Test Bench

Using the standard 540-size motor as a reference, the MS-1 speed control looks tiny in comparison. And it is!

TrakPower
MS-1 SenSored
SPeed Con Trol &
8.5T Mo Tor Power SySTeM
If physical sturdiness is any indication, TrakPower’s MS-1 brushless competition speed control might be the toughest in the biz. Its case is machined from solid aluminum, giving it substantial heft compared to the typical 25-40g racing speed control, and all that metal delivers serious heat-sinking capability for cool and
efficient running. I tested the MS-1 with TrakPower’s 8.5T adjustable-timing motor and
found the pair to be a powerful and easy-to-use combo.
SPECS

Everything you need to install the complete MS-1 sensored power system is included in the package, minus connectors if you choose to use them. Installation is as straightforward as any other brushless motor system, although I did take extra care to thoroughly clean the speed control case and my T4’s chassis to make certain the MS-1 would stay stuck. I also triple-checked the motor hookup, since all three power wires are black. (Note to self: remember to pick up some colored heat-shrink tubing at the store.) I left the motor at its factory setting of 30 degrees advanced timing and calibrated the speed control to match my Futaba 4PL (also tested in this issue).

The MS-1’s default settings are not stated in the instruction sheet, so I went through the programming process to select what I felt was a good starting point. Once I got used to counting the number of times the programming LEDs are off instead of on to indicate what setting I was choosing, I found programming the MS-1 to be fast and easy—but I did snap a picture of the setting sheet so it would be handy on my phone, since there are many tuning options.

I selected forward/brake/reverse control so I
could back off the pipes easily during my testing
session, a nine-microsecond deadband, “normal”
start power, and 5% drag brake. The “start power”
setting selects the amount of power the MS-1
will apply as the least possible power. In addition
to “normal,” lowest, low, high, and highest can
be selected. On the track, I found these settings
delivered a punchy feel (the fact that I was driving
an 8. 5 T motor contributed immensely to the
punchy feeling as well). Throttle delivery was very
smooth, as sensored systems usually are, and the
system ran very cool throughout back-to-back
runs that fully depleted a pair of 5000mAh LiPos.
I ran the packs until the low-voltage cutoff kicked
in, which it did reliably. As I recharged packs, I reset
the speed control to “lowest” start power and 15%
drag brake. Back on the track, the difference was
noticeable as the drag brake scrubbed speed more
predictably from turn to turn than my finger, and
the lower start-power setting made it easier to roll
the juice on smoothly when exiting corners.