This is true. Most manufacturers, with different level motors, will take the motors with the best numbers and set them aside for the better drivers and/or their buddies. To make matters worse, some distributers do it also. For example, Nor Cal Hobbies will go through the Team Powers motors and pull out the ones with the best numbers.

Now that there are no more limits on the IR, I'm afraid we will see a lot more differences in handpicked motors vs their low line. So, not only will the base model have weaker rotors, but they will also have a higher IR.

I suppose this thread is as good as any to ask this question, but what exactly is happening when an ESC is applying "brakes"?

It sounds like either the ESC is our of adjustment, or the transmitter is out of adjustment.

I believe his question is what happens inside the ESC when you apply the brakes.

IIRC in the brushed days, the two motor poles were shorted somehow and that created a braking force. Not sure about brushless systems. Never really cared for the details, tbh.

Back in the day with brushed motors, it was called regenerative braking, as they used the motor as a generator, and instead of using a resistor to short across, they directed the energy back into the battery. Brushless motors I assume would do the same, but they add the ability to change the pwm frequency of the braking for smoother, or more aggressive braking.

AH...
I took it as him asking why his brakes keep activating when off the throttle. I see, now, that he may be asking how the ESC turns the motor into the brakes.

The ESC turns the motor into brakes by shorting out the stator. This creates a magnetic pull that will not allow the rotor to turn very easy. Basically, it turns the motor into a generator with an extremely large resistance on it.

Brake PWM frequency isn't unique to brushless. My old Novak GT7 had adjustable brake frequency.

Yup, you got it. And thanks for the info.

I club race and I drive a very HEAVY SCT on some nights, my brakes are garbage when I try to get it slowed down at the end of the straight, I had always assumed it was my motor not having the strength. Now I'm thinking its the ESC.

Either way, I need to put the SCT on a diet.

It could be both. The brakes also depend on the magnetic strength of the motor. What ESC and motor are you using?

An extremely low resistance on it. Shorting it lowers the resistance.

This works by allowing current to flow through the stator as it acts as a generator, which creates a back EMF that opposes the rotation. The lower the resistance, the higher the current, the bigger the EMF.

I'm using the last gen HobbyWing 80a Stock Spec ESC and a Whitz 13.5 off the shelf.

If you have a programmer, I would try lowering the brake frequency. The lower the frequency the more aggressive the braking.

I'll check to see what its set to when I get home, thanks for the advice

That's a decent setup. The motor is quite a bit old, so the torque might be down. That will affect your brakes. Is anyone else using your same ESC and having good brakes?

That ESC is known for having weak brakes and you've put it in a heavy SCT. I'm not surprised it's struggling.

Nope, I'm the only one in the class that I know of using the "baby" HW. Everyone else is using 160a type ESC's, various brands, I threw the 80a in trying to save weight.

I'll be repowering before the Nat's come locally next year, but it looks like I'll just have to deal with it for the Regionals...

Yeah, I was focusing more on weight savings, looks like I need to step up to Mod type speedo.