Centrifugal vs. Magnetic

[titanxt]

Whats the difference?  Why does one hig end reel like the Curado use centrifugal brakes while another like the Revo use a magnetic?

[Spro745]

Well here's my take on it..... I've been using baitcasters since the mid 80s. My favorite has always been anything Daiwa, owning 10 or so high end ones over the years. Most people didn't like the early magnetic systems because you couldn't get a true freespool out of them because the inductor was always spinning between the magnets regardless of the setting. Then Shimano kind of revolutionized the industry (first company I know of to perfect the system) by introducing the VBS centrifugal system. You have the 6 brakes pressing against the ring/sleeve. It works OK, but has its flaws IMO. First, you can't really fine tune it that much. You do have 6 brakes but have to use either 2,4,6 because if you use an odd number it will throw the spool out of balance slightly. You can also use different brake weights, each is different in color. But then again I've never noticed alot of difference between them. You also have to clean the brakes and the sleeve they ride against. Onto magnets.....

In the later 90s Daiwa perfected the magnetic system (Magforce V) by designing an inductor that would stay inside (spring loaded) the edge of the spool until the spool reached maximum RPM then it would spin outward and in between the magnets, effectively slowing the spool down. Then as the spool starts to slow, it (inductor) retracts back into the spool and you once again have freespool, like in the beginning of the cast. You can actually see/feel it slowing the spool down and going back into freespool to achieve maximum distance. I have been on the borderline of getting a nasty backlash and the spool starts to slow just enough and I have actually seen the backlash unravel and smooth back out and the cast continues. Amazing to me......

To say which is better is like apples to oranges...... I personally get better distance, control, fine tuning, etc. with the Daiwa Magforce V system. They also have the Z system, but I have no experience with it. There's little maintenance with this system either, with the exception of cleaning the inductor every now and then and adding a tiny drop of oil to 2 nylon blocks. The magnets should last the life of the reel with no weakening. You have 10 settings and at least 1 click between each number, so it can be fine tuned nicely.

I have no idea what type of system the Revo uses. I'd like to see how well the digital control works in the Shimanos as well, but would not spend money like that on a reel.

I currently own and use a Team Daiwa TD-X 103HSD and a Shimano Calcutta CT150. Both totally different reels with different cast control systems and both work equally well in their own right.

One more thing, don't believe anybody that says they use nothing but their thumb all the time and turn the braking system off. They might do so for pitching, but for long distance casting it's definitely helpful to have a fine tuned braking system. Later!

[Pferox]

There was a time when the only braking you had was the thumb, but that is not the case anymore.

Back in the day most reels were based on what we now call a conventional reel. The only friction that the reel itself exerted on it was from the spool tensioner, and all braking was done by external forces. (Thus the thumb) Then came the level wind, which made backlashes manageable, sort of.

Then came brakes, now  a days even some conventional reels have brakes in em, but that is rare.

Braking is usually needed at various points in the cast, and need to "adjust" the amount of braking quickly during the different changes in the spool speed.

It was originally discovered that the outward inertia on a spool would allow a weight to apply pressure to a ring around the circumference of the spool and this pressure would adjust it self with the speed of the spool, thus adjusting the amount of breaking force with spool speed.

This is centrifugal braking. Fine tuning is done by the amount of surface area touching the ring, and the weight of the break. Just about all of these breaks require some type of disassembly of the reel to adjust. Even if it is just taking off a cover to access the braking assembly.

Magnetic brakes are newer to the marketplace. It works on the principle that unlike poles of a magnet attract each other and as a magnetized disk spins past a magnet, it will momentarily attract to a magnet near it. The amount of resistance created is dependent on the distance between the magnets, thus adjustment can be done outside of the case through various different means.

There are various ways to accomplish these tasks, and that can make for a very long dissertation, I don't have a favorite system, and feel both are quite reliable. Each has their own "quirks" and limitations thus making them both viable, thats why both are still in the marketplace.

Most probably the biggest difference between the two that an angler would immediately notice is the fact that most magnetic brakes can be adjusted without removing any covers. This makes adjustment much more convenient. Although most Centrifugal breaks are easily adjust with just the opening of a "hatch" or cover on the reel.

Braking technology has come a long way based on these two basic designs, and compared to what they were back in the day, they are both much more adjustable, and closer to minimal effect on the actual casting distance. I remember back when you would ask where do you have your breaks set after seeing someone do a long cast, they would answer breaks? oh yea I took those dang things off.

[beast96z]

For the longest, I was 100% magnetic. Just didn't like the idea of having to open the cover to adjust. I went as far as to buy the Daiwa Steez for my high end reel just because it had the magnetic brakes. Also purchased a Daiwa Sol at the same time. Recently, I couldn't help myself and had to buy a Shimano Core w/centrifugal. After getting it, I promptly bought a Shimano 50mg and have to say I like them better than the Daiwa's. All are good reels, but the Shimano's just perform better. The best thing about it is I set the brakes when I first got it and haven't had to adjust them yet, so no need to open the cover. Thus defeating the only problem I had with Centrifugals.