Wednesday, April 2, 2025

FPV Drone Build Essentials: Sizing Up Your Motors, Props, and Batteries

Determining the optimal motor, KV rating, and propeller combination for an FPV drone can be a daunting task, especially when considering the impact of LiPo battery voltage. While no single solution applies universally, the following insights derive from my extensive experience with various builds, presenting diverse options for consideration.

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FPV Drone Parts Desk

This lookup desk is intended to facilitate the process of selecting the optimal motor and propeller combinations for those constructing a new FPV drone, particularly for individuals uncertain about the best possible pairings. While not an exhaustive compilation, this collection provides a representative sampling of typical and effective examples for diverse propeller sizes and Lithium-ion battery configurations.

As updates to new motor and propeller combinations are constantly being refined, I’ve strived to provide a comprehensive collection of examples; if you identify any gaps or areas for improvement, kindly share your thoughts below. Your input is invaluable in elevating this valuable resource to an even greater level of utility and appeal for the FPV drone community.

Prop Measurement Class Cell Depend Motor Measurement Motor KV LiPo Battery mAh Dry Weight
31mm (1.2″) Triblade Tinywhoop 65mm 1S 0702, 0802 23000-30000 260, 300, 450 16-22g
31mm (1.2″) Twoblade Tinywhoop 65mm 1S 0702, 0802 30000+ 300 16-22g
40mm (1.6″) Triblade Tinywhoop 75mm 1S 0802, 1002 20000-23000 450-550 20-30g
Tinywhoop 75mm 2S 0802, 1002, 1102 12000-14000 450-650 30-50g
Tinywhoop 75mm 3S 1102, 1103 8000-11000 300-650 40-70g
40mm (1.6″) Twoblade Tinywhoop 75mm 1S 0802, 1002 23000-25000 450-550 20-30g
Tinywhoop 75mm 2S 0802, 1002 14000+ 450-650 30-50g
2″ Triblade Whoop 85mm 2S 1003, 1103 11000-15000 450-650 70-90g
Whoop 85mm 3S 1103, 1203, 1303 5000-7500 450-650 80-100g
1.6″ Triblade Ultralight 1S 1002 21000-23000 450-650 30g
2″ Triblade Ultralight 1S 1002, 1003, 1102 20000-23000 450-650 30-40g
Ultralight 2S 1002, 1003, 1103 10000-14000 450-650 30-50g
Ultralight 3S 1103, 1105 6000-8000 300-450 60-100g
Ultralight 4S 1105, 1106 5000-6000 450-650 70-130g
2.5″ Triblade Ultralight 2S 1203, 1204, 1303 7500 450-650 55-70g
Ultralight 3S 1203, 1204, 1303 6000 450-650 120-140g
Ultralight 4S 1404 4500 450-850 140-180g
2.5″ Two-Blade Ultralight 1S 1103, 1203 13500 300-450 25-35g
Ultralight 2S 1203, 1204, 1303 7500-10000 450-550 40-60g
Ultralight 3S 1203, 1204, 1303 6000-8000 450-550 45-65g
Ultralight 4S 1303, 1404 4500-6000 450-650 55-90g
3″ Triblade Freestyle 2S 1303, 1404 4500-5500 550-650 70-100g
Freestyle 3S 1303, 1404, 1407 4000-5000 550-850 90-200g
Freestyle 4S 1404, 1407, 1506 3000-4200 450-850 140-260g
Freestyle 6S 1506, 1507 2700-3000 550-850 150-280g
3″ Two-Blade Lengthy Vary 1S 1103, 1202, 1203 10000-12000 Li-Ion 2500-3000mAh 60-80g
Ultralight 1S 1202.5, 1203, 1303 11000-14000 450 30-50g
Ultralight 2S 1203, 1204, 1303 6000-8000 450 40-60g
Ultralight 3S 1203, 1204, 1303, 1304 4500-6500 300-450 55-75g
Ultralight 4S 1303, 1304, 1404 3500-5000 450-550 60-80g
3″ Cinewhoop 4S 1404, 1505, 1804, 2004 3000-4000 850-1300 180-300g
Cinewhoop 6S 1404, 1505, 1804, 2004 2500 850-1300 180-300g
3.5″ Cinewhoop 4S 2004, 2006, 2106 2500-3500 1300-1500 250-350g
Cinewhoop 6S 2004, 2006, 2106 1800-2500 1000-1300 250-350g
3.5″ Triblade Fredstyle 4S 1404, 1504, 2004 3500-4000 850-1000 150-200g
6S 1504, 2004, 2006 2500-3000 850-1000 150-200g
4″ Triblade Freestyle 4S 2004 2400-3000 850-1000 120-200g
Freestyle 6S 2004, 2106 1800-2500 650-850 120-180g
4″ Two-Blade Lengthy Vary 3S 1404, 1504 3500-4000 Li-Ion 2500-3000mAh 120-150g
Lengthy Vary 4S 1404, 1504 2500-3000 Li-Ion 2500-3000mAh 150-200g
5″ Triblade Freestyle 4S 2306, 2207, 2207.5, 2208, 2308 2300-2700 1300-1500 300-450g
Freestyle 6S 2306, 2207, 2207.5, 2208, 2308 1700-2000 1000-1300 300-450g
Racing 4S 2306, 2207, 2207.5, 2208, 2308 2500-2700 1300-1500 250-300g
Racing 6S 2306, 2207, 2207.5, 2208, 2308 1800-2100 1000-1300 250-300g
5″ Two-Blade Ultralight 4S 2004, 2204, 2205 2300-3000 850-1000 150-250g
Ultralight 6S 2004, 2204, 2205 1600-2300 650-850 150-250g
6″ Freestyle 4S 2207, 2207.5, 2208, 2308, 2408 2100-2500 1300-1800 300-450g
Freestyle 6S 2207, 2207.5, 2208, 2308, 2408 1500-1800 1000-1500 300-450g
7″ Freestyle 6S 2806, 2806.5, 2807, 2808, 3106.5 1200-1400 2200-3000 400-500g
Lengthy Vary 4S 2806, 2806.5, 2807, 2808, 3106.5 1600-1900 Li-ion 2500-4000mAh 350-500g
Lengthy Vary 6S 2806, 2806.5, 2807, 2808, 3106.5 980-1300 Li-ion 2500-4000mAh 350-500g

The dry weight of a drone refers specifically to its overall mass without the battery installed. The following terminology is used in this reference guide:

What’s a Tinywhoop?

What’s a Freestyle FPV Drone?

A freestyle drone is an FPV aircraft specifically designed to excel in agility, maneuverability, and creative aerial performances. Unlike high-performance racing drones engineered for speed and accuracy on a track, freestyle drones are crafted with agility and finesse to execute daring aerial stunts and intricate movements in unobstructed settings. With their powerful motors and agile control systems, they are capable of executing complex aerial maneuvers with precision and ease. Professional-grade freestyle drones occasionally deploy cameras akin to those found in GoPro devices, enabling pilots to capture thrilling, aerial footage with a first-person perspective. Robustness is a crucial attribute, allowing these drones to withstand the rigors of repeated landings and crashes that inevitably occur during high-stakes stunt performances. Freestyle flying celebrates a private style, characterized by fluidity and the mastery of aerial artistry in aerobatic flight.

What’s a Long-Range Vary FPV Drone?

A first-person view (FPV) drone is engineered to sustain extended flight durations, often surpassing distances of several kilometres. These eco-conscious drones prioritise energy efficiency, secure flight capabilities, and reliable communication systems above sturdiness, speed, or agility. Equipped with cutting-edge and eco-friendly propulsion systems, extended flight times of up to 20 minutes, 30 minutes, or more are now feasible. With superior GPS capabilities, long-range drones are ideal for exploring vast areas or capturing breathtaking aerial photographs. Drones equipped with robust radio equipment must maintain consistent connectivity across extended ranges, incorporating failsafe protocols such as return-to-home capabilities to ensure safe recovery in case of signal loss. The primary focus lies on endurance and reliability, rather than speed or aerial performance.

What’s a Racing FPV drone?

Conclusion

This lookup desk should provide helpful guidance in selecting the optimal motor size, propeller size, KV rating, and LiPo cell count for your future drone build. While these are mere tactics, there is always space for exploration to find the ideal blend for your specific goals and aircraft design. Completely satisfied constructing and flying!

Edit Historical past

  • Mar 2021 – Desk created
  • Apr 2023 – Article revised
  • Added new motor size and KV options to the product lineup in January 2024, expanding customer choice and capabilities.
  • December 2024: Updated motor sizes and KV values on the datasheet. Added 85mm whoop class.

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