Tips and Upgrades to Make Your Electric RC Car Faster
As with full-size vehicles, most RC enthusiasts at some point begin
feeling the need for more speed. This often rings true whether you’re
thinking about entering your first competition or just want to zip
around the park a little quicker. Fortunately, with a few simple tweaks
or upgrades to your RC vehicle you can make it not only much faster, but
also more fun all while learning a bit more about the mechanics and
inner workings of your car or truck.
Here are a few tips and upgrades you can carry out for an extra boost for your favorite remote control cars.
Improve Your Gear Ratio
There are two gears on your RC vehicle: the spur gear and pinion gear. The pinion gear is attached directly to the motor and works in conjunction with the spur gear. When adjusting your gear ratio, there are two things to consider: top speed and acceleration. As a general rule of thumb, the more teeth on your pinion gearor less teeth on your spur gear, the higher your vehicle’s top speed will be.
Conversely, the fewer teeth on the pinion gear and more teeth on the spur gear, the faster the acceleration but the lower the top speed. If you want to go faster in a straightaway, then top speed might be your priority, but if you want to get to your top speed quicker off the line, then acceleration is the goal. An easy rule of thumb is the closer the pinion and spur are in tooth count, the higher the speed. The further away, the higher the acceleration.Consider what is important to you and adjust your gears accordingly.
Reduce Weight
Just as with drag racers and stock cars, reducing weight is a quick and easy way to improve the speed of a vehicle. Typically, RC operators will reduce weight by switching out heavy materials in their car for lighter ones such as aluminum, graphite, and light carbon.
Although it might not seem like changing a couple of parts or screws can make a difference on their own, when you add up all of the new, lighter components, the difference is noticeable on the track. Also, switching out your battery from a NiMH to a LiPo pack can significantly reduce your vehicle's weight as well.
Upgrade Your Motor
If you’re currently driving beginner-level RC cars, you might feel that you’re ready to step up to the next level. Many starter RC cars and trucks come with brushed motors. These are perfectly suitable for entry-level driving, but for higher speeds, consider upgrading to a brushless motor.
Brushless motors—as opposed to brushed motors—don't have brushes to convert electricity into motion where the friction can reduce energy. Upgrading your motor is an excellent way to learn more about the inner workings of your vehicle and is a surefire way to increase its speed. Keep in mind that with great power comes more responsiveness, so it might take a little getting used to once you start driving again.
It’s Not Always About the Car
Finally, no matter how many upgrades and tweaks you make to your vehicle, it's still youwho will drive it. Sometimes the best and most cost-effective way to increase your vehicle's speed is to practice and become a more skillful driver. Learn more about handling curves and braking, and your racing technique will improve.
About Tower Hobbies®
For nearly 50 years, Tower Hobbies® has enjoyed a reputation in the RC community as setting the standard for absolutely top-shelf radio control vehicles. They’re also known for fast, reliable, trustworthy, and friendly customer service. In addition to a massive collection of RC cars and remote control trucks, they also offer helicopters, planes, drones, and every accessory to ensure they run at optimal performance and keep on doing so. Tower Hobbies is paradise for RC enthusiasts, with the best RC vehicles and accessories; a friendly, knowledgeable staff; and an encouraging community of like-minded hobbyists. They offer the wide selection of an online retailer along with the personal service you’d expect of a neighborhood hobby store.
Explore their selection of competition-grade RC cars and trucks at Towerhobbies.com
Here are a few tips and upgrades you can carry out for an extra boost for your favorite remote control cars.
Improve Your Gear Ratio
There are two gears on your RC vehicle: the spur gear and pinion gear. The pinion gear is attached directly to the motor and works in conjunction with the spur gear. When adjusting your gear ratio, there are two things to consider: top speed and acceleration. As a general rule of thumb, the more teeth on your pinion gearor less teeth on your spur gear, the higher your vehicle’s top speed will be.
Conversely, the fewer teeth on the pinion gear and more teeth on the spur gear, the faster the acceleration but the lower the top speed. If you want to go faster in a straightaway, then top speed might be your priority, but if you want to get to your top speed quicker off the line, then acceleration is the goal. An easy rule of thumb is the closer the pinion and spur are in tooth count, the higher the speed. The further away, the higher the acceleration.Consider what is important to you and adjust your gears accordingly.
Reduce Weight
Just as with drag racers and stock cars, reducing weight is a quick and easy way to improve the speed of a vehicle. Typically, RC operators will reduce weight by switching out heavy materials in their car for lighter ones such as aluminum, graphite, and light carbon.
Although it might not seem like changing a couple of parts or screws can make a difference on their own, when you add up all of the new, lighter components, the difference is noticeable on the track. Also, switching out your battery from a NiMH to a LiPo pack can significantly reduce your vehicle's weight as well.
Upgrade Your Motor
If you’re currently driving beginner-level RC cars, you might feel that you’re ready to step up to the next level. Many starter RC cars and trucks come with brushed motors. These are perfectly suitable for entry-level driving, but for higher speeds, consider upgrading to a brushless motor.
Brushless motors—as opposed to brushed motors—don't have brushes to convert electricity into motion where the friction can reduce energy. Upgrading your motor is an excellent way to learn more about the inner workings of your vehicle and is a surefire way to increase its speed. Keep in mind that with great power comes more responsiveness, so it might take a little getting used to once you start driving again.
It’s Not Always About the Car
Finally, no matter how many upgrades and tweaks you make to your vehicle, it's still youwho will drive it. Sometimes the best and most cost-effective way to increase your vehicle's speed is to practice and become a more skillful driver. Learn more about handling curves and braking, and your racing technique will improve.
About Tower Hobbies®
For nearly 50 years, Tower Hobbies® has enjoyed a reputation in the RC community as setting the standard for absolutely top-shelf radio control vehicles. They’re also known for fast, reliable, trustworthy, and friendly customer service. In addition to a massive collection of RC cars and remote control trucks, they also offer helicopters, planes, drones, and every accessory to ensure they run at optimal performance and keep on doing so. Tower Hobbies is paradise for RC enthusiasts, with the best RC vehicles and accessories; a friendly, knowledgeable staff; and an encouraging community of like-minded hobbyists. They offer the wide selection of an online retailer along with the personal service you’d expect of a neighborhood hobby store.
Explore their selection of competition-grade RC cars and trucks at Towerhobbies.com
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