Electric vs. nitro run times

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Mark - 12 Jan 2004 16:42 GMT

I'm still stuck in the electric/nitro quandry for my first R/C car. I
think I'd go electric except that most (maybe all?) club racers in my
area are nitro, so if I want to race, I have to go nitro.

I was wondering what's the real comparison of run times between the
two different drive types. I know nitro is supposed to be longer, but
by how much? I keep hearing 5 minutes run time for electric, which
seems very short. What is the actual run time people are getting for
electric? I know it's dependent on a lot of factors, I'm just looking
for ball park averages.

For example, comparing similar cars, how long does an electric TC3 run
on one charge vs. a nitro TC3 on one tank?

Thanks.

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Jonathan Hodgson - 12 Jan 2004 20:40 GMT

> I'm still stuck in the electric/nitro quandry for my first R/C car. I
> think I'd go electric except that most (maybe all?) club racers in my
> area are nitro, so if I want to race, I have to go nitro.

Where are you then?

> I was wondering what's the real comparison of run times between the
> two different drive types. I know nitro is supposed to be longer, but
> by how much? I keep hearing 5 minutes run time for electric, which
> seems very short. What is the actual run time people are getting for
> electric? I know it's dependent on a lot of factors, I'm just looking
> for ball park averages.

It really does depend - in particular, on your left thumb. Many years ago,
at a club meet we were messing around and declared one particular run an
"endurance race" - the definition, I think, being last car still moving.

I didn't alter my car from its regular race settings (a 12x3 supplied from
some 1700 SCRCs, IIRC) which would normally last just over the 5 minute
race length - and it ran for at least 12, maybe 15 minutes just by driving
it gently.

More recently, I ran an 8-minute final easily at Ashby with my RC10L3 pan
car on 2000 cells, but that's light (~1250 g) and very, very free running.

My 4WD buggy (possibly the hardest class on cells) lasts 5 minutes
comfortably, running motors from 10 to 12, on all but the longest tracks.
Other drivers seem to need their 3300s, though!

Someone else will have to comment on nitros, although I get the impression
(from all the frantic messing about refuelling at the start of a race) that
they don't do much more than 5 minutes on a tank.

HTH,
Jonny

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Justin Mahn - 12 Jan 2004 22:39 GMT

The whole nitro endurance legend comes from the fact that a properly tuned
nitro will not overheat. Thus you can quickly add more fuel with the body
still on, and it's like you never stopped racing. The motor doesn't get
dirty enough to damage itself and you just keep going and going and going.
A single tank depends on the mileage (mostly affected by displacement) of
your engine vs the capacity of your tank, just like regular cars.
My GT will seam to outlast any electric on the track, but I've seen badly
tuned 1/8 buggies run out before a mid-range modified with 3000 batteries.

Of course the 1/8 buggy was back on the road in under 20 seconds, while the
electric was down for 10 minutes. Swap the battery. Set the charger.
Check the warmth. Let the motor cool down. Powershot and oil the motor.
Ok, back to the track.

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> > I'm still stuck in the electric/nitro quandry for my first R/C car. I
> > think I'd go electric except that most (maybe all?) club racers in my
[quoted text clipped - 31 lines]
> HTH,
> Jonny

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Mark Stevens - 12 Jan 2004 23:20 GMT

> I'm still stuck in the electric/nitro quandry for my first R/C car. I
> think I'd go electric except that most (maybe all?) club racers in my
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks.

Nitro will easily outlast the electrics no problem...My nephews car has a
.10 size engine in it now and he originally had a 2oz tank fitted, I have
made him a new chassis which allows him to carry a 4 oz tank...can be
uprated to 6oz tank (or 2 if he wants, there is plenty of room on the
chassis to fit a 2nd tank). he gets at least a good 30 mins run out of the
4oz tank, depending on driving of course and even when that runs out, just
re-fill and you are off again.

Regards........Mark

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Bryan - 27 Jan 2004 22:47 GMT

My brother in laws electric TC3 with an Epic 3000 nimh battery lasts
just about as long as my stock traxxas sportmax with a full tank and
with similar driving. Its alot longer than 5 minutes. Never timed it
but probably around 15 - 20 minutes.

-bryan

> I'm still stuck in the electric/nitro quandry for my first R/C car. I
> think I'd go electric except that most (maybe all?) club racers in my
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks.

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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Land Models / January 2004

Electric vs. nitro run times