RC car accessories
- the essential trackside field equipment
There are some essential rc car accessories that you'll need at the track, and nitro rc cars and trucks require more than electric ones do, simply because of the motor.
The range of rc car and truck accessories (as well as for all other rc models) is big, so this page will only introduce you to the essential trackside 'field equipment' - the bits and bobs you need to get started.
Of course, if you're driving your rc car or truck at a club, then you'll probably be able to borrow the necessary items from fellow drivers. But as you get more involved with the hobby, it's inevitable that you'll want to build up your own collection of accessories, so you don't have to rely on anyone being at the track.
Nitro RC car accessories
The presence of the glow plug motor in any rc model necessitates the use of certain accessories, the crucial ones are...
- Glow plug igniter
- Glow plug wrench
- Spare glow plugs
- Fuel bottle
- Fuel pump
- Starting system
These essential nitro rc car accessories are illustrated below:
| A glow plug igniter is necessary to initially heat up the filament of the glow plug to red hot, so that the fuel/air mixture inside the combustion chamber of the engine is ignited. Once running, the igniter is removed and the heat within the engine keeps the plug glowing. Glow plug igniters are 1.5V and should be charged before each session. A flat igniter won't heat up a plug! |  |
| A glow plug wrench is definitely an essential nitro rc car accessory! Glow plugs have a habit of burning out and do need to be replaced periodically. Without a wrench you're not going to be able to remove the glow plug from the engine cylinder head, and replace it with a new one. |  |
| Spare glow plugs are necessary for when the one in the engine fails on you, which it will sooner or later! A broken down glow plug is about the biggest cause of non-starting nitro engines, and it takes just a few seconds to change a plug - so long as you didn't forget your glow plug wrench! Consult your car's engine manual for the correct glow plug recommendations. |  |
| Fuel is, needless to say, essential! Choosing a good quality fuel is important - lesser quality fuels can have an adverse effect on your car's performance. Follow manufacturer guidelines for selecting an appropriate fuel for your engine, both oil content and nitro methane content can vary depending on performance requirements.
See fuel & fuel related accessories. |
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| A fuel pump can either be mechanical or electrical. A mechanical one is obviously cheaper and just as effective. Along with a pump, a small plastic squeezy bottle with a fine nozzle is also a good idea, in case you need to inject fuel directly into the carburetor if you're having problems priming the engine. |  |
| Some kind of electric starting system is a crucial nitro rc car accessory, if the engine doesn't have a recoil pullstart feature. The one shown is the Roto-Tech starter, and includes the necessary bits to convert your engine to accept this method of starting. |  |
Browse more nitro rc car accessories.
A very convenient way of buying all of the essential accessories is in some kind of starter pack, such as the one shown to the right. This usually works out cheaper than buying each accessory separately, and some packs will include a 500cc bottle of fuel too.
Electric RC car accessories
One of the advantages of electric rc cars and trucks is that they don't need anything to start them; so long as the motor batteries are charged then you just flick the switch and drive off, unlike nitro rc vehicles that require at least the basic accessories listed above.
However, the essential item that you will need at the track is a good battery charger for the motor battery pack.
If one doesn't come with your car, then they can be purchased in many different shapes and sizes ranging from simple 'trickle' (slow) chargers to multi-function, electronically controlled chargers/dischargers.
You can buy battery chargers for rc cars that are designed to run from a 12V vehicle battery, either directly or via the cigarette lighter socket. These chargers are called field chargers, simply because they are designed to be used 'in the field' ie wherever you're running your rc car.
Buying a second motor battery pack for your electric rc car is an excellent idea. Even fast-chargers can take 40 minutes to charge a pack, so having another pack means that you can continue driving your car while the first pack is charging.
When buying chargers and extra battery packs, always check that they are compatible with your car's motor, this is obviously very important!
Browse more nitro rc car accessories.
Related pages
Nitro RC cars - an overview of nitro cars.
Electric RC cars - an overview of electric RTR cars.
RC nitro fuel - an overview of nitro (glow) fuel for rc engines.
