Brush Motor and Brushless Motor The Difference That Matters
The difference between a brushed and a brushless motor is one component — the sliding carbon brush that commutates a brushed machine. Removing it changes four things that a buyer can measure.
Service life
A brushless motor is quoted at around 20,000 hours of continuous work and a routine life of 7 to 10 years. A brushed motor is quoted at around 5,000 hours and a conventional life of 2 to 3 years.
For a boat used at weekends, that is the difference between a drive that outlasts the boat's ownership and one that does not.
Energy consumption
Power consumption of a brushed motor is around three times that of a brushless one for the same work. On a battery-powered boat that is range, directly.
Maintenance cost
When a brushed motor wears, it is not only the carbon brushes that get replaced — associated parts wear with them and the cost climbs. More to the point, overall performance degrades before anything actually fails.
Noise
A brushed motor is audibly louder, and it gets louder as the brushes wear. A brushless motor does not change.
Where each is appropriate
Brushless motors are specified for demanding and clean environments where a brushed motor's spark and dust would not be acceptable. A brushed motor still holds an advantage in low-speed torque characteristics, which is why it has not disappeared entirely.
What It Means for Your Boat
Caroute builds only brushless drives, and quotes five times the service life of a conventional electric motor with no maintenance requirement.
Motors These Figures Describe
N Platform Brushless Electric Boat Motor
Five tiller-controlled models from 80 LB to 180 LB of thrust, all built on the same brushless drive…
View details
W Platform Brushless Electric Boat Motor
The same brushless drive as the N platform, turned from a helm station instead of a tiller — five…
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Three Things a Brushless Motor Does Better
Less radio interference, lower noise and smoother running, and near maintenance-free operation,…
Read articleWhy a Brushless DC Motor Is More Efficient Than a Brushed One
Eight published advantages of the permanent magnet brushless DC motor, from a 5-12% efficiency gain…
Read articleQuestions About This Topic
How long does a brushless motor last?
How much less power does it use?
Does a brushed motor have any advantage left?
What does Caroute quote for its own drives?
Ask about the numbers in this article
If a figure here matters for a decision you are making, send the boat details and Jane will tell you how it applies.