Best RC Car Batteries
Choosing the Best RC Car Battery
Drawing from our experience the battery is not always part of the kit when you buy an RC car (plane, heli or boat) (even if it is an RTR or RTF model). It has to be purchased additionally. The easiest way to choose a battery is to read the manual. It clearly indicates the necessary technical parameters, which should be taken into account when choosing a battery. Next, decide between reliable manufacturers and cost.
The challenge comes when choosing an alternative battery for your radio-controlled car. If you want to pick up and install a battery with a capacity several times greater than the standard one, or another type of battery, and significantly increase the running time, it will be necessary to take into account some factors: for example, voltage and physical dimension, and others. We will try to give you the most complete answer on how to make the right choice.
- NIMH 6-CELL
- 3000MAH
- 7.2V, POWER CONNECTOR: TRAXXAS, HARD CASE
- LIPO 2-CELL 50C
- 5200MAH
- 7.2V, POWER CONNECTOR: DEAN-STYLE T, HARD CASE
Best RC Car Battery - Buyer’s Guide
No matter what RC vehicle you are holding in your hands right now, its motor and electronics are useless junk without a reliable, high-capacity battery. If the motor is the heart of any vehicle, the battery can be compared to the blood-forming system of the electronic body. Some maybe confused that this concerns only electric motor RC cars. But new enthusiasts should know that even the models with internal combustion engines (nitro) require an additional power source to run the servo, gyroscope, and to transmit the radio signal.
Key Features of RC Batteries
Power sources (batteries) for RC cars are characterised as follows:
Energy Capacity
It is measured in milliampere hours, it is denoted by mAh (mAh). Limits of this parameter are from 150 mAh (for small scale models) up to 30000 mAh (for big RC-machines).
Discharge Rate
It is the ability to deliver current of a certain power. It is estimated by the value of the capacity, designated by the letter "C", does not affect the RC carl work duration. For example, the number 5 C for a 1700 mAh battery means that such an accumulator is able to give out current: 5*1,7=8,5 Ampere.
Internal Resistance
This figure directly determines the discharge rate. The lower the resistance, the greater the discharge rate. If the internal resistance is low, the current intensity may be exceeded, which threatens to overheat the cell. Electrolyte overheating and gassing processes threaten the explosion of the battery.
Voltage
Measured in Volts, it is denoted by the letter "V". The voltage of the cell itself depends on the cell type, and the voltage of the entire battery depends on the number of individual cells in it. The higher the voltage of a battery, the greater the amperage that battery can deliver. There are batteries consisting of 1,2,3, etc. up to 8 cells. All batteries are labeled with the nominal (average) voltage. Note that the maximum voltage (i.e., when fully charged) is slightly higher than the minimum voltage (when the battery is discharged).
You will always feel that, for example, a carl is noticeably worse to drive and obey the pilot with a discharged battery, as the speed of the car depends on the battery power.
Body
It can be soft (SoftCase) if we are talking about aircrafts, where the weight of the cell plays the most important role; or hard (HardCase) if it is an RC car battery.
Size
Not always perfectly matched in terms of technical data, the battery will fit the size. Therefore, you should consider the length, width and thickness of the battery when choosing.
RC Vehicles Batteries Types
- NiCd - nickel-cadmium
- Ni-MH - nickel metal hydride
- Li-Po or Li-pol or Li-polymer
- LiFePO4 - lithium-iron-phosphate
The most widespread are the lithium-polymer ones (LiPo) and a comparatively new type - lithium-ferum-phosphate (LiFePO4).
Best Ni-MH Batteries for RC - TOP 3
Ni-MH power sources replaced the outdated NiCd models as more environmentally friendly. In addition, they have a higher capacity for the same weight, little memory effect and rather safe in use.
NiCd and Ni-MH Batteries
Ni-MH power sources replaced the outdated NiCd models as more environmentally friendly. In addition, they have a higher capacity for the same weight. Nickel-cadmium cells are now used only in systems where other options cannot be used (due to environmental reasons).
Ni-MH batteries have a small "memory effect" and do not survive full discharge and "overcharge" (overcharging). "Memory" means that the cell "remembers" the amount of energy it received on its last charges and gives back only that amount during operation.
In practice, it looks like this: if you do not discharge the battery to the end, and you simply recharge it every time after starting the car, the battery eventually begins to discharge only that amount of energy and loses capacity.
To avoid this, it is recommended that Ni-MH batteries be fully discharged to 0.9V per cell once a month and only stored charged in a refrigerator (but at zero temperature).
Nickel-metal hydride batteries are not used much in aircraft modeling (due to their relatively high weight), but they work successfully in rc cars and boats.
As Ni-MH batteries displaced NiCd batteries in their time, so now they are gradually replaced by higher-capacity and lighter power sources, the basis of the chemical component of which is lithium.
Best LiPo Batteries for RC - TOP 4
LiPo batteries became popular for RC cars due to their good capacity at low weight, fast charging and absence of memory effect. RC cars with Li-Po batteries successfully compete in power with nitro RC cars, and sometimes surpass them in technical characteristics. For more read in Lithium Polymer Batteries: How to Choose, Maintain and Store
Li-Po Batteries
This type of battery became popular due to its good capacity at low weight, fast charging and absence of "memory effect". Cars with Li-Po batteries successfully compete in power with diesel models, and sometimes surpass them in technical characteristics.
Li-Po cells are available in rectangular form thin plates and their number in the battery is designated as "1S", "2S", "3S".
As has been said, Li-Po batteries have no "memory effect", but they age even if they lie idle.
Why to Choose Li-Pos?
- High power capacity at low weight
- Low cost per unit of stored energy
- Low self-discharge
- High voltage of single cells
- Compact size
- Fast charging
What to Pay Attention to in Li-Pos?
- Low number of charge/discharge cycles (if compared to Ni-MH cells)
- Aging - after 2-3 years without use the battery may become worthless, so stocking up "for good" is not recommended
- Special chargers with voltage control and the possibility of balancing (levelling) the voltage of all battery cells should be used
- Short-circuiting, over-current charging or simple mechanical damage can cause fire
The rated voltage of the Li-Po cell is 3.7V with operating (maximum/minimum) levels from 3V to 4.2V per cell and exceeding these limits is dangerous. That's why special chargers with a balancer - a device to equalize the voltage on each cell - are needed for charging.
It is also recommended not to leave Li-Po batteries unattended while charging, but to store them in special fireproof cases.
For storage, Li-Po cells must have at least a 40% charge at 3.7 volts per cell. Full discharge can disable the battery.
LiFePO4 Batteries
A relatively new type, which combines the capacity and compactness of Li-Po batteries with the low-maintenance NiCd and Ni-MH batteries. Lithium iron-phosphate batteries are not much used yet because of the unusual voltage for most models (3.3V), as well as a small selection of sizes. LiFePO4 batteries are available in cylindrical form or in the form of flat plates. They are installed mainly in models with internal combustion engines as onboard batteries.
Selecting Additional or More Powerful RC Car Battery
- Speed regulator parameters. The speed controller installed on your vehicle works with a certain voltage range and with a certain type of battery. If you install a battery with a voltage that exceeds your speed regulator's allowable range, the electronics will fail.
- Maximum current required by the electronics of the radio-controlled model.
- Voltage required for optimal and smooth operation of all components of the RC model.
- Battery capacity, which determines the operating time of the radio-controlled vehicle on a single battery charge.
- Dimensions are no less important. It happens that the battery is suitable for all the characteristics, but it does not fit into its compartment.
Useful Tips to Choose RC Car Battery
Check the dimensions of the battery and the battery compartment before buying! Battery sizes vary greatly and may even vary from manufacturer to manufacturer depending on the capacity, number of cells and current output. The battery can be in a Hardcase or in a Softcase. Hardcase batteries are used in automobiles to protect the battery. Softcase is mainly used in aircraft models, because for flying models in addition to size is important and the weight. Batteries are not eternal and vary in price. The more expensive LiPo batteries tend to provide more discharge cycles than cheaper ones.
When choosing a battery, you need to know what is the maximum (total) current the model requires for normal operation of all its components, how much time the model must work on a single charge, the voltage required to operate the model. The batteries themselves have all the necessary information for proper selection. The battery is connected to the regulator in the radio model.
When selecting a battery for the radio model, you must be guided by the capabilities of the speed regulator used on the model and the motor. The characteristics of the regulator indicate the voltage range with which it can operate and the type of battery. Exceeding the allowable voltage can cause failure of the regulator. Often the voltage limits used are not specified in volts, but in the number of banks.
Not all regulators can work with lithium batteries. The regulator supports lithium polymer batteries (LiPol) in the form of a cutoff. The cutoff prevents damage to the battery by preventing it from discharging too much. The model simply stops abruptly, while a model with a regulator without a cutoff will drive slower and slower because the battery voltage is too low and the battery is likely to be damaged.
For example, if a driver is careful with his radio-controlled models, he will set the LiPol battery to 3.3V. If you use a LiPol battery with a regulator that does not have a cutoff function, it is recommended to at least put a special indicator with an audible alarm on its balancing connector, which will tell you when the battery is low.
Overview of Ni-MH and LiPo Batteries
Dive deeper into the performance and unique features of these best Ni-MH and LiPo Batteries.
Best NiMh Batteries for RC
| Device Name | mAh (Capacity) | NiMH (Yes/No) | Voltage (V) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRAXXAS 2922X Nimh Battery | 3000mAh | NiMH 6-Cell | 7.2V |
| Venom Nimh Battery | 3000mAh | NiMH 6-Cell | 7.2V |
| Redcat Racing HX-2200MH-B Nimh Battery | 3000mAh | NiMH 6-Cell | 7.2V |
TRAXXAS 2922X NIMH BATTERY
BEST FOR TRAXXAS
- NiMH 6-Cell
- 3000mAh
- 7.2V, Power Connector: Traxxas, Hard Case
This new Premium quality iD-Equipped Power Cell batteries deliver unmatched speed, acceleration and power. Best compatible with Traxxas cars, trucks, and boats: Traxxas TRX-4 Chevrolet K5 Blazer, Traxxas Bigfoot, Traxxas Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Traxxas Rustler VXL, Traxxas Hoss, Traxxas TRX-4 Mercedes Benz, Traxxas TRX-4 2021 Ford Bronco, etc.
You may also like:
Venom Nimh Battery
BEST VERSATILE
The main advantage is its versatile connection: Venom UNI 2.0 Land Plug. Compatible with XT60 Plugs, ®, Plug, Deans Plug & EC3 Plug
Redcat Racing HX-2200MH-B Nimh Battery
BEST FOR REDCAT
This geninuin NiMh battery shows best results when paired with the compatible Redcat Racing vehicles: Everest Gen7 sport, Everest-10, Ground Pounder, Lightning EPX Drift, Volcano EPX / EPX Pro.
Best LiPo Batteries for RC
| Device Name | mAh (Capacity) | NiMH (Yes/No) | Voltage (V) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZEEE Lipo Battert | 5200MAH | LIPO 2-CELL 50C | 7.2V |
| HRB 2S2P LiPo Battery | 10 000mAh | LIPO 2-CELL 50C | 7.2V |
| Spektrum Smart LiPo Battery | 5000mAh | LiPo 2-Cell 30C | 7.2V |
| Traxxas 2889X LiPo Battery | 5000mAh | LiPo 4-Cell 25C | 14.8V |
Zeee Lipo Battery
BEST VERSATILE
Are you looking for a high-performance lipo battery for your RC car? Look no further than the Zeee 7.4V Lipo Battery 2S 50C 5200mAh. This battery is specially designed for use with 1/8 and 1/10 rc cars and offers a 50C discharge rate for exceptional performance. The outer surface of the battery is made from fire retardant material, so you can rest assured that your battery will be safe during charging, transit, and storage.
HRB 2S2P LiPo Battery
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT
The HRB 2S2P LiPo Battery is the perfect choice for those who want a reliable and affordable option to power their devices. With a longer lifetime of 150 times minimum, this battery is Anode made with 100% Co and Separator used Korea imported material, ensuring that it will keep your devices running at peak performance for longer. Additionally, the aluminum laminate film used in this battery is Japan imported material, meaning that it is of the highest quality and will not let you down. No matter what you need it for, the HRB 2S2P LiPo Battery is sure to provide you with the power you need.
Spektrum Smart LiPo Battery
BEST SMART TECHNILOGY
Do you want an easy and convenient way to charge and maintain your batteries? Look no further than the Spektrum 7.4V 5000mAh 2S 30C Smart Hardcase LiPo Battery. This battery is equipped with Spektrum Smart Technology, which makes charging and maintaining your batteries a breeze. With its integrated microchip, this battery stores unique parameters for each battery, so you don't have to worry about soldering or compatibility issues. The IC5 connectors are compatible with EC5, making this battery a true plug-and-play solution. Plus, the smart discharge feature allows batteries to automatically discharge to a safe voltage, saving you time and hassle while improving battery life.
Traxxas 2889X LiPo Battery
BEST FOR TRAXXAS
Looking for a quality lithium-ion battery that will fit perfectly in your Traxxas model? Look no further than the Traxxas 2889X LiPo Battery. This powerful battery comes with a high current connector and integrated LiPo balance charging wires, making it ideal for use with Traxxas iD-equipped chargers. TheMAXX Cable high-efficiency 12 gauge silicone jacketed wire ensures optimum performance, while the fire hazard warning means you'll need to take care when using and charging this battery.
Best RC Car Batteries: Conclusion
Remember that not only the characteristics of the radio-controlled car, but also the condition of the battery itself will depend on the correct choice of battery. If you choose the wrong one, at best, the car simply won't drive, and at worst, the electronics may burn out and the battery itself may fail.
We have selected the best options for each category, such as TRAXXAS 2922X NIMH BATTERY and Zeee Lipo Battery. We hope that we were able to help you with your choice.
- NIMH 6-CELL
- 3000MAH
- 7.2V, POWER CONNECTOR: TRAXXAS, HARD CASE
- LIPO 2-CELL 50C
- 5200MAH
- 7.2V, POWER CONNECTOR: DEAN-STYLE T, HARD CASE
Go Deeper:
Our geeky guru has been slicing through tech on gagadget.com since 2020, from projectors, tvs to speakers and many more, unearthing the truth behind the specs with sharp, insightful reviews.
