Supercharged Remote Control Battery Hack

This instructables shows how to convert your remote control car to use one rechargable and long lasting battery. This less expensive retail store bought model uses 6 AA batteries that require constant replacement. This instructable can be applied to any remote control car the only variation being the voltage, addressed in another step.

Step 1: Disassemble

Disassemble vehicle and expose control board or internal battery terminals.  The main internal battery terminals are below the circuit board on the back of the battery holder.

Comments

[makya]

another part to remember is the rechargeable packs are 1.2 volts each battery vs. alkaline which are 1.5 volts each. so 6 AA alkalines are 9.0 volts, and 8 NiCd or NiMh rechargeables are 9.6 volts.

we use the 9.6 volt packs wired in parallel with the AA's in the battery tray and get about a 45 minute run time with the rock crawler like the one pictured.

[Matrix-technician]

Is that the rock crawler truck available at wal-mart? I forget the brand. Maybe nikko?

[hjklkjh]

yehh the brand is maisto

[RCdriver]

I basically did this same thing on the same type of RC, a maisto rock crawler. However, I used a rechargeable 9.6v nicd battery to power mine. that thing could powerhouse over almost anything i threw at it. Highly recommend doing this mod for the maisto rock crawler. (Or most other toy grade rc cars that take AA's)

[hi9792]

your rechargable battery must be the same voltage as the combined battery power otherwise your control board or your motor which was not designed to handle the much voltage will burn out although a hot fix if you want to be a friend i don't recomend it otherwise you could add a boost mode

[DualPhase]

This is kind of what I was thinking. This particular RC truck used 6 AA batteries which means that they control board has voltage regulation and circuitry engineered for 9V. The servo and motors are also designed for 9V. AA batteries are 1.5V. 1.5V x 6 = 9V. A 8V NiMH was chosen for this application.