Facts About RC Cars

RC can stand for two different types of cars: there are remote controlled and radio controlled cars. Both of these are fun to use but there are some differences. The remote controlled car has wires which are connected between the car and the remote. No wires are used with a radio controlled car. Today, RC relates more to radio controlled cars.

One will find off-road and on-road cars to fit their needs in remote or radio controlled cars. The on-road cars are meant mainly for smooth surfaces where the off-road cars are made more durable with wider tires and full suspension.

Movement and speed is controlled with a hand held controller or transmitter on a remote controlled car. The controller or transmitter usually has levers to move to control the power of the car. Most of these require a battery. The controlling of two cars can be done with the controller as one does not have to switch the frequencies as is done with a radio controlled car.

The functions on the controller are: left and right forward, straight forward, left and right reverse and straight back. A car will stop if no lever or button is pushed.

The radio controlled cars are run by radio frequencies. The controller may have joy sticks as well as buttons to use to control the car. The joy sticks are usually found in the more advanced models used by racing enthusiasts and users who are very serious about what they are doing. Radio or infra red allows for more control of the car.

There are two different ways a car can be powered. They are electric or fuel, which is petrol or nitro. It is up to the individual as to which they get but the electric is usually the best for the beginner.

The electric powered cars have small electric motors. There are rechargeable cells that are made of lithium polymer, nickel-cadium, or nickel metal hydride. There are also two types of electric motors and they are brushed or brushless.

In fuel cars, there are small internal combustion engines. These engines are known as glow plug engines. A special mixture of methanol, oil, and nitromthane or plain petrol is used to fuel these cars. The mixture of oil used is usually castor oil and synthetic oil. The fuels are not interchangeable.

Small gasoline engines have recently been used in some of the larger models. Using a mixture of oil and gasoline they are similar to the string trimmer motors. There are many makes and

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models on the market today. These do not stop at just cars. Trucks, trains, and planes are a few of the other RC’s that can be found on the market. One just needs to decide what they are looking for and where they will be using their car. Prices will vary considerably from a beginner’s car to an advanced car and from the brand bought. There are also kits to make one’s own car.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on numerous subjects, but is at present concerned with remote controlled cars as a hobby. If you have an interest in RC vehicles, please go over to our website now at 1/5 Scale RC Cars.

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