Starting System
To start a nitro RC, heat needs to be applied to the glow plug while the engine is turned over. Many nitro RCs have a pull-starter equipped which allows you to turn over the engine manually by pulling a cord. Nitro RCs can be difficult to start, especially when cold, and some people prefer a starting system that makes things a little easier.
Traxxas EZ-Start
The most common electronic starting system you will find the market today is the Traxxas EZ-Start system. The EZ-Start system is basically a small electric motor attached to the engine and a wire that is attached to the glow plug. You insert the EZ-Start wand into a receptacle in the back of the vehicle and push a button which sends electricity to heat the glow plug and crank the engine.
When you buy a new Traxxas nitro RC, it comes with the EZ-Start system which includes the wand, battery, and a charger. Unfortunately, the charger supplied by Traxxas takes hours to charge the battery and plugs into a 12v cigarette lighter receptacle commonly found in full-size vehicles, which is incredibly inconvenient. You will want to upgrade to a smart charger like the Tenergy TB-6AB, which plugs into any wall outlet and will charge your EZ-Start batter in 1 hour or less.
HPI Rotostart
Another electronic starting system you should know about is the HPI Rotostart system. This system replaces the pull-starter with a backplate that accepts a special bit, which is inserted into a special drill sold by HPI. The drill spins the bit which turns over the engine and starts the engine. It does not have a glow plug lead like the Traxxas EZ-Start system, so a glow plug igniter is required. The benefit of this system over the EZ-Start system is that there is no electric starting motor attached to the vehicle which adds weight.
The special Rotostart bit can be inserted into a regular power drill and used to start the engine. This is not recommended by HPI as a regular power drill doesn’t have the same fail safes that the special Rotostart drill does and can therefore damage the engine. That being said, many nitro enthusiasts have successfully used a power drill to start their HPI engines without issue.
Bump Box
A bump box is commonly used for race-grade nitro engines that do not have a pull-starter or electronic starting system. The nitro RC is placed on top of the bump box so the flywheel engages with the a mechanism in the bump box. When pressure is applied downward on the bump box, a motor inside spins a gear that is engaged with the flywheel and the engine is cranked.
Bump boxes are extremely uncommonly used with basher grade nitro RCs. If you’re buying a used nitro RC that requires a bump box, make sure it either comes with a bump box or you factor the cost of a new bump box into the price.
Pull Start
My personal choice when it comes to starting a nitro RC is a simple pull start + glow igniter. Press the glow igniter onto the glow plug and apply some short, quick pulls on the pull starter. The short, quick pulls are the key. If your pulls are too long, you’ll damage the pull starter. If you pull too slowly, the engine will have a hard time starting.
The main thing is to know about starting systems is what components are required for each system and that the system is functional if you are buying a used nitro RC. All of these systems are easy to use and only after you use each of them will you truly know which one you prefer.
Receiver Power
Nitro RCs run on nitro fuel, but you still need a battery on-board to power the electronics (steering servo, throttle servo, and receiver). Similar to a starting system, it’s not important which kind of battery powers the electronics when you are starting out. You can always change to a different type of battery. The important thing when buying a nitro RC is to know what kind of battery the system is set up for so you can take it into consideration when making the purchase.
AA Batteries
This is the simplest type of power for a nitro RC as you simply pop in some AA batteries and you’re good to go; no need for a battery charger.
AA batteries have a few disadvantages:
- They are not rechargeable, so you have to buy new ones to replace them.
- They provide less steering response than a rechargeable hump pack due to lower voltage.
- They don’t last as long as a quality rechargeable battery.
You can mitigate some of the above issues by premium quality AA batteries like Energizer Ultimate Lithium.
5-Cell Hump Pack (NIMH)
A 5-cell hump pack is the most common rechargeable battery used with nitro RCs. The battery is a combination of 5 NiMH battery cells that provide over 6v to your electronics. A hump pack typically provides better steering response and can be quickly charged in 15-30 minutes with a smart charger.
5-cell hump pack setups have two disadvantages:
- You will need to purchase a charger. The cheapest chargers will take hours to charge a hump pack, but there are relatively inexpensive smart chargers that can charge a hump pack in 30 minutes or less.
- Chances are your nitro RC will come equipped with a AA battery holder and the connection to the on/off switch will be different than what typically comes on a 5-cell hump pack. You’ll need to buy a new switch and wiring harness with the right connection to make the hump pack work.
Here’s what you need to convert to a rechargeable 5-cell hump pack setup:
LiPo/LiFe
I only bring up LiPo and LiFe batteries here because they are an option and it’s possible you could be looking at a used nitro RC that is equipped with one of these battery types. In general, I don’t recommend either battery type for new enthusiasts as they come with some added risks.
LiPo batteries produce a higher voltage than a 5-cell hump pack which means you need to have a receiver and servos that are rated “high voltage”. If you don’t have the right electronics, you can burn them out with a LiPo pack. Additionally, LiPo packs can be dangerous if not charged and discharged correctly or if they become damaged. LiPo packs can catch fire, which could ignite the fuel in the tank and burn your vehicle down.
LiFe batteries are generally regarded as safer than LiPo batteries as they are less likely to catch fire and they provide a safe voltage for normal RC electronics, but some argue that their voltage is still too high for normal electronics. LiFe packs might not fit in battery compartments of certain vehicles.
Overall, stick to AA batteries or a 5-cell NiMH hump pack. If you want to buy a used nitro RC that comes with a LiPo or LiFe battery, make sure it comes with the proper electronics and then do your research on safe handling and care.