How to Make Wireless Remote Control Car

Remote control cars have always been popular and fascinating toys for kids. I had an old broken remote control car lying around, so i decided to use its receiver kit. In this Instructable, i decided to make a wireless remote control car at home using PVC pipes and control it using the receiver from the broken car.

In case, you have a broken RC car lying around, you can follow this instructable to make a new body for the car in few simple steps. Even if you don't have the circuit, you can follow the instructable to make one easily at home. The parts section has a link that shows how to make transmitter and receiver circuit for remote control toys..

Step 1: Watch the Video

A video is a great tool that provides deep insight into the understanding of the procedure. However, it is also recommended to visit next steps for additional details and images.

Step 2: Order Parts

Ebay.com

1. DC motor - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/...
2. 9v Battery - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/...
3. Battery Connector - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1...
4. Hand PCB Drill - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1...
5. Hot Glue Gun - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/...
6. Soldering Iron - https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1...

Amazon.com

1. DC motor - http://amzn.to/2mT35FM
2. 9v Battery - http://amzn.to/2txOMJL
3. Battery Connector - http://amzn.to/2tegCZf
4. Hand PCB Drill - http://amzn.to/2HNqTT9
5. Hot Glue Gun - https://amzn.to/2Sf7oad
6. Soldering Iron - http://amzn.to/2r3IX6g

Amazon.in

1. DC motor - http://amzn.to/2mT35FM
2. 9v Battery - http://amzn.to/2ulSibD
3. Battery Connector - http://amzn.to/2sAZNWa
4. Hand PCB Drill - http://amzn.to/2eVaOO5
5. Hot Glue Gun - http://amzn.to/2rjNE9r
6. Soldering Iron - http://amzn.to/2qC47qG

From Home & Local Store: PVC-T & PVC pipe according to the diameter of the motor used, wheels that can fit
the motor, two sided tape, wooden stick, straw, Cardboard and connecting wires.

Note: I used the Tx Rx kit from an old broken RC toy. There are many tutorials online that teach how to make Tx & Rx circuit for remote control (Visit: https://diyhacking.com/remote-control-car/). However, it is much more easy and economical to use a wireless kit from a cheap RC toy available in market.

Step 3: Let's Begin - Make Car Front

1. Take a PVC-T and place it over a sheet of cardboard.
2. Mark 8 circles equal to the internal diameter of PVC-T on the cardboard.
3. Cut all the 8 circles and using hot glue, paste all the circles to make 2 stacks consisting of 4 circles each.
4. Apply hot glue on the edges of the stack to make a rubber like grip.
5. Apply hot glue and stuff both the cardboard stacks in the opposite facing mouth of the PVC-T.
6. Using drill machine, make holes at the center of both the cardboard stacks.
7. Insert a wooden stick in a straw and insert the straw through the holes in the PVC-T such that the wooden stick acts as the axle for wheels and is free to rotate inside the straw.
8. Using Hot glue, attach the wheels on both sides of the wooden stick.
9. Insert a PVC pipe of about 3 inches in length in the T-joint of PVC-T.

Note: Make sure to refer the images above and watch the video.

Step 4: Make Car Back

1. Take two geared DC motors and paste two sided tape around the motors.
2. Take a PVC-T and using the two sided tape, fix the motors in the mouth of the PVC-T such that both the motors are opposite to eachother.
3. Using Hot glue, attach the tires on both the motor shafts.
4. Using a drill or a hot soldering iron, make a hole at the top center of the PVC-T as shown in the image above.
5. Pull both the motor wires through the hole.
6. Also, insert a 9v battery connector clip through the hole along with the motor wires.
7. Take the wireless receiver circuit and notice all the connection points for motors, antenna and battery.

Step 5: Make Connections

The connections should be simple as mostly all the components are mentioned on the circuit board.

1. Notice the polarity and solder both the motors on the circuit board.
2. Solder the battery connector wires to the circuit board.
3. Also, solder an antenna wire to the circuit board.
4. Using a mini drill or a hand PCB drill, make a tiny hole at the top of PVC-T.
5. Using the tiny hole, attach the antenna wire to the PVC-T by securing it with a screw.

Step 6: Car Operation

1. Connect a battery to the connector clip and assemble the car by inserting the front portion into the PVC-T at the back.
2. The car is designed to maneuver in all the directions comfortably. The transmitter circuit can be used to control the operations of both the motors independently.

To control the car follow the following commands:

• FORWARD - Move both motors in forward direction.
• BACKWARD - Move both motors in backward direction.
• LEFT TURN - Move Right motor forward & Left motor backwards.
• RIGHT TURN - Move Right motor backwards & Left motor forward.

Step 7: Debugging and Conclusion

In case the car doesn't perform as desired then there are few steps you can take to debug the car.

1. Double check all the connections.
2. Make sure the transmitter and receiver kit you have used is functional.
3. Make sure you have used a power source according to the motors used.
4. Make sure the battery is charged.

If the car vaguely moves in any direction, then there might be problem with the polarity of the motors.

1. Reverse the motor connections on the circuit board i.e connect the "-ve" connector on circuit board to the positive motor terminal and vice versa.
2. You can also try reversing the connection of both the motors.

So Friends, this here concludes the instructable, stay tuned and SUBSCRIBE to receive regular updates. In case, you might have missed, have a look at the video and see how i made this wireless remote control car at home.

I have also made a beautiful wireless RC Formula-1 racing car using cardboard. Have a look at the instructable here or watch the video below.

Thanks For Your Support..!!

Comments

[radha4]

How would I know where I would solder the wires on the circuit board?

[narshimhay6635]

Super super excited

[Raja Raju]

I have a old RC car kit but I don't know how to make a connection so please discribe about that sir
One more thing I unable to understand circuit diagram you are given

[VipulK40]

What about remote bro

[Gauravpandey]

Wireless receiver how make

[lcjuber1]

So many choosing begger indian who cant even type proper english......
SIR YOU SHOW ALL CONNECTION NOW AND REPAIR MY THING FOR FREE

[PayalA8]

Hello Sir..I watched your video 5 times to understand the circuit..actually I have a RC car which is gifted to my baby Nd it fell down on 1st day Nd stopped working..I bought soldering kit to reassemble but it doesn't work..it's given by his grandpa...can you help in repairing?

[Techgenie]

Hello PayalA8, i think i can help you out in this. Can you tell me what exactly is the problem with the car??
Has it stopped responding completely? Did both the motors stop working or it works sometimes??
Looking at the picture, nothing seems broken...did it work on the first day and stopped working after the fall..??
If yes, what did you do on it with the soldering kit because the wires in the picture are soldered.
As i can see the PCB already has markings for all the components. It will be easy to identify the location of the components.
We first need to begin the diagnostics of every component and voltage. I am not sure whether the problem is in receiver, transmitter, in some component or in the wiring.
First insert the batteries in the car and check the voltage (using a multimeter) at the battery holder terminals. This seems to be a 4 AA (1.5v) cell battery holder, so you will get around 6v or 4.8v(if you used 1.2v chargeable batteries) between the first and last terminal.
If the voltage is fine, then move on the next point over to the switch. Check the switch in both ON and OFF state.
Next, check the voltage over the Vcc and Gnd points on the circuit board. You should get 6v there also.
If that is also fine, then you need to check the motors, de-solder the motors from the circuit and check them independently using a battery. If the motor work fine in both the directions, then the problem is in receiver circuit board.
If the car worked initially then there might be some connection breaks in the PCB tracks developed due to the fall. Carefully look for any damage on the PCB board and repair it if found.
You can use a continuity tester mode in the multimeter to check the continuity of all the tracks over the PCB board.

[abhay06]

Please explain the full digram of reciever circuit . Not understand in your digram . So please show all connections.

[Techgenie]

Hello abhay06,
I used a receiver circuit from an old broken RC toy. The receiver circuit mostly mentions the components to be connected. Have a look at the receiver circuit you will be using to find out where to connect all the components.
You can also make your own circuit at home just by following a simple tutorial here- https://maker.pro/pcb/projects/remote-control-car/
However, it is recommended to use a circuit from a cheap RC car.

[RahulR277]

Hey i have receiver board namely SF-801R.BUT I CANNOT FIND M1 OR M2 FOR CONNECTING MOTOR IN IT.PLS TELL ME ALL THE CONNECTION FOR THIS BOARD PLSS.and for battery also

[Techgenie]

Hello RahulR277,

I have searched for SF-801R online but i am unable to find any receiver board by this name. Can you send me the pics of the circuit, so that i can identify the connections and help you locate them?