7LikesSteering Servo: How much torque is enough?
09-10-2019 | 03:41 PM
#1
Steering Servo: How much torque is enough?
Hey fellas!
So I saw this video the other day where a guy has this jig set up with a scale and an amp meter and he tests several servos to see if they meet the advertised specs. One of the servos he tested pulled 559.5 oz-in at 5.7 volts but it drew 7.28 amps! It got me thinking though how much is too much, 559 seems like way overkill. And most ESCs only have a 2amp or so BEC built in. So I guess what I was thinking is how much torque do you really need for the various applications? Maybe some of you with more knowledge and experience than me could chime in with your opinions. For example how much torque for a 4wd short course truck or a touring car or a rock crawler. I think it would be nice just to get the information out on a thread so down the road if someone tries doing a Google search (like I did before posting this thread) they will be able to have a good reference. Cause servos are expensive. Thanks guys.
So I saw this video the other day where a guy has this jig set up with a scale and an amp meter and he tests several servos to see if they meet the advertised specs. One of the servos he tested pulled 559.5 oz-in at 5.7 volts but it drew 7.28 amps! It got me thinking though how much is too much, 559 seems like way overkill. And most ESCs only have a 2amp or so BEC built in. So I guess what I was thinking is how much torque do you really need for the various applications? Maybe some of you with more knowledge and experience than me could chime in with your opinions. For example how much torque for a 4wd short course truck or a touring car or a rock crawler. I think it would be nice just to get the information out on a thread so down the road if someone tries doing a Google search (like I did before posting this thread) they will be able to have a good reference. Cause servos are expensive. Thanks guys.
09-10-2019 | 06:35 PM
#3
Tech Addict
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 734
From: California
In order from most to least torque
rock crawling = the more the better at least 250 oz/in, speed doesn't matter than much as long as its below 0.20 sec
1/8 buggy/truggy = eh try to stay above 220 oz/in on steering, 150 on throttle, speed try to keep it under 0.15 sec
1/10 short course 4wd = 200+, under 0.15
1/10 buggy 4wd and sc 2wd and 1/10 stadium and 1/8 and 1/10 nitro onroad= 150+, under 0.10
1/10 buggy 2wd = 100+, under 0.10
1/10 tc onroad = 100+, fast as possible ex: 0.055
I probably left some categories out, just approx and personal judgement, in general for racing, the faster the better.
The servos that I think are good options
1258tg for any 1/10 offroad class $70 166 ozin, 0.08 sec
1257tg if you want a faster servo for 2wd buggy basically different gearing of the 1258
Team powers dcs/sgs for andy 1/10 class offroad or onroad. This is my favorite servo with 220 ish oz in of torque, its shorty so it saves space and fits in onroad and its 0.055 sec speed is op. Its a little price at somewhere around $120ish
In general savox is a safe bet on a budget, team powers is great, protek and mks not much experience but heard good things, traxxas is bad, any plastic gear is bad unless your on a really tight budget.
rock crawling = the more the better at least 250 oz/in, speed doesn't matter than much as long as its below 0.20 sec
1/8 buggy/truggy = eh try to stay above 220 oz/in on steering, 150 on throttle, speed try to keep it under 0.15 sec
1/10 short course 4wd = 200+, under 0.15
1/10 buggy 4wd and sc 2wd and 1/10 stadium and 1/8 and 1/10 nitro onroad= 150+, under 0.10
1/10 buggy 2wd = 100+, under 0.10
1/10 tc onroad = 100+, fast as possible ex: 0.055
I probably left some categories out, just approx and personal judgement, in general for racing, the faster the better.
The servos that I think are good options
1258tg for any 1/10 offroad class $70 166 ozin, 0.08 sec
1257tg if you want a faster servo for 2wd buggy basically different gearing of the 1258
Team powers dcs/sgs for andy 1/10 class offroad or onroad. This is my favorite servo with 220 ish oz in of torque, its shorty so it saves space and fits in onroad and its 0.055 sec speed is op. Its a little price at somewhere around $120ish
In general savox is a safe bet on a budget, team powers is great, protek and mks not much experience but heard good things, traxxas is bad, any plastic gear is bad unless your on a really tight budget.
09-10-2019 | 07:14 PM
#4
Tech Fanatic
iTrader: (36)
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 954
From: Los Angeles
As for speed you really want as fast as possible. I like anything with a speed of .08 and under. For torque I believe tekno is the only company that give a required torque spec for their cars. Tekno says on the eb410 and et410 requires a servo with at least 200oz of torque. And on their 1/8 scale buggies and trucks they say requires a servo with at least 300oz of torque.
i personally run the futaba cb700 in most of my cars. You can’t beat the specs. It’s brushless with a .07 for speed and 681oz of torque and I run it in SR mode. They are about $150 shipped online. A good cheep option would be the futaba s9372sv. Not brushless but has 341oz of torque and a .06 for speed and it’s about $115 online.
i personally run the futaba cb700 in most of my cars. You can’t beat the specs. It’s brushless with a .07 for speed and 681oz of torque and I run it in SR mode. They are about $150 shipped online. A good cheep option would be the futaba s9372sv. Not brushless but has 341oz of torque and a .06 for speed and it’s about $115 online.
Last edited by riceball777; 09-10-2019 at 07:31 PM.
09-11-2019 | 07:10 AM
#5
In order from most to least torque
rock crawling = the more the better at least 250 oz/in, speed doesn't matter than much as long as its below 0.20 sec
1/8 buggy/truggy = eh try to stay above 220 oz/in on steering, 150 on throttle, speed try to keep it under 0.15 sec
1/10 short course 4wd = 200+, under 0.15
1/10 buggy 4wd and sc 2wd and 1/10 stadium and 1/8 and 1/10 nitro onroad= 150+, under 0.10
1/10 buggy 2wd = 100+, under 0.10
1/10 tc onroad = 100+, fast as possible ex: 0.055
I probably left some categories out, just approx and personal judgement, in general for racing, the faster the better.
The servos that I think are good options
1258tg for any 1/10 offroad class $70 166 ozin, 0.08 sec
1257tg if you want a faster servo for 2wd buggy basically different gearing of the 1258
Team powers dcs/sgs for andy 1/10 class offroad or onroad. This is my favorite servo with 220 ish oz in of torque, its shorty so it saves space and fits in onroad and its 0.055 sec speed is op. Its a little price at somewhere around $120ish
In general savox is a safe bet on a budget, team powers is great, protek and mks not much experience but heard good things, traxxas is bad, any plastic gear is bad unless your on a really tight budget.
rock crawling = the more the better at least 250 oz/in, speed doesn't matter than much as long as its below 0.20 sec
1/8 buggy/truggy = eh try to stay above 220 oz/in on steering, 150 on throttle, speed try to keep it under 0.15 sec
1/10 short course 4wd = 200+, under 0.15
1/10 buggy 4wd and sc 2wd and 1/10 stadium and 1/8 and 1/10 nitro onroad= 150+, under 0.10
1/10 buggy 2wd = 100+, under 0.10
1/10 tc onroad = 100+, fast as possible ex: 0.055
I probably left some categories out, just approx and personal judgement, in general for racing, the faster the better.
The servos that I think are good options
1258tg for any 1/10 offroad class $70 166 ozin, 0.08 sec
1257tg if you want a faster servo for 2wd buggy basically different gearing of the 1258
Team powers dcs/sgs for andy 1/10 class offroad or onroad. This is my favorite servo with 220 ish oz in of torque, its shorty so it saves space and fits in onroad and its 0.055 sec speed is op. Its a little price at somewhere around $120ish
In general savox is a safe bet on a budget, team powers is great, protek and mks not much experience but heard good things, traxxas is bad, any plastic gear is bad unless your on a really tight budget.
09-12-2019 | 02:14 AM
#7
Does dynamic torque make that much of a difference when it comes to servos? I can't imagine it would effect the rating all that much but I'm probably wrong. You would know more about it than me.
09-12-2019 | 06:40 AM
#9
Tech Initiate
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 42
From: Tampa Bay, Florida
I had been doing some searching as well for my mbx7r and finally went with brand/company of Send-It RC servos. Their platinum 458 claims 458/oz torque and .08 speed at 7.4v. Can handle 8.4 I believe as well. Just got them yesterday and the quality seems pretty good. And for the price. It was hard to pass up. I grabbed one for steering and throttle
Last edited by KeyMB; 09-12-2019 at 06:42 AM. Reason: Picture add
09-14-2019 | 07:54 AM
#15
Tech Initiate
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 42
From: Tampa Bay, Florida
