Tuesday, July 04, 2006

The Basics: Where to Begin If You’re a Beginner

For a beginner, the sheer amount of brands, varieties and specs of RC vehicles can be overwhelming.
There are literally
hundreds of types of RC cars and trucks, all with different engines, performance levels and completely customizable details.
This puts hobby
quality RC cars on a whole different level than toys and replicas, and is what makes them so much more interesting and exciting to play with.

While the actual mechanics of how each RC vehicle works can vary greatly from one to the next, the basic principles remain the same.
Once you understand
how RC cars work, you’ll have a better idea of just what’s involved, and which one would be right for you.

There are four main parts to an RC vehicle:
· Transmitter: This is the control you hold in your hand, usually powered by a 9-volt battery.
Using radio frequencies,
the transmitter relays the steering and control commands you give it to the receiver.
· Receiver: There are two parts to the receiver- an antenna and a circuit board inside the car.
The radio frequencies
sent by the transmitter are picked up by the receiver and relayed to the various appropriate parts of the vehicle.
· Motor(s): RC cars and trucks feature a variety of different types of engines, all with varying degrees of difficulty and output.
The motor is often
said to be the heart of the RC car and is the most intricate part of building your own RC.
· Power Source: Of course power is needed for acceleration, steering and overall engine output. Aside from the 9-volt battery in the transmitter,
the power source
depends on the type of car: electric cars