If you purchase a new RC car that comes with a battery, you will notice some scribblings on the body of the battery and car. One of the essential writings on the battery is RC. You might assume it means Remote-Controlled, so it should be used with only RC cars. However, this is not what it means.
RC refers to Reserve Capacity; it is an indicator that shows the duration a new, fully charged battery will power an RC car's electronics if the alternator fails to work. The reverse capacity of your RC battery shows you how long the car will still function when the battery's alternator fails.
The battery is an essential component of an electric RC car; your RC car will not run without it. With this in mind, you should be very careful when selecting a replacement battery for your RC car.
What Is A Good Battery Reserve Capacity?
Battery Reserve Capacity is a very important feature of an RC car battery. It shows how long the battery will discharge while maintaining its voltage. It also helps you know how long your battery will last. Knowing the RC of your battery is important in maintaining the battery.
The more you know about your battery, the better you can maintain it. The higher the battery reserve capacity, the longer your battery will perform in your RC car before it requires charging. A reserve capacity rating tells you the reserve capacity of a battery. It shows the energy stored in the battery and its charge capacity.
A good battery RC should be able to reach at least 25 amps there is a drop in voltage. If it is less than this, then the battery is of low quality. To calculate the reserve capacity of your battery, you should multiply the minutes, which is the RC of the battery, by 25A and then divide it by sixty.
Hence, if the battery's reserve capacity is 60, to get the reserve capacity, you will multiply 50 by 25, that is 1250. Then divide 1250 by 60 and get 20.8. Hence, the amount of time the battery will last is 20.8. With this formula, you can calculate the reserve capacity and know which battery to get.
A good battery reserve capacity should be high as the battery will last longer if the reserve capacity rating is high. So, next time you are shopping for a battery for your remote control vehicle, make sure the reserve capacity rating is high so that you can enjoy a longer period of riding.
What Does 160RC Mean On A Battery?
160RC on a battery refers to the reserve capacity of that battery. This means that when a battery is said to have a 160-minute reserve capacity at 25 amps if we draw the current at 50 amps, the battery will last for 80 minutes. However, if we draw the current at 40 amps, the battery will last for 93.75 minutes.
When you see 160RC on a battery, it indicates that at 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 25 degrees Celsius, the battery will deliver 25 amps of current at a usable voltage for 160 minutes, or it will deliver 25 amps of current for 160 minutes before it drops voltage.
You can also convert the reserve capacity of your battery to amp hours. To do this, you will multiply the reserve capacity by 60 to convert it to seconds. So when you have a 160-minute reserve capacity on a battery, you have 160 x 60 = 9600 seconds.
Next, you have to multiply the number of seconds by 25, which is the battery's amp. Hence, you will have 9600 x 25 = 240,000. This is the number of coulombs of charge in the battery. When you divide this value by 3,600, the number of coulombs in an amp hour, you will get the equivalent amp hour. So, you have 24000/3600 = 66.67.
How Do You Charge An RC Battery?
Charging an RC battery is very easy; however, it might be a little difficult for newbies. It is also a critical task that should be done carefully. When charging an RC battery, there are procedures that you have to follow step-by-step in order to achieve the desired result.
Identify Your Battery
Before you start charging your RC battery, you must know the type of battery you have. There are two popular types of RC batteries; NiMH and LiPo batteries. NiMH batteries are quite robust and often come with budget RC cars. They come in different sizes and shapes, but most of them come in a stick pack layout.
On the other hand, LiPo batteries are the most powerful batteries that offer greater performance than NiMH batteries. Hence, they require greater care in usage, charging, and storage. They also come in various sizes and have different plug types like HXT, XT, T/deans, and EC.
Get The Right Charger
Once you know the type of battery you have, the next step is to get a charger. The most basic option is to use a trickle charger. You can use a trickle charger to charge both NiMH and LiPo batteries. You can also use a smart charger to charge your RC battery.
However, if you use a Traxxas iD battery, you will have to get a Traxxas iD battery charger because the batteries feature a proprietary balance connector. If you have a charger without leads, you will have to get a multiple-charge lead cable.
Power Up Your Charger
Most chargers do not have a power switch; hence they come on when they receive a power input. So, the next thing to do is connect your battery to the charger using the correct lead and ensuring the correct polarity plug in the balance lead. If you use a Traxxas iD charger, you will have to configure the charging mode between fast, slow, and balance.
Start Charging
Once these procedures are done, you can start charging your RC battery. The charger might ask to perform a battery check and ask you to confirm the battery's number of cells. Once the detected cell number and the configuration you give a match, you can press start to begin the charging process.
When charging, you must never leave but always monitor the battery to avoid overcharging the battery. Once the charger has indicated that the battery is full, you can remove the battery from the charger. Your RC battery is ready to be used.
How Long Does RC Battery Last?
An RC battery will last for about an hour or two before it needs to be recharged. However, the amount of time an RC battery will last depends on the size of the battery. RC batteries also have a lifespan; it varies depending on the type of battery and how often you charge it.
A LiPo battery will last for 300 to 500 charge cycles, NiCD batteries will last for about 5 to 7 years, while NiMH batteries will last for 3 to 5 years. To enjoy the full life span of your RC battery, you have to charge it properly and not overcharge it.
Final Thoughts
RC batteries are a very important part of an RC car; getting an RC battery is important. How long an RC battery lasts depends on the motor rating of the electric RC car, the battery's capacity, and the electronic speed control. You can enjoy your RC car to the fullest with the right RC battery, as long as you maintain and use it properly.
Shawn Manaher loves to play with new toys and dive into new hobbies. As a serial entrepreneur, work definitely comes first but there is always room for hobbies.