| Modern radio controlled boats usually use | | | | more horsepower and faster boats. They can |
| nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries to power the | | | | also be recharged many times a day, so if you |
| engine. Their advantage lies in their ability to | | | | have several battery packs in rotation you can |
| discharge energy rapidly. Older-style batteries | | | | run your boat most of the day. |
| could hold more power, but their slower energy | | | | SCRC cells usually put out 1700 mAh, so they can |
| release meant lower horsepower and thus lower | | | | run longer and produce more energy, but you |
| speeds. Additional advantages to using Ni-Cd | | | | have to be careful not to overheat them. Also, |
| batteries include their rapid recharge rate and | | | | they will only take 2 or 3 recharges per day, so |
| reasonable price. | | | | most radio control boaters only use them for |
| Battery Basics | | | | special occasions, if at all. |
| Individual batteries are called cells and Ni-Cd cells | | | | Charging Your Batteries |
| each produce about 1.2 volts. If you have 6 cells | | | | There are several types of battery chargers to |
| joined together, your battery pack is rated at 7.2 | | | | choose from. A timed charger will automatically |
| volts (6 cells x 1.2 volts). As you add cells the | | | | turn off when the time you set has expired. So if |
| voltage goes up, but so does the weight. You | | | | you charge a flat battery at 5 amps, it will take |
| have to find the best combination for each boat. | | | | 17 minutes to fully charge. The problems arise if a |
| Electrical current is measured in amps and the | | | | cell wasn't completely discharged before |
| capacity of a cell is rated in amp hours. Most | | | | recharging. This can lead to overheating, the |
| Ni-Cd batteries used in radio controlled boats have | | | | leading cause of battery failure. |
| a capacity of 1.4 amp hours, which is usually | | | | A peak-detector charger, on the other hand, will |
| written as 1400 milliamp hours, or 1400 mAh. The | | | | turn itself off when it detects that the battery |
| batteries will last longer with a low discharge rate | | | | has received a full charge. These are very |
| and will run out quicker if the rate is higher. | | | | convenient, and unlikely to overcharge a battery. |
| The amount of power delivered to your boat's | | | | The main problem with some of these chargers is |
| engine is calculated by multiplying the total voltage | | | | the possibility of turning off too soon. If you |
| (determined by the number of cells) and the | | | | suspect this is the case, wait a few minutes and |
| current draw in amps. Most ready-to-run (RTR) | | | | turn it back on. If it shuts off within a minute or |
| boats consume between 10 and 20 amps, so the | | | | so, the pack was fully charged. If not, this second |
| run time is about 4-8 minutes. This is a sweet | | | | run will do the trick. |
| spot for the beginner because the batteries won't | | | | Since overheating is a cell's worst enemy, always |
| overheat the motor or the speed control. | | | | make sure it's cool before charging or being put in |
| To make the boat run faster, you can either | | | | your boat. |
| increase the amperage or the voltage. Generally, | | | | You'll get the best long-term performance from |
| it's a good idea to add cells (voltage) and keep | | | | your battery pack if you make sure it is |
| the amps at a moderate level to prevent | | | | completely drained before recharging. Some |
| overheating. | | | | chargers have a discharge function, but if not, you |
| Three Types of Batteries | | | | can attach the pack to a small light bulb until it |
| Ni-Cd batteries are classified as SC, SCR and | | | | goes dark. That way you'll always get the |
| SCRC. The SCs are what you'll generally get with | | | | maximum charge to your pack. |
| a basic RTR boat. For beginners they're a good | | | | With all the information you've learned from this |
| choice because they last a long time and don't | | | | brief article, you should be able to maximize your |
| cost much. | | | | batteries' ability to power your radio controlled |
| SCR cells discharge their power faster, producing | | | | boat. Now go out and have fun! |