Getting Started with R/C Cars and Trucks
Battery Systems
Battery Packs
Batteries come in an amazing
variety of shapes, sizes, capacities, and prices. Most electric cars use a
7.2 volt, sub-C size, nickel cadmium (NiCd) battery pack made up of six
individual cells. Most Sub-C batteries are in the range of 1200 to 2000
milliampere hours (mAH). The higher the amp-hour rating, the longer the run
time (and the higher the price).
If you use your car mostly for
fun or sport, an economical battery such as the Trinity Amp Max will work
fine and be very reliable. For racing, however, a good pack of batteries can
give you that extra power to get you to the finish line first. Matched
batteries, like the Team Orion Activated racing cells, have been charged
independently, rated, and then, cells that have the closest ratings are
grouped together. Matched racing batteries usually will come as individual
cells, requiring you to assemble (solder) the pack.
Battery Chargers
If you're on a budget, a
timer-charger such as the ProMax AC/DC Quick Charger with meter will do
fine. Most sport packs work great on a timer-type charger.
For about the cost of an extra
battery or two, you can upgrade to a peak voltage detection charger such as
the Astro Flight Model 115D AC/DC adjustable peak charger or MRC's Super
Brain 809. Peak chargers use an internal voltage sensing computer chip to
cut off the charge at your battery's optimum peak voltage. This eliminates
overcharging which weakens and prematurely ages cells. A peak charger is
cheap insurance that you'll get the most power and longest life from your
batteries. Don't invest in performance matched batteries unless you have a
peak charger.
Racers using matched batteries
always discharge their packs to keep them in top shape. Deans Black Box II
and Trinity's Memory Buster prevent cells from deteriorating between uses
and will keep your battery packs ready to go.
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