Fast Electric RC Cars - Everything You Need To Know


Fast Electric RC Cars & Trucks

Getting into electric powered RC cars and trucks can be a great hobby, but a difficult one to understand if something goes wrong. We definitely understand the excitement of building a car to run faster, take corners sharper, and turn on a dime, but for beginners, it's not that easy. So we thought it would be important to give you an inside look at what it takes to own an RC car or truck.

Understanding What's Underneath the Hood

While the engine of an RC car or truck is not nearly as complex as a real vehicle, there is tedious work that needs to be done in order for it to perform at its highest level. Fortunately, electric powered RC cars and trucks don't necessarily have an engine. Instead, they are run by battery packs that send electricity to the motor to reach speeds in various areas. If you're new, one thing to understand is that you will need specific battery packs for your car.

Some require smaller voltage levels where you only need six volts. However, there are differences and if you need that extra boost then the 9.6 volts will be more your speed. The best thing to do is read over the owner's manual in order to get a better understanding of it all. We recommend this version if you are just starting out due to inexperience. As you knowledge grows, you may turn towards owning a nitro-powered vehicle down the road.

Fast Electric RC Cars Maintenance and Tuning

Since these are based on electric powered RC cars and trucks, your maintenance and tuning is minimal. One area we think everyone should be aware of when first purchasing an electric RC car or truck is to run the motor without running the car. By making sure it's up off the ground, it's important to get everything working properly before you go out and test its limits. Even if your car or truck says it's ready to run.

Keep in mind though you should only use about a fourth of the power that you would normally run the car on. The idea here is to work in the brushes that are set up with the motor. In short, it's just a great way to add to the longevity of your motor, your brushes, and of course your RC vehicle. The rest of your maintenance may include replacing the motor after a half dozen pairs of brushes and possible purchasing new battery packs. Otherwise, you won't see too much work elsewhere depending on where you run your RC vehicle.

Batteries

Most electric RC cars use a 7.2 volt battery pack which you will need a charger. You will also need AA batteries for your transmitter as well. Getting an 8 pack will be most beneficial because it will allow for 9.6 volts. You might hear or read that gaining twelve volts is crucial, but your RC car will run just fine on the 9.6. Listen, the reason the electric version is so great for beginners is because there isn't a lot building.

See, being able to just a few a few batteries or battery packs in the proper places will allow even a young child the opportunity to enjoy an RC car or truck. Plus, you won't have to worry about using fuel or dealing with the loud noise because an electric version is much quieter. If you need help, be sure to check your owner's manual first about the specific batteries you will need to get your vehicle up and running.

Onroad vs. Offroad

This is an interesting topic to cover, especially if you're just starting out. While everyone enjoys both onroad and offroad vehicle setups, you have to think about what's going to be the easiest to navigate. Then again, you also have to think about where you're going to be able to run your vehicle. If this is for a youngster then we recommend purchasing an offroad truck or car. One that you can play with in your backyard or on the street that can take that kind of punishment.

However, if you live near an indoor track and want to get involved with racing other drivers then getting an onroad vehicle is your best choice. Most of the indoor or onroad tracks are on felt like surfaces that you would find on a pool or poker table. You have several choices like oval racing, road racing, and several others to give this option a little more appeal. So keep an open mind and just choose which works best for you.

Ready to Run vs. Building

This is probably one of the most important things to think about when you first purchase your RC car or truck. The upside to purchasing a ready-to-run vehicle is that you can race it right then and there. The only downfall is you aren't familiar with how things work underneath the hood. So if something is broke or goes wrong, fixing it might become an issue over the course of your ownership.

Building it from scratch though gives you an inside look at everything. It doesn't matter if you're putting in the bearings, replacing brushes like we talked about earlier, or even choosing the right tires for your next run. Adding and subtracting pieces is the name of the game, including proper upgrades to make your car run as fast as that vehicle you drove to the store. If you do things right, you can have a car that normally runs 17-25mph going anywhere from 40-70mph.

So take a few minutes and think about what it is that you want out of an electric powered RC car or truck. We want to help you out as best we can and the best way to do this is to have you full of knowledge about what you need in the beginning. This way you can make an informed decision when it comes time to make your purchase. Good luck.

Electric isn't the only thing that powers RC cars & Trucks. Article: Gas Powered RC Cars & Trucks & Article: Nitro RC Cars & Trucks.

Related Store Pages: Fast Electric RC Cars & Fast Electric RC Trucks. These list available electric powered RC cars & trucks for sale.

Find out what YOU are looking for! Article: The Saber RC Car & Truck Buying Guide.

For more information about Electric RC cars & trucks check out The RC Car Site & RC Car Tips