RC Cars - The Difference between Electric, Gas Powered and Nitro RC

RC cars are quickly moving from child's toy to adult's hobby. Remote control cars got their start in the mid 1960's and by the time the 1980's rolled around, the RC car craze was still going strong. Even today the hobby is slowly picking up followers and committed enthusiasts. Slow and steady wins the race and the same seems to be true in the RC car fan base. As the fan base is growing, so are the types of RC cars and technology. Electric, gas powered and nitro are three main types of RC cars.

Electric RC cars are powered by an assembled battery pack. These are the easiest of the RC cars to maintain and operate, making them the car of choice for the beginners of the hobby. Another advantage of the electric RC car is that little or no assembly is required. Just take it out of the box and you are ready to go. This is also the best type for the collector that lives in close quarters with their neighbors because it is the quietest of the bunch.

Gas Powered RC Cars are the next step up after you have mastered the electric RC car. Gas cars operate on a mixture of gasoline and oil. They are faster and a lot more realistic than electric vehicles. One big advantage of a gas powered RC car is that you never have to stop for a battery recharge. Along with these advantages, however, comes some cons. These cars are so realistic that they even smell and sound like real cars. This limits the user to where they can run their car because neighbors usually don't appreciate the noise and smell.

Nitro RC cars are typically for more advanced RC hobbyists. These vehicles are powered by nitro fuel which is a mixture of nitro methane, methanol and oil. Even though they have more power and more speed than electric powered cars, there are some disadvantages to them. These cars constantly have to be maintained, cleaned and tuned for optimal performance. However, serious RC enthusiasts find this level of maintenance well worth the trouble as opposed to constantly recharging batteries in electric RC cars.

RC cars have something for everyone. Whether you like to build or just race cars, you will never have a problem finding someone that shares your RC car passion. In fact, you should join a local club and ask members about the type of RC cars they like best. They can help you decide and perhaps even let you test drive some of their own cars.


Go to RC Cars and Nitro RC Cars to learn more about RC and how you can get your start in the hobby.
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Electirc RC Cars for Fun and Excitement

Electric RC cars and trucks are generally considered best for beginners, since even if you choose to build your own car, they tend to be simpler and easier than nitro cars. They�re also a great deal quieter and run much cleaner, meaning you�re less restricted by where you can run them. In terms of speed and power, they do have a great deal of pickup, though not as much as the nitro cars.

Electric RC cars use rechargeable battery packs to power their motor and steering, which are usually recharged from a 12-volt car battery or wall socket. Batteries run for about 5-10 minutes, depending on the type of engine your car has, and charging the battery usually takes 15-30 minutes. Because of this, it is strongly recommended you have at least two battery packs, to allow for quick replacement of the battery. This means your car can keep running while the other battery is recharging, giving the car more overall running time.

At first glance, getting started with an electric RC car can be much less expensive than a nitro vehicle. But there are other costs to consider as well, such as additional battery packs, a battery charger and other accessories that will add to the cost, making it closer to the price of a nitro car in the long run. Of course, this cost also depends on what kind of car you end up purchasing and what kind of battery pack it requires, as well as how often you run the car and the quality of the batteries you get. Though the initial outlay of cash can be steep, but you�ll want to get quality battery packs and a good charger to save replacing cheaper batteries.

The main reason electric RC�s are said to be easier than nitro is in the amount of maintenance and tuning their engines require. Though the care, maintenance and cost of battery packs is steep, it is still less trouble for the new driver than the air filters, tuning, fueling and various other engine parts that require attention on a nitro car. Instead, careful conditioning and proper storage of your battery packs will keep your electric RC running smoothly for years. Always consult your manufacturer�s instructions to make sure you�re getting the right battery packs for your car, and that you�re caring for them properly.

Easier and cleaner, electric RC cars and trucks offer the genuine racing experience to the beginner on an easy learning curve. Proper conditioning and maintenance of the car and its battery packs are still easier than the many parts and problems often associated with nitro RC�s. If you�re a beginner, or if you just want to get to the races, an electric RC can offer you the speed and fun you�re after for less work.

Also keep in mind that if you think you�d prefer an electric RC, but still want the experience of building your own car, that you can also purchase electric kits. These include complete instructions to build your own car from scratch, and because their systems are less complex than the nitro cars, they are a little easier to build yourself.

Electric RC Car Motors

In order to prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your electric motor, it is important to always break in your motor, before you drive it for the first time, and every time after you change its brushes. One easy method is to run the vehicle with the wheels off of the ground at about 1/4 power for about 5 minutes. This will slowly get the brushes fully seated to the commutator without causing wear and tear on the engine, and will allow your motor to run at its full potential.

Your electric car will come with instructions on how to change the brushes on the motor, as well guidelines for how often. Remember, if you change the brushes on your motor, be sure to break it in again. How often you replace the brushes�and the motor, for that matter�depends on where and how much you�re running or racing your car. Generally, a motor should be replaced after it has gone through five or more pairs of brushes, but it will always depend on the individual car, its motor and how well they�re running.

Cal Golden is an avid RC car enthusiast and webmaster of the RC Car Station. Race on over and find out why rc cars are taking the hobby world by storm.RC Car Station
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Getting Into Racing Nitro RC Cars

Remote control cars are growing in popularity everyday, Forget about the RC cars of the past that had the high-pitched zippy sound and were wobbly and difficult to control, the RC cars made today are absolute fun machines.

Your RC vehicle will be powered one of two ways, it will either be charged electrically or it will run on fuel (also called Nitro cars). You can also get a two or four-wheel drive vehicle, on road (for racing) or offroad such as in the case of the miniature ATVs and monster trucks that are made to rule the rough terrain. If racing is your goal, get a 4WD Nitro vehicle for optimum performance.

If you really want to make your RC car on your own, there are great kits available that come with everything you need to construct a track or offroad ready car. An example of a great kit that has everything a hobbyist could need is the Nitro RS4 3 18SS Kit - 4WD 1/10 Scale Nitro Car. This car even has an outstanding 1.5 horsepower 18SS engine. This car runs just as well on the racetrack as it will in a casual competition in your local parking lot. The difference between this RC racecar and the racecars you might remember from the past is in the 2.5 MM thick chassis that is made from aluminum and adds no discernible weight to the vehicle but will keep it steady no matter how high your speed.

When you build your RC car, take your time and make sure you build it exactly to the manufacturer's specs or otherwise you might wind up with a car that doesn't run at peak performance. Most RC kits come with everything you need to build the vehicle of your dreams, however most do not come with radio control systems, as that is usually a vastly personal choice. You won't find one radio systems is far better than another, however you will find that certain radio systems are better for your own personal RC driving style. Experiment and you will find the perfect fit.

Once you hit the track, take it slow and learn the nuances of controlling your car. There's no point to put a lot of effort into building a great looking RC car and then hitting a wall with it. Learn to control your car first and then gradually up your speed as you get better at using the RC controls without looking. When you can drive your car without looking at the controls, you're ready to race!


Kurt Clark is a freelance writer & CEO of Kurt Clark, Inc, a web development firm. Read more at: http://www.kurtclarkinc.com

Research Credit: Raceway RC Cars, Nitro RC cars

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