The Powerplant

The Main Parts

There are many different ways to get your RC to drive the way you want. There are two different types of motors that can be installed in RC's, brushed and brushless. And to run the motors you have to have an ESC (electronic speed control) which come in many different sizes and power ratings. In order to power the ESC-motor system you need a battery which come in 4 different types, NiCad, NiMh, LiPo, and LIon.

Brushed motors

Brushed motors use brushes inside of them to rotate the output shaft which in turn moves the RC. These kinds of motors are commonly used in crawlers and slow-moving high torque vehicles although some companies sell their RC's with brushed motors in them from the factory like the slash. Some types of brushed motors I have used are the Axial 27turn, Traxxas titan 755, and the Traxxas titan 550.

Brushless motor

Brushless motors use magnets inside of them to rotate the output shaft and move the RC. Brushless motors are used for high speed applications. Some motors I have used are the Castle 2700kv and the Castle 4600kv.

Castle 2700kv- brushless motor

Castle 4600kv- brushless motor

Axial 27t- brushed motor



ESC's

ESC's are what supply the RC's electronics power and they also control the speed of the RC. ESC's can handle different amounts of power, some can take up to a 6s-LiPo and others can't even run a LiPo. Some ESC's that I use is the Castle Mamba Monster 2, Castle sidewinder 3, Traxxas EVX-2, and the Axial AE-5.

Batteries

Batteries come in all shapes and sizes. LiPo (Lithium Polymer) batteries are the highes grade, most expensive, have the highest power output, and last the longest. I prefer to use LiPo batteries because the have more power and last longer than other types. LiPo's have different Mah tell you how long the battery last, C ratings which tell you how much power they will put out, and a number next to an s which tell you the cell count. I like Venom batteries because they come with different connectors that can be changed very easily so if you have two different types of connectors on your RC's you don't have to use an adapter. LiPo batteries I use include 2-Venom 2s 5000Mah 25c and 2-Venom 3s 5000Mah 25c. NiMh batteries I have used are the Traxxas 7cell's.

What should you choose?

Choosing the correct set up for you is entirely dependent on the type of driving you are doing. Brushless motors are good for going fast and brushed motors are good for low speeds, although gearing can also be a factor because some brushless motors can be geared to run slow and brushed motors can be geared to go fast "it comes down to gearing and battery choice."(Radio Control Car Action 64), but keep in mind that depending on the types of gear-battery set-up you use, because you could potentially overheat the motor.

RC Car Action. Your Ultimate Off-road Guide. N.p.: Radio Control Car Action,

     n.d. Print. Radio Control Car Action.