When it comes to RC drifting, the ESC and brushless motor are two of the most important components onboard the car. If you want to drift smoothly around corners, you need to have a programmable ESC that can help you control the throttle and brake. In this article, we will look at the best RC drift car motor and ESC combo and how you can adjust your ESC to help you drift better. We will also talk about some of the best ESCs for drifting, and how to choose the right one for your needs.
Our picks from this article:
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 38010201 Max10 SCT ESC Combo with 3660SL 4000kV Brushless Motor
| 9.7 | Check Price |
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| 9.2 | Check Price |
 | Hobby Wing 38010205 Ezrun Max10 ESC, with 3652SL G2 Sensorless Brushless Motor - Combo (5400Kv)
| 9.1 | Check Price |
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| 8.8 | Check Price |
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| 8.6 | Check Price |
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| 8.2 | Check Price |
 | Hobbywing QUICRUN 10BL120 SENSORED ESC (2-3S) for 1/10th Touring Car/Buggy / F1 / Drift Car
| 8 | Check Price |
What is an ESC?
An ESC, or electronic speed control, is a device that is used to control the throttle of a brushless or burshed motor. It consists of a circuit board and wiring to connect to the battery, electric motor and receiver.
The ESC is responsible for controlling how much power is transferred to the motor based on input from the transmitter. A programmable ESC can be tuned to best fit the driver’s throttle habits and tendencies. You can think of the ESC as the brains of your RC car. It takes inputs from the driver and translates that information into throttle input or breaking.
The ESC can also be programmed to alter break force, break rate, throttle rate, turbo and boost timing, and many more settings depending on the ESC you have.
All of these setting can be adjusted to help make sure your drift car is performing at its maximum capabilities.
One last thing to keep in mind – you can program your ESC and actually make the car perform worse. Programming the ESC on your drift car takes practice and a lot of trail and error. If you get stuck and don’t know how to best tune your RC drift car, ask someone for help. Professional drifting drivers would probably glad to give you some tips.
Why is an ESC important for drifting?
A programmable and sensored ESC is important for drifting because it allows you to control how the motor reacts to the throttle and brake inputs. A properly programmer ESC will make drifting your RC car much easier. Too much boost or punch can make you spin out the rear wheels.
With a programmable ESC, you can set custom throttle rates, brake curves, boost timing, and turbo settings.
Accordion to Hobbywing, the XR10 PRO Stock Spec ESC has the following adjustments (and many more)
100 levels of drag brake, 50 levels of initial brake force, 9 levels of maximum brake force, 20 levels of brake rate, and 30 levels of throttle rate. Adjustable brake mode, PWM and brake frequencies and for different competitions and control feel. Adjustable Turbo Timing & Boost Timing for different applications.
Hobbywing
When you are drifting, you need to be able to control the amount of power that is going to the motor. If you have too much power, the car will spin out. If you don’t have enough power, the car will not be able to initate a good drift when entering a turn. The ESC will help you to adjust all the various throttle parameters so that you can get the perfect amount of power for drifting.
I would note that it will take some tinkering around with the various settings on a programmable ESC. It may take some time until you have the car setup to your liking. I suggest testing turbo and boost settings in your garage to see how the different setting work with your car.
Here is one more quote from Hobbywing about boost timing
When Using boost timing ,timing punch dictates how quickly the boost is applied, once the start RPM is reached, and it does this in how much RPM per step of boost timing. As an example, boost timing is 20, start RPM is 6,000, and timing punch is 300. Using that, all the boost will have been applied by 12,000rpm (6,000+[300 x 20]=12,000).
Hobbywing
Types of ESCs for RC Drift Cars
There are two main types of ESCs: brushed and brushless. Brushed ESCs are an older type of ESC, and they work only with brushed motors. Brushless compatible ESCs are the newer type, and they can use sensors to help control the power sent to the motor.
So if you want to run a sensored ESC you need a brushless motor.
Brushed ESCs are simpler and cheaper, but they are not as efficient as brushless ESCs. Brushless ESCs are more expensive, but they are much more efficient and will last longer.
What is a Programmable ESC for RC Drift Cars?
Programmable ESCs are electronic speed controllers that can be programmed to provide different amounts of power to the motor, based on input from the RC receiver. This allows you to fine-tune the performance of your car, and make it go faster or slower during different RPM values.
Programmable ESCs are the best type of ESC for drifting. These ESCs can be programmed to do different things, and they can be tuned to your specific needs. You can program the ESC to have a softer or harder throttle, and you can also program it to have a higher or lower top speed.
When I talk about softer or harder throttle, Im talking about how much throttle input you need to get to a specific RPM. Maybe you want a lot of power to your motor with very little input from the transmitter. On the other hand, mabye you want full throttle to only come in when you press the throttle trigger all the way back into the transmitter. Or, maybe you want full throttle to kick in somewhere in the middle of the throttle trigger’s range of motion.
With a programmable ESC, you can set every aspect of the throttle up exactly how you want.
There are many different ways to calibrate and program the ESC. A good quality programmable ESC will require a programming box to change the settings. Hobbywing ESC’s can sometime use an LCD program box. The XR10 Pro ESC is compatible with the LCD program box and makes changing setting really easy.
How do I choose an ESC for drifting?
The most important factor in choosing a ESC for drifting is the motor and the battery that you will be using in your car. You have to make sure the ESC is compatible with the battery. If your car runs on a 2S LiPo battery, make sure to buy a 2S compatible ESC made for LiPo batteries.
You’ll also need to match your ESC to the motor in order to get the best performance out of your drift car.
Another important factor to consider is the size of your drift car. Some ESCs are designed for smaller cars, while others are better suited for larger ones. Make sure to choose an ESC that’s the right size for your car.
Finally, you’ll need to decide on a budget. There are ESCs available at a wide range of prices, so it’s important to find one that fits your budget.
Sensored brushless ESCs
Sensored brushless ESCs are becoming more and more popular in the RC world. They offer many advantages over traditional brushed ESCs, such as better efficiency, longer runtime, and smoother operation. However, they can also be more expensive and require a bit more setup.
Sensored brushless ESCs use sensors to detect the position of the motor’s magnets. This allows them to provide power to the motor in a way that is much smoother than traditional brushed ESCs. The result is less noise, less wear on the motor, and better performance overall.
One of the biggest advantages of sensored brushless ESCs is that they can start the motor from a stop much more easily. This is because they can provide power to the motor in the correct sequence, without any “slippage” that can occur with brushed ESCs. This results in less wear on the motor and better efficiency overall.
Another advantage of sensored brushless ESCs is that they offer much smoother operation than traditional brushed ESCs. This is because they are able to provide power to the motor in a more controlled way. The result is less noise and vibration, and a generally smoother experience all around.
The downside of sensored brushless ESCs is that they can be more expensive than traditional brushed ESCs. They also require a bit more setup, as you need to connect the sensors to the transmitter and to the battery in order to make it work correctly. However, the advantages of sensored brushless ESCs far outweigh the disadvantages, and they are definitely worth the extra effort and cost.
If you’re looking for a high-performance ESC that will offer smoother operation and longer runtime, a sensored brushless ESC is the way to go.
Best RC Drift Motor Esc Combo
There are several types of RC drift motors and ESCs (electronic speed controllers) on the market today. But which ones are the best? Here’s a list of our top picks:
- Hobbywing XR10 Pro Stock Spec ESC (2S)
- Hobbywing QUICRUN 10BL120 SENSORED ESC (2-3S)
- Innovateking 3650 5200KV Sensorless Brushless Motor with 120A ESC
- GoolRC Waterproof Brushless Motor 3660 3800KV, 60A ESC
- Hobbywing 38010201 Max10 SCT ESC Combo with 3660SL 4000kV Brushless Motor
- Hobbywing MAX10-3652SL-5400kv Combo C
- Jrelecs 3650 5900KV Sensorless Brushless Motor 120A Brushless ESC
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are many different factors to consider when choosing an ESC for drifting. The most important thing is to match the ESC to the motor, and to choose a size that is appropriate for your car. With so many different options on the market, you’re sure to find the perfect ESC for your needs.
