3-inch FPV racing motor
RCinPower GTS V3 1404 Plus
A 9 g 1404 that RCinPower tuned for 3-inch racing; on 4S the 3850KV pulled 421–576 g per motor at full throttle on 2.5- to 3.5-inch props.
- 3-inch racing
- 3S–4S (3850KV, 4680KV) or 4S–6S (2850KV)
- 2.5- to 3.5-inch props; bolt-on prop mount
The spin is an illustration: the model turns at 1/600 of the no-load speed, and it is a generic 1404 motor drawn from RCinPower’s published sizes, not its exact design. Thrust, current and power are RCinPower’s bench figures for the Gemfan 3520, 3-blade prop at 16 V, read straight across between its throttle steps. Its data starts at 50% throttle.
- Max thrust
- 576 g
- Gemfan 3520, 3-blade prop, 16 V
- Weight
- 9 g
- with 3 cm leads, all three KVs; RCinPower's scale photo shows 8.71 g with leads (S3)
- Peak current
- 20.6 A
- full throttle
- Max power
- 330 W
- full throttle
from $20.99a motor at Pyrodrone
A set of four: $83.96
Price seen Oct 19, 2026. Plain links: we earn nothing from them.
What it pulls
RCinPower’s own bench test, one line per prop. Drag across the chart to move the throttle; the model above follows.
At 60% with the Gemfan 3520, 3-blade: 296 g of thrust, 7.6 A, 121 W, 2.98 g per watt.
On your quad
3.5 : 1
Thrust to weight at full throttle: four motors pull 2,304 g with the Gemfan 3520, 3-blade at 16 V.
At 60% throttle they pull 1,184 g, 1.8 times the quad’s weight.
All-up weight is the quad ready to fly, with its battery and camera. The thrust is the maker’s static bench figure; in the air it is lower.
What you get for $20.99
Tuned for 3-inch racing
RCinPower's 2024 GTS V3 1404 Plus is tuned for 3-inch racing quads, with a lighter rotor and a new shape that RCinPower says responds faster and cools better, and a reworked magnetic circuit for more power.
Source: RCinPower features and photo
9 g
9 g with 3 cm leads in all three spec tables; RCinPower's scale photo shows 8.71 g with leads.
Source: RCinPower spec sheets, RCinPower photos
Bench data on six props
Gemfan D63 ducted three- and five-blades, Gemfan 3016 and 3520 and HQProp T3 × 3 three-blades, and a Gemfan 4024 two-blade, with the temperature after 3 s at full throttle.
Source: RCinPower spec sheets
Most efficient at low current
RCinPower gives over 83% efficiency at 2–4 A for the 2850KV, 3–5 A for the 3850KV and 4–6 A for the 4680KV.
Source: RCinPower spec sheets
What to pair it with
Our reading of RCinPower’s numbers, so your build matches what the motor was tested with.
- ESC
- At full throttle the 3850KV drew up to 20.6 A on 4S and the 4680KV up to 26.8 A; the 2850KV drew up to 19.2 A on 6S. RCinPower marks the HQProp T3 × 3 runs hot on every KV (85 °C). An ESC rated for at least 25 A per motor covers the 2850KV and 3850KV; the 4680KV needs 30 A. (RCinPower spec sheets)
- Props
- On 4S the 3850KV pulled the most on the Gemfan 3520 (576 g, marked hot at 84 °C) and ran coolest on the Gemfan 3016 (65 °C); at full throttle the HQProp T3 × 3 and the ducted Gemfan D63 five-blade were the least efficient. (RCinPower spec sheets)
- Battery
- 3S–4S for the 3850KV and 4680KV; 4S–6S for the 2850KV. (RCinPower spec sheets)
- Frame
- Four M2 screws, opposite holes 9 mm apart. (RCinPower spec sheets, RCinPower drawing (mirror))
Where to buy
- Pyrodrone3850KV, choose colour; sold out when checked$20.99seen Oct 19, 2026Visit
- Pyrodrone4680KV, choose colour; sold out when checked$20.99seen Oct 19, 2026Visit
- Pyrodrone2850KV, choose colour$20.99seen Oct 19, 2026Visit
Plain links, not affiliate links. Prices change; the store’s page has the current one.
Full specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| KV | 3,850 rpm/V (also 2850KV and 4680KV) | RCinPower spec sheets |
| Stator | 14 × 4.6 mm (RCinPower names the motor 1404; its spec tables give a 4.6 mm stator height) | RCinPower spec sheets |
| Configuration | 9N12P (9 stator slots, 12 magnet poles) | RCinPower spec sheets |
| Battery | 3S–4S LiPo (3850KV, 4680KV); 4S–6S for the 2850KV | RCinPower spec sheets |
| Weight | 9 g (with 3 cm leads, all three KVs; RCinPower's scale photo shows 8.71 g with leads (S3)) | RCinPower spec sheets |
| Dimensions | φ18.2 × 13.1 mm (without the shaft) | RCinPower spec sheets, RCinPower drawing (mirror) |
| Shaft | 1.5 mm (2 mm inside the motor), standing 3.8 mm above the bell; the prop bolts to the bell with four M2 screws, opposite holes 5 mm apart | RCinPower spec sheets, RCinPower drawing (mirror) |
| Mounting | 4 × M2 holes, opposite holes 9 mm apart (9 × 9); base 2 mm thick | RCinPower spec sheets, RCinPower drawing (mirror) |
| Internal resistance | 170 mΩ (280 mΩ for 2850KV, 133 mΩ for 4680KV) | RCinPower spec sheets |
| No-load current | 0.7 A (at 10 V; 0.42 A for 2850KV, 0.85 A for 4680KV) | RCinPower spec sheets |
| Max current | 20.6 A (RCinPower labels it 3S; it is the same as its highest bench reading (Gemfan 3520 three-blade at 16 V). 19.2 A for 2850KV (HQProp T3 × 3 at 24 V), 26.8 A for 4680KV (HQProp T3 × 3 at 16 V)) | RCinPower spec sheets |
| Max continuous power | 330 W (RCinPower labels it 3S; it matches the same reading (329.6 W). 461 W for 2850KV, 429 W for 4680KV) | RCinPower spec sheets |
Bench data
Redrawn from RCinPower’s test reports. Thrust is static pull on a bench, more than you get in flight. Power is volts × amps; efficiency is thrust divided by power.
2850KV on 4S–6S4 props
| Prop | Throttle | Current (A) | Thrust (g) | Power (W) | Efficiency (g/W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HQProp T3 × 3, 3-blade (HQ T3*3*3)at 24 Vmotor at 85 °C | 50% | 4.4 | 248 | 105.6 | 2.348 |
| 100% | 19.2 | 610 | 460.8 | 1.324 | |
| Gemfan 3016, 3-blade (GF 3016*3)at 24 Vmotor at 73 °C | 50% | 2.3 | 175 | 55.2 | 3.17 |
| 100% | 11.1 | 516 | 266.4 | 1.937 | |
| Gemfan D63 ducted, 3-blade (GF D63*3)at 24 Vmotor at 78 °C | 50% | 2.8 | 176 | 67.2 | 2.619 |
| 100% | 14.1 | 498 | 338.4 | 1.472 | |
| Gemfan 4024, 2-blade (GF 4024*2)at 16 Vmotor at 69 °C | 50% | 2.5 | 174 | 40 | 4.35 |
| 100% | 12.6 | 486 | 201.6 | 2.411 |
Source: RCinPower spec sheets
3850KV on 3S–4S5 props
| Prop | Throttle | Current (A) | Thrust (g) | Power (W) | Efficiency (g/W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gemfan 3520, 3-blade (GF 3520*3)at 16 Vmotor at 84 °C | 50% | 4.3 | 226 | 68.8 | 3.285 |
| 100% | 20.6 | 576 | 329.6 | 1.748 | |
| Gemfan 4024, 2-blade (GF 4024*2)at 12 Vmotor at 72 °C | 50% | 3.1 | 171 | 37.2 | 4.597 |
| 100% | 16.8 | 496 | 201.6 | 2.46 | |
| HQProp T3 × 3, 3-blade (HQ T3*3*3)at 16 Vmotor at 85 °C | 50% | 4.8 | 199 | 76.8 | 2.591 |
| 100% | 20.5 | 492 | 328 | 1.5 | |
| Gemfan 3016, 3-blade (GF 3016*3)at 16 Vmotor at 65 °C | 50% | 2.6 | 153 | 41.6 | 3.678 |
| 100% | 13.6 | 444 | 217.6 | 2.04 | |
| Gemfan D63 ducted, 5-blade (GF D63*5)at 16 Vmotor at 71 °C | 50% | 4.5 | 176 | 72 | 2.444 |
| 100% | 17.1 | 421 | 273.6 | 1.539 |
Source: RCinPower spec sheets
4680KV on 3S–4S6 props
| Prop | Throttle | Current (A) | Thrust (g) | Power (W) | Efficiency (g/W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HQProp T3 × 3, 3-blade (HQ T3*3*3)at 16 Vmotor at 85 °C | 50% | 7.1 | 256 | 113.6 | 2.254 |
| 100% | 26.8 | 575 | 428.8 | 1.341 | |
| Gemfan 4024, 2-blade (GF 4024*2)at 12 Vmotor at 80 °C | 50% | 4.9 | 218 | 58.8 | 3.707 |
| 100% | 22.1 | 544 | 265.2 | 2.051 | |
| Gemfan 3016, 3-blade (GF 3016*3)at 16 Vmotor at 71 °C | 50% | 3.6 | 171 | 57.6 | 2.969 |
| 100% | 17.4 | 516 | 278.4 | 1.853 | |
| Gemfan D63 ducted, 5-blade (GF D63*5)at 16 Vmotor at 83 °C | 50% | 6.2 | 208 | 99.2 | 2.097 |
| 100% | 25.1 | 508 | 401.6 | 1.265 | |
| Gemfan D63 ducted, 3-blade (GF D63*3)at 16 Vmotor at 73 °C | 50% | 4.9 | 180 | 78.4 | 2.296 |
| 100% | 19.1 | 467 | 305.6 | 1.528 | |
| Gemfan 3520, 3-blade (GF 3520*3)at 12 Vmotor at 74 °C | 50% | 3.5 | 165 | 42 | 3.929 |
| 100% | 18.3 | 466 | 219.6 | 2.122 |
Source: RCinPower spec sheets
Inside the motor
A brushless outrunner: the coils stand still in the middle and the magnets spin around them. From the top down:
- Shaft. 1.5 mm (2 mm inside the motor), standing 3.8 mm above the bell; the prop bolts to the bell with four M2 screws, opposite holes 5 mm apart. (RCinPower spec sheets, RCinPower drawing (mirror))
- Stator. The coils are wound on a stack of thin steel laminations: 14 × 4.6 mm (RCinPower names the motor 1404; its spec tables give a 4.6 mm stator height). (RCinPower spec sheets)
- Base. 4 × M2 holes, opposite holes 9 mm apart (9 × 9); base 2 mm thick. (RCinPower spec sheets, RCinPower drawing (mirror))
How fast it spins
KV is the motor’s no-load speed per volt. With nothing on the shaft, the 3850KV version reaches about these speeds; a prop loads the motor and brings it down, typically to around 70–75% of these figures at full throttle.
| Battery | Volts | No-load rpm (KV × V) | Electrical frequency | ESC steps per second |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4S nominal | 14.8 | 56,980 | 5,698 Hz | 34,188 |
| 4S full | 16.8 | 64,680 | 6,468 Hz | 38,808 |
| 6S nominal | 22.2 | 85,470 | 8,547 Hz | 51,282 |
| 6S full | 25.2 | 97,020 | 9,702 Hz | 58,212 |
A 12-pole rotor has 6 pole pairs, so every turn of the shaft is 6 electrical cycles, and a six-step ESC switches the phases 36 times per turn.
About the 3D model
A generic outrunner drawn from RCinPower’s published sizes: the 14 × 4.6 mm stator, 18.2 mm bell, 13.1 mm height, 1.5 mm shaft, 9 mm mounting circle and 9 teeth and 12 magnets. Anything RCinPower doesn’t publish is typical for a motor this size, and the bell’s spoked top, the base and the inside are a generic design, not this motor’s. The colours are read off the maker’s product photos. There are no logos or markings: it is our drawing, not the maker’s.
Sources
- RCinPower: GTS V3 1404 (product page; its content is three images, file-named for the GTS V3 1203, with photos, features in Chinese, spec tables, dimension drawings and bench data for the 1404 Plus). Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.
- RCinPower: GTS V3 1404 Plus features in Chinese and main product photo (teal-and-pink and red versions), first image on the product page; used for finish. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.
- RCinPower: GTS V3 1404 Plus photos (second image on the product page: the stator and base, the bell, and a scale photo at 8.71 g with leads). Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.
- RCinPower: GTS V3 1404Plus 2850KV, 3850KV and 4680KV spec sheets (third image on the product page: spec tables, drawings and bench tables, with temperatures after 3 s at full throttle). Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.
- RCinPower: GTS V3 1404 Plus dimension drawing at a higher resolution (RCinPower's drawing from S4, mirrored on Pyrodrone's Shopify CDN), used to read the small labels. Retrieved Oct 19, 2026.
