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The Beginners Guide to Electric RC Car - What Do I Need to Know?

There are three major types of R/C vehicles - cars, airplanes or helicopters, and boats. The ins and outs of electric RC car are the easiest to grasp for a beginner. It can be overwhelming if you do not have any previous experience in the RC world, so starting with an electric RC car is usually recommended.

What’s the difference between a “toy” or a “hobby” radio controlled car? “Toy” cars are usually found in a department big box store like Walmart, Toys R Us, Radio Shack, and Target. These R/C cars are mass produced - there are no replaceable parts and they cannot be fixed. In case of a crash, let’s say a collision with the garage door, the car is totaled. Toy cars are the ones you see advertised at incredible sales, usually around the holidays. They are the ones that can flip over and do all kinds of “neat” tricks - they are designed to grab the attention of your children who beg to find one under the tree on Christmas morning.

There is much to be wary of when reaching for that box on the shelf with the big sale price tag on it - did you know that a car that is “radio controlled” should mean that the car is run with a controller that is not connected to the car, but rather the car receives a radio signal to run it. However, the information printed on the pretty box can mean that the car is either RADIO controlled or it can also mean that that the car is tethered to a long wire which allows the car to run from several feet away, still capable of being called remote control!

And then there are “hobby” cars. These cars can be sold in kits which require assembly or prebuilt by the manufacturer. Either way, these cars can be upgraded in countless ways, and they can be dismantled and rebuilt. In fact, the “hobby” cars can be customized in almost any way you can imagine - based on your knowledge and acquired skills. You usually will not see an advertisement for these cars, unless it comes from the hobby store - online or brick and mortar - or in one of the magazines devoted to the hobby.

You can purchase a “hobby” car in one of two configurations, either pre-built or as a “kit”. Pre-built cars are assembled at the plant by the manufacturer. When you take it out of the box, it is ready to run. Some Pre-built cars include The radio transmitter comes with many of the Pre-built models, but be sure you know what you are getting when you place your order.

Open a kit car and you will find a cornucopia of individual parts which you will be required to assemble. Many kit cars that are considered entry level will come with a basic throttle control and a motor. Realize that as you progress to a professional kit with a comparable price tag, the car will not usually come with an included motor to control the speed. This is due to the fact that it is assumed that the hobbyist will have certain individual requirements for which they will want to choose one for his/her needs.

The Radio Controller

As a brief explanation, the “radio” is comprised of two main parts which are the transmitter, the part you hold onto, and the receiver, which is located in or on the car. 2-channel remote control units are the usual configuration. This pertains to the fact that the hobbyist can control two servo motors. A servo motor is the control that steer the car as well as sending the car into forward or reverse. One type of controller is a fairly familiar configuration for those who are familiar with video games. You have probably seen these controllers manipulated with the thumbs, which is usually the type of control most often used by children and young adults since they have gotten lots of experience with that Nintendo or Wii controller! Then there are the “gun” controllers, which adults usually prefer.

Battery and Battery Charger

What type of battery is used in RC cars? The electric motor in most RC cars utilizes a 7.2 volt, 6-cell battery. The seasoned hobbyist will tend to require a battery with increased voltage and cells. These batteries take only about 20 minutes to charge with a fast-charger. Once charged, the battery charge will last for about 7 or 8 minutes of run time, therefore most hobbyists usually carry several charged batteries with them for quick changes and less down time. When shopping for a battery charger, realize that there are different types. A fast-charger obviously charges the battery in the least amount of time, but buyer beware. The chargers that run with a timer are somewhat tricky because there is no pre-set time suggested for charging the battery and it possible to over-charge. Therefore, it is strongly suggested that you completely drain the battery by running it until the charge is completely gone before you charge it again.

Peak-chargers, on the other hand, are easier to use. These charges detect the level of charge in your battery automatically, and they cease charging when you reach the battery’s capacity. Also, the charge process is begun most of the time with a simple button click. Peak chargers are relatively easy to use - more so than the timer based chargers - and they are not too much higher priced than the timer based units. However, the timer based chargers are considerably faster than the peak chargers, so consider all

To summarize briefly, an entry level Electric powered RC car can open up the world of RCs to you, which will get you up and running, for around $200-250.

These cars do not have car insurances - why should they but the adults reading this article might get a nice perk in learning the tips about low cost auto insurances online.