Batteries and Battery Chargers
Radio controlled vehicles use batteries and battery packs in the controllers and in the cars. Make sure you are using the right batteries for your RC. Learn how to build your own battery pack. Troubleshoot battery-related problems. Get a charger to keep your batteries fully-charged at all times.
Don't run out of batteries...
Lithium Polymer or LiPo battery packs are frequently used in radio controlled vehicles. They generally charge faster and store more energy than a comparable Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) battery pack. However, LiPo batteries do require special handling. Misuse -- including improper charging, handling, and storage -- can cause LiPo batteries to burn or explode.
You need to know what a battery pack is. Learn how battery packs are used in electric RCs.
The Twin Peak Dual Peak Charger, with the ability to charge two batteries at once, cuts the waiting time until I can play with my RC cars to practically nothing after the packs are ready.
Replaceing disposable batteries for your RC vehicle can get expensive. Recharging rechargable batteries can take an eternity (or at least seem to). To save money and get more play time you can modify electric RCs that run on disposable or rechargeable alkaline batteries so that they can use quick-charging, reusable battery packs.
Describes different kinds of chargers, cycling, and the use of 12 Volt DC and 110 Volt AC power to charge your batteries.
Learn how to build your own battery pack in this tutorial on the AMYA site.
RC Racing USA has a FAQ covering matched cells and common battery-related terms.
Find everything you need to know (and more) about Nickel Cadmium batteries - the kind of battery packs used in most RCs.
RC Car Action answers questions about batteries such as "Which type of charger should I use?" "Which charge mode should I use?" and "Can I run a pack of NiMH batteries more than once a day?"
Has tutorials on all kinds of RC batteries and how to care for them. Also has reviews of battery chargers.
Batteries America has a large assortment of batteries, battery packs, and battery chargers for RCs.
This article focuses on electric RC airplanes and helicopters and the issue of the weight of electric components such as battery packs. Covers Nickel Metal Hydride and Lithium ion Polymer cells as well as brushless electric motors and micro servers and receivers.
