is helpful and I appreciate them!

I made a bold move and purchased 9 motors that I never heard of before :frog:

They are Cobra 4120 series motors (4120-22) and I read a lot of good things about them, and couldn't find any bad reviews, albeit there wasn't a lot of info available.

They're big motors, and depending on how you interpret the prop data, they could be equivalent to the U7 Tiger Motors.

They have over sized bearings and look like they're built well.

I went with them because I got them for a really good clearance price. They retail for around $124 can be had for $99 and I got them for $38 each.

They way I see it, I'll test the xxxx out of them and if I'm not feeling 100% confident, I'll just buy the U7s. For what I got into them, it's a cheap experiment :tennis:

I'll keep you posted, however I don't see getting this thing built for another month.

Keep the T-Motor and Taro specs comming in... I just might need them :dejection:

 

[jfro]

Good luck on the Cobra's.

As I'm looking up specs on dif motors as well as the price, I also wonder if I want to go with the new Avroto or T-Motors at the $115 + level or try something in the $70-$90 range. One of my thoughts is go first class and protect the camera/gimbal. My other thought is on an octo or x8 (which I fly), a motor malfunction isn't going to crash the MR. I hope I take care of my gear so I won't have a failure, but it can happen. However, chances of 2 going at the same time are pretty slim. Ergo, I am flipping back and forth between economy, new avroto/tiger motors, or the old MN Tiger series.

Look forward to hearing how your new motors perform
. Now time to go google the Cobra motors as I've never heard of them. (Looked at a place I buy from) and they are almost $90. You got a great deal....

 

[cbpagent72]

I am building an octo with the U7 motors and they are HUGE. Scary huge. I hope they don’t eat efficiency, as all i can run is 15/5 props unless I convert to an X8.

Here are the U7’s next to T-motor...MN4014 11 330KV motors

View attachment 18836

Are the mounting holes the same? I was looking at that motor for my droidworx.



Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

 

[SleepyC]

The mounting holes seem to be the same, but the motor is so big you may need spacers to clear the bolts holding the motor plates... here’s the rig getting close to fly!

View attachment 15141

Excuse the sloppy rec wires, I did not have the right rec (it’s coming next week) so I didn’t tighten them up.

 

[cbpagent72]

Looks nice.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

 

[questech]

Hi All,

I chose Cobra 4120-22 motors after much research and an offer I couldn't refuse.

I was assured that they are as good as the Avroto and T-Motors in build quality and reliability and they are built like tanks. The observable build quality is Excellent!

I'll know what's up once I get the new Octo up

Anthony