The Buzz on Batteries

       Remote Control Cars date back to the 1960's when an Italian company known as Elettronica Giocattoli released a nitro car. Since then, the hobby has jumped leaps and bounds transitioning into electric vehicles in addition to the time old nitro. While the choice is personal preference, electric remote control vehicles can now give nitro vehicles a run for their money. Technological advances have allowed electric vehicles to reach speeds over 200 miles per hour. So, what's the buzz about the batteries powering these electric vehicles? There are numerous battery companies, as well as battery types to choose from. The first step is knowing what type and power battery your RC car can handle. In most cases the Electronic Speed Controls (ESC) are built to handle various types of batteries if put into that mode. The most common types of batteries used in electric vehicles are:
- Alkaline: These are not rechargeable, and are most commonly used in transmitters, battery packs, and some nitro starters.
- Ni-Cd: Nickel Cadmium.
- NiMH: Nickel Metal Hydride.
-LiPo: Lithium-ion polymer.

         Each battery has a connector on the charging lead that will plug into your charger, as well as connect to your vehicle's electronic speed control. If you select a battery that does not have a connector that matches your ESC, you can change the end on your ESC by cutting off your old connector and soldering on a new connector, or using an adapter. It is never recommended to change the connector on your battery.
         Each battery is built with a few items in mind: number of cells, voltage, discharge rates, and mAh. Knowing your numbers is important. Below is a guide to what the various numbers mean:


         What can I do with an old battery that may not work any more, or be safe to use? Check out York County Solid Waste Authority or your local Waste Management for more information: https://www.ycswa.com/batteries/.

Stay tuned for storage & safety trips as well as back to the basics of charging batteries!