In the 50 years that RC cars have been existing, there haven’t been many advancements but they have been monumental in bringing us the experience we are lucky to have today. Some of these are soft-compound tires, 2.4GHz radio systems, big bore shocks, the introduction of batteries and brushless motors. Slowly but surely electric cars have started to increase in popularity and since the world is moving in that direction too, we can say that the future is indeed electric. But why is that so?
Electric RC Vehicles
Be it a buggy, truck, street car or a truggy you are able to find electric RCs in all shapes and forms. This is because RC cars are making a comeback and electric RC car kits, in particular, are more beginner friendly than other RC combos. An electric RC car doesn’t require tuning or setting up and you don’t have to worry about having any mechanical skills whatsoever. You simply need to charge it and replace the battery when it’s past its life expectancy.
Regarding maintenance there isn’t much you’ll need to do except for the replacement of parts such as the chassis, transmission, steering and suspension related components. This is an inevitable part of every RC car no matter what it runs on. The majority of electric RC cars nowadays are waterproof rated so you won’t have to worry about splashing it in the water. All these factors make it perfect for beginners be it kids or adults.
How Do They Work
A remote electric car can operate on either a brushed or a brushless motor. The impulse coming from the transmitter (controller) activates the motor which either uses brushes or an amplifier. The motor then sends the power source from the transmitter to all the working parts inside which are controlled by the transmitter with further impulses.
Brushed vs Brushless
As mentioned above, brushed motors use brushes and brushless motors an amplifier which is why they perform differently. While brushed motors have simpler wiring and can be wired directly to a DC source they are not as quite as brushless nor do they have nearly as long of a lifespan. Brushless motors, on the other hand, are more expensive than brushed ones but require less maintenance, offer higher speeds, and provide longer runtimes. Brushless motors have a higher torque to weight ratio and are more reliable without generating sparks.
Brushed motors have windings which are fixed on the central shaft inside the motor case. The windings spin together with the shaft when current runs through. There are permanent magnets which are also fixed on the inside of the motor can. The power to the windings is supplied by two brushes (hence the name), one positively and one negatively charged – these brushes push against the commutator. The friction created by the brushes and commutator is the reason why brushed motors wear out so quickly with more powerful brushed motors having shorter lifespans than less powerful ones.
Brushless motors don’t use a physical commutator which is the reason why they are more advanced and popular. Instead they have a switching circuit and an integrated inverter which help make the unidirectional torque. But like any electric motor brushless motors also have a stator and a rotor together with permanent magnets. The stator is wound with a certain number of poles (windings) with there being two different types of brushless motors – inner rotor and outer rotor design.
A BLDC (brushless DC) motor starts working when the control circuit energises the correct winding at the proper time in a certain pattern which then goes around the stator. A magnet on the rotor then tries to align with the energised electromagnet of the stator and when it does, the electromagnet that follows gets energised. This makes the movement of the rotor and essentially the operation of the motor.
Kit vs RTR
Ready-to-run RC cars can be used right out of the box. You don’t need to screw in parts or adjust certain settings just charge the batteries (if needed) and you’re good to go. While these might sound as the best option for beginners they are not going to let you fiddle with the vehicle which is crucial when you are serious about having fun with RC vehicles.
Kits may not be as easy to start out with but they offer a great learning curve. Electric RC car kits can take time and effort but they will also teach you a thing or two when assembling your first electric RC car. Yeah, you’ll need additional tools like screwdrivers, bolts and nuts but at least you won’t have to rely on somebody else when something needs fixing further down the line. As you get to know the RC car, you’ll get to know its ins and outs. You’ll appreciate having the confidence and ability to fix issues even when you are not quite sure how to do so in the first place.