Remote Control Car Servos: What Any RC Fan Should Know

Remote Control Car Servos: What Any RC Fan Should Know

What is the difference between casual fans and hardcore enthusiasts of remote control vehicles? It’s not that one is inherently better than the other or anything. It’s simply that one devotes more time and resources not just to the hobby, but to gaining knowledge about the machines themselves.

In short, casual fans are fine with just enjoying the RCs as they are. Meanwhile, more dedicated hobbyists strive to learn what makes their RCs tick and how their performance can be enhanced for greater results. In this article, we’ll discuss remote control car servos, which are among the most important parts to understand in any RC.

What are Remote Control Car Servos?

The remote control on its own does not make the remote control car move. It can only send a signal that indicates an intention on the part of the operator. A part within the car itself must capture that signal, interpret it, and convert it into something resembling the desired action. That’s the role of the miniature motors known as servos.

Do you remember two sentences ago, when we mentioned “what makes RCs tick?” Servos arguably fit that description better than just about any other component of the vehicle. You can have a nice set of wheels, a robust engine, and a powerful battery. Without a functioning servo, though, you can’t control the remote control car.

How Does “Remote Control” Work?

Remote control technology can only happen with both a working transmitter and a working receiver. The former is in the remote. Each time you punch a button, pull a switch, or turn the steering wheel, those inputs reach the transmitter as electrical pulses.

The transmitter then sends the signal to the receiver, which is located within the RC vehicle and connected to the servo. Different inputs produce different signals, which the receiver interprets and relays to the servo through pulses so it can execute commands as requested.

How servos get those messages depends on whether we are talking about analog or digital ones. The former works through pulse width modulation (PWM). The latter uses the more modern pulse-code modulation (PCM). Both types are functionally identical, but with some key differences that we will delve into later.

The Two Defining Features

Two specific features define the remote control car servo. One is the rotating shaft, which uses electrical current to change position based on the width of the PWM or PCM it receives. As the shaft moves in accord with the input’s directions, the other feature — the potentiometer — keeps track of its position. When it reaches the right spot, the potentiometer stops the shaft’s movement.

This is a good place to inform you that most RC cars have two servos. One controls the throttle, while the other manages the steering. Rotating shafts can gun the acceleration or turn the front wheels, while potentiometers keep the shafts from going too far or falling short.

You could say that one feature represents capabilities and the other represents control. If you want to win a competition, you need to balance both. That’s why it pays to have good remote control car servos.

The Three Crucial Wires

Knowing about PCM/PWM and the two defining features already makes you more knowledgeable than most on your RC vehicle’s servos. If you want to expand your knowledge even further, though, you can benefit from knowing the different wires that make those features work. Here are some details on each wire in the trio that support the servo plug:

• Power supply. Servos come with their batteries, which enable them to run independently of the RC car’s supply. They need it because they’re always running, even when the vehicle isn’t in motion. The power supply wire connects the servo to the battery.
• This type of wire is essential for many electrical circuits, serving as a return path for the current. When the voltage increases, the ground wire keeps it in check. In other words, it keeps the RC from combusting or shorting out.
• Control signal. As we wrote earlier, receivers convert signals from transmitters into electrical pulses. Those pulses travel through the control signal wire to the servo. There, the motor takes a specific action corresponding to the frequency of the pulses.

The Difference Between Analog and Digital

You can divide every remote control car servo on the market into two categories: analog and digital. Both are identical in many ways. They have the same three wires, they use rotating shafts and potentiometers, and they perform actions based on electrical pulses from the receiver. What separates them is the way that they do the latter.

Digital servos contain microprocessors that interpret the pulses through PCM and break them down into steps. This modern technology can receive six times as many pulses per second (300) as their analog ancestors (50). RC operators can make tiny adjustments with faster response time and more torque production. They can have an edge over other vehicles in competitions.

The one drawback to digital servos is that they require more power, which can drain the battery more quickly. One can get a bigger battery, but even that infinitesimal increase in weight can affect the vehicle’s performance. Still, many find that the pros significantly outweigh the cons, and just about every modern RC uses digital servos.

The Value of Upgrading Your Servos

Having more knowledge about remote control car servos, as well as any other aspect of the remote control car, is always great. Still, having that knowledge is one thing, and finding practical applications for it is another. RC enthusiasts often seek it out so they can further enhance the performance of their vehicles.

Swapping out built-in servos for more powerful alternatives can give one the edge they need to win a competition. If this is your goal, then Absolute Hobbyz can help you achieve it. Our collection of RC servos is second to none, with over 200 exceptional choices at your disposal. Now that you know more, you can make a more informed decision, order an outstanding product, and get some amazing results.