Radio controlled models come in two basic forms, petrol and electric. There is regular petrol as well as a Nitro fuel mixture. Petrol is just like regular unleaded petrol, just a little more refined to make running in small engines easier. Nitro fuel has a higher octane, and is usually ran in high performance engines that go much faster. Petrol engines are just like the motor you have in your car, but on a much smaller scale.

Electric RC’s are powered by battery packs, supplying power to small electric motors. The power packs are usually 9.6v, and take at least an hour to fully charge. People who prefer using electric vehicles usually have at least two power packs fully charged before they go out. The battery pack can be charged with an adapter plugged into a standard AC outlet, or from the auxiliary port on your car..

There is always some kind of debate over which power supply is better, petrol or electric. There are pros and cons for both types. Rather than say one is better than another, instead you should know the advantages and disadvantages of both sources, so that you can decide for yourself which is better for your needs. The first area we will start is with electric models.

Electric RC models are often easier for beginners to this hobby to deal with. They are really self contained, are easily charged, and last a long time before needing to be recharged. There isn’t any fumes associated with electric vehicles, and electrical motors are not as complex as internal combustion engines. They don’t need as much maintenance either. Electric motors are quieter, have no emissions, and can be run just about anywhere.

Some of the cons about electric RC models is that they are generally not as fast as a petrol engine. The battery packs take a while to fully charge, and while they can be charged up many times, eventually you still have to buy another pack. These battery packs can be expensive, depending on the kind of battery it is. The new lithium-ion batteries can cost thirty or forty pounds. Some people that don’t want to wait for the charging time, buy at least one or more extra packs. They have to be recharge either by plugging it into the wall, or from your vehicle’s power supply. If you are someplace where there isn’t an external power source, when you run out of power, you are done for the day.

Petrol power has a lot of advantages as well. One of them is that as long as you have fuel, you can run your RC as long as you want, about fifteen minutes at a time. These motors are normally much more powerful and faster than electric vehicles, up to 60mph per fill up. Petrol powered motors are more realistic than electric, and may be cheaper to operate over the long haul.

On the other hand, even though the petrol is not quite as dangerous, it is still a flammable liquid. You still have to deal with the fumes, as well as the toxic emissions generated by these motors. Because they are petrol motors, they have to be kept tuned up and in top running condition. They have pull starters, similar to a lawn mower, so you also have the chance that the cord will break and in some cases, the motor doesn’t even want to run in the first place. Because they can be so fast, they are often more difficult to keep in control by beginners, running the risk of crashing. Then there is the noise factor. Everyone always knows when you are running a petrol RC Model vehicle. Some places won’t even allow you to run petrol powered RC’s. While the petrol is cheaper to purchase, it is also harder to find than a battery pack.

As you can see, there are factors in favour as well as not so good about both power sources. You really have to think about whether you are a beginner or more advanced, as well as speed for more reliability. In the end, it is really up to you to decide which power systems are better for your needs.

Author Bio: You can find more resources and information online, one such place is Simply RC Models which can be located at http://www.simplyrcmodels.co.uk and have a large selection of radio controlled cars and other electric and petrol RC models.

Category: Recreation
Keywords: radio controlled cars, rc cars, radio controlled models, rc models