THE LANGUAGE OF ELECTRICS
WORDS LITO REYES
BECOME FLUENT
IN THE NEW
LINGO
WHAT RUNS ON FOUR WHEELS,
goes 50 miles per hour and makes a
whoosh sound? It’s the electric RC buggy
that just passed your nitro. In case you
haven’t been paying attention, electric RC
is not just making a comeback, but it’s
also looking to be the way of the future.
Nitro has lots of things going for it, like the
distinct sound, realistic power band, even
the smell. But with the recent adoption of
lithium-based batteries and brushless
motors by national racing organizations,
more and more people are coming around
to the benefits of electric power. Like with
any other technology, there’s a whole new
lingo to learn. Luckily, we’re here to
expand your knowledge with the language
of electrics. Not only are we going to give
you definitions for some electric-related
terms, but we’re also going to tell you why
it matters. So, let’s get started...
DRAG.BRAKE (drag’-brak) n.
DEFINITION: Speed control setting that applies
an adjustable amount of braking when the trigger is in
the neutral position.
WHY IT MATTERS: Use drag brake to
make it quicker to lock up the
tires and rotate the rear end
for tight turns. It also makes
your brushless motors feel
more like brushed motors
when off-power.
SPEED CONTROL LINGO
FIRMWARE
DEFINITION: The program on a speed control,
radio or receiver that can be updated.
; WHY IT MATTERS: Manufacturers, especially
those that make speed controls, often release software
updates to make the products more reliable or add features and functions. This is usually performed by downloading the firmware update from a website and uploading it to the device via a USB cable.
LINEAR + CURVES
DEFINITION: Linear means the throttle or brake
works in the exact same proportion as the transmitter’s trigger is pulled or pushed. Pull 50% of trigger,
