Thunder Power RC introduces all-new Z3R-8 Brushless Motor Series; designed, developed and built to deliver maximum performance and reliability for RC surface vehicles.

Since 2008, Thunder Power RC Race Series LiPo batteries have set never-before-seen industry-leading standards in performance, reliability and longevity for electric-powered vehicles. They continue to be the batteries to have or be beat by at tracks world-wide while racking up long lists of local, regional and world championship wins and records in all forms and classes of racing. In last 2010, we expanded upon those successes by adding the 1/10th Scale Z3R 540 Brushless motor series to our product line up. In six short months, the Z3R motors have won Snowbirds, ROAR National Title, The Reedy Race of Champions, Tour Oval and NAMBA National races. Continuing to expand upon these successes, Thunder Power RC is proud to introduce the all-new Z3R-8 Sensored Brushless Motors for the RC surface market. Designed, developed and tested at the hands of top racers world-wide, Z3R-8 Sensored Brushless Motors are built to deliver maximum performance and reliability.

Thunder Power RC’s Z3R-8 Sensored Brushless motor series is designed for use in 1/8th scale, off-road vehicle applications. Z3R-8 motors are high-powered for pro-level performance and are available in 1400Kv, 1900Kv, 2100Kv and 2400Kv for any buggy. Each motor is constructed from high-quality materials including a balanced, high-strength 4-pole neodymium rotor, high-temperature coated copper wire and plated copper solder tabs, while features including easy-to-set adjustable timing from 0—25 degrees and fast-switching, high-temp sensors make it easy to maximize performance. The Z3R-8 motors are compatible with brushless sensored and sensorless electronic speed controls for flexibility in power system optimization. All Z3R motors are designed and developed from the ground-up, tested rigorously and race-proven in the hands of top racers world-wide including Paul Lemieux and others, Z3R brushless motors are built to deliver maximum performance and reliability.

Best of all, Z3R Brushless Motors are backed by Thunder Power RC’s industry-leading warranty and damaged replacement program coverage. The Z3R-8 Brushless Motors are now available for purchase by contacting your Thunder Power RC retailer.

Features: Ribbed, aluminum heat sink can with built-in cooling fins Balanced, high-strength 4-Pole neodymium rotor Easy-to-set, 0–25 degree adjustable timing High-temp coated pure copper wire Plated copper solder tabs Fast-switching, high-temp sensors Dual screw hole mounting pattern
Z3R-8 Brushless Motor Specifications: Timing: Adjustable (0–25 degrees) Motor Length: 2.72 in (69.2mm) Motor Diameter: 1.65 in (42.1mm) Shaft Diameter: 0.20in (5.0mm) Weight: 11.4 oz (323g)

Download Press Release
All New Z3R 8 Brushless Motors for 1/8th Scale Press Release

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Do you need chargers, balancers, connectors and other accessories for your lithium polymer rechargeable RC batteries? We carry a huge selection available for purchase online or over the phone.
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© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com

The hottest RC speedboat on the market is back, and this time it features a brushless motor and ESC manufactured by Castle Creations! This long awaited update to the Traxxas Spartan eliminates concerns some customers have had about overheating the ESC and motor, which prior to the upgrade were both manufactured by Traxxas. Castle Creations’ exacting standards demand the utmost performance and reliability from their components so they are a perfect match for the Traxxas Spartan, one of the best RC boats available.

Castle Creations Marine ESC

The Castle Creations speed controller is water cooled – an intake on the side of the boat constantly forces cold water over the ESC to keep it within acceptable temperature limits. Marine Castle Creations ESC’s are not as sensitive to the size of the intake as their Traxxas predecessors are, which means that thermal shutdowns are virtually a thing of the past for the Spartan RC boat.

Castle Creations Brushless Motor

Featuring the same specifications as the Traxxas motor previously used, the new Castle Creations brushless motor is built to the same exacting standards as the updated speed controller. Additional improvements in design have kept the blistering performance and unbelievable torque of the previous version, while adding design elements that better control the temperature of the motor.

You can learn more about the Traxxas Spartan RC boat on our website.

© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com

Team USA competes and wins at the World Championship title against a field represented by over 30 countries.

The Academy of Model Aeronautics International Modeling Center hosted the 2011 FAI F3A World Championship competition where the World’s top RC aerobatic/pattern pilots competed for the honors of World Champion. Team USA was represented by Team Manager Albert Glenn and competitors Andrew Jesky, Chip Hyde and Brett Wickizer. These pilots qualified at the USA Nationals competition by finishing in the top four places to represent the USA. Two of the USA team members, Jesky and Hyde, piloted electric models powered by Thunder Power RC Pro Lite 25C series batteries during both the USA Nationals and F3A World Championships.

The FAI F3A class of competition demands the utmost skill and precision as pilots perform complex, aerial maneuvers ranging in varying difficulty of K-factor. Eighty-seven pilots from over 30 countries competed during four rounds of rigorous competition in temperatures measuring upwards of 150 degrees Fahrenheit off of the runway. The preliminary results had thirty of the 87 pilots moving on to the semi-finals. All of the Team USA and many pilots powered by Thunder Power RC moved on to the semi-finals. During the semi-finals the top thirty completed an additional 4 flights for the opportunity to make the finals. The finals were represented by the top ten pilots. Six of the top ten pilots were flying electric powered aircraft. Four of the six electric pilots in the top ten relied on Thunder Power RC to power their competitive flights. Congratulations to the top ten pilots representing their respective countries and Team Thunder Power RC: Wolfgang Matt, Stefan Kaiser, Chip Hyde and Andrew Jesky.

After many rounds of grueling competition, Thunder Power RC comes out on top as the power of choice for the World Championship Team USA with pilots Andrew Jesky and Chip Hyde. Thunder Power RC was the power behind the top placing electric pilots in the individual class of competition with both Jesky and Hyde. Andrew Jesky took home the bronze in the individual class of competition with Chip Hyde finishing 4th overall. Thunder Power RC is proud to be the power behind the majority of the top ten electric pilots in the F3A World Championships. The number of electric-powered entries continues to grow and so does the number of pilots relying on Thunder Power RC. #1 in Performance and Reliability, the most trusted and winning LiPo battery ever used in national and world wide competition comes from the Thunder Power RC!

Download
Team USA Wins FAI F3A – Thunder Power RC Press Release

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Do you need chargers, balancers, connectors and other accessories for your lithium polymer rechargeable RC batteries? We carry a huge selection available for purchase online or over the phone.
——
© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com

Thunder Power RC signs Yannic Prumper of Germany as the newest addition to the racing team.

Known throughout Europe as one of the rising stars of touring car racing, 17 year old Yannic will join 3-time World Champion Marc Rheinard, Viktor Wilck and Thomas Pumpler to represent Team Thunder Power RC. Yannic is relatively new to the top level racing circuit with only a couple years of racing under his belt, this rookie has made all the Pros take notice. Yannic recently raced in the Euro Touring Series (ETS) which finished the sixth round of competition in Andernach, Germany. His skills were well matched to compete among the Pros, as Yannic finished in 3rd place overall for both the race event and ETS series points. Yannic finished just behind fellow TPRC team driver Marc Rheinard and his Yokomo team mate Ronald Volker.

Thunder Power RC CEO and Owner Charlie Wang with Yannic Prumper and Team Manager Jim Skinner at the ETS Andernach Race.

“Thunder Power RC will bring a new dimension to my competition level performance. I am looking forward to using the Z3R brushless motors and LiPo batteries.” states Yannic Prumper. “I am excited to be a part of the Thunder Power RC team.”

Yannic will represent the TPRC Team at major International and US electric/LiPo events. Thunder Power RC would like to welcome and thank Yannic for trusting in Thunder Power RC to be the power behind his podium level performance. We know that Yannic will continue to help develop the power and performance to take TPRC LiPo battery and brushless motors to the next level of performance to remain #1 in Performance and Reliability.

Download
Yannic Prumper Joins Team Thunder Power RC Press Release

——
Do you need chargers, balancers, connectors and other accessories for your lithium polymer rechargeable RC batteries? We carry a huge selection available for purchase online or over the phone.
——
© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com

Eagle Tree Systems has just released version 4 of their popular Altitude MicroSensor. This new altimeter features a 1 foot vertical resolution and is able to function at up to 20,000 feet. Just like previous versions of the Altitude MicroSensor the version 4 model can connect directly to any of the Eagle Tree data loggers. This MicroSensor also features a built in 8 segment LED display and will read back the maximum altitude attained during each flight even when not plugged in to a data logger. You can daisy-chain this altimeter with other Eagle Tree MicroSensors when it is used with one of the Eagle Tree data loggers.

Technical specifications for the new version 4 Altitude MicroSensor are:

• Resolution: +/- 1 foot
• Weight: 4 grams (.15 ounces)
• Calibration Required: None, works out of the box
• Temperature Compensation: Onboard and precalibrated
• Units: User Selectable Feet or Meters

The Altitude MicroSensor is one of the cheapest and most accurate small altimeters on the market. The ability to run either standalone or as part of a data logging / FPV system makes it a perfect addition to any RC airplane or helicopter pilot’s equipment.

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© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com

This guide contains everything you need to know about charging LiPo batteries. The process is very simple and not much different from charging any other battery type. Keep in mind that brand does not matter when it comes to LiPo chargers. A Common Sense RC LiPo charger will charge a Thunder Power RC LiPo and a Thunder Power RC charger will charge other brands of LiPo batteries (see the note on balance plug types below.)

How to Choose a Charging Setup

1. Decide what Batteries you Want to Charge – Cell count and pack capacity are the most important factors when choosing a charger for your LiPo batteries. Find the number of cells in series that your LiPo packs have; this will determine the voltage. Also find out what the capacity of the pack is in mAh. If you’re new to lithium polymer batteries and want a guide, we have an FAQ written.
2. Decide how Many Amps you want to Charge at – Generation 6 Thunder Power batteries support charging at a rate of up to 5 times their capacity (5C). As a rule of thumb, this is faster than most people can and should use, as charging at rates of over 1C has been shown to shorten battery life. A safe charging rate is generally accepted to be 2C with a balancer. Multiply the capacity of your pack in amp hours by 2 to get a good estimate of the number of amps you will need your charger to provide.
3. Choose a Li-Po Charger with an Appropriate Number of Watts – The number of watts is the only really important variable here. Watts equals volts times amps, so take the number of amps that you want to charge your packs at (as determined by the last step) and multiply by their voltage. The result is the minimum number of watts that your charger should have. Keep in mind that cost tends to increase with the number of watts a charger can provide.
4. Choose a Balancer Compatible with Your Battery Leads – All LiPo batteries over 1 cell should include a set of balance leads, which are used to keep the voltage of each cell the same. It’s critically important that you use a balancer when charging at rates of over 1C, otherwise imbalances can build up and result in over or under-charging different cells in a pack. Note that many computerized chargers include a built in balancer. You may have to purchase an adapter cable to use internal balancers with your particular brand of LiPo battery. There are basically 3 common leads that LiPo batteries use. They are, according to brand:
   • JST-XH - This type of lead is the most common. It is supported out of the box by the TP610C, TP610C-ACDC, and TP820CD balance chargers.
   • Thunder Power RC – Thunder Power balance leads are used by all Thunder Power RC LiPo batteries. They will work with all Thunder Power chargers, although if you want to use them with another brand of charger you will have to purchase a Thunder Power to JST-XH adapter cable.
   • Hyperion – Hyperion uses their own proprietary balance plug. We do not carry an adapter cable at the time of writing.
5. Choose your Charging Leads – You will need a set of leads that go from the charger to your battery pack. All of the chargers that we carry include a set of leads that will either work out of the box or that you can solder plugs of your choice onto. Consult the individual charger’s product page for more details. As a rule of thumb, the leads that plug into the chargers output jack are usually 4mm bullet connectors.
6. Choose a Power Supply – Some LiPo chargers have their own built in power supplies and do not need to be plugged in to an external 12 volt source (such as the TP610C-ACDC and CS-ACDC-6.) If you require a power supply, the RipMax Pro Peak is a good choice. Make sure that the power supply you choose can provide an appropriate number of watts. A good rule of thumb to determine how many watts you need a power supply to provide is to take the number of watts that your charger can output and add 10%. The extra 10% accounts for power lost due to resistance and heat.

How to Use Your Charging Setup

1. Read your Chargers Manual – There’s no substitute for this, read the manual cover to cover before you try to charge LiPo batteries.
2. Plug the Charger into your Power Supply
3. Connect the LiPo to the main Charging Leads and Balancer Port – If you’re using a Thunder Power to JST-XH adapter cable you will need to use this now.
4. Verify Settings and Begin Charging – In particular, you must make sure that the voltage and number of amps to charge at are correct. Charging up to 2C is generally regarded as safe, but there is no margin of error when it comes to pack voltage. Charging at an incorrect voltage / cell count will result in a fire.
5. Do not Leave the Battery Charging Unsupervised – LiPo batteries must not be left to charge unsupervised. Although the technology is safe, accidents do happen and it is important that you are there to react to any situation that may arise.

You can buy Thunder Power lithium polymer batteries and chargers on our website. If you need a Thunder Power RC to JST-XH adapter cable, we carry those as well.

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© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com

Do you want to increase your Traxxas E-Revo VXL’s performance with lithium polymer (Li-Po) batteries? We’ve road tested a selection of high end Thunder Power RC Li-Pos that will work out of the box with the E-Revo VXL, including a setup that gives it way too much power to reasonably control.

Please note: the Traxxas E-Revo VXL features dual battery bays which gives you the option of running two Li-Po packs in parallel for increased runtime. You must not wire them in series, or you might damage / destroy the batteries and speed controller. You can use this Deans wire harness to safely run Li-Po batteries in parallel.

Economy Setup – 1 or 2 (parallel) x TP-1750-2SP45

At the time of writing, we only have a few of these generation 4 batteries left in stock. If you want to give your E-Revo VXL a boost in performance for a very modest cost, you can pick up one or two of these G4 batteries.

Mid Range Setup – 1 or 2 (parallel) x TP1300-2SPP65

A pair of TP1300-2SPP65 Li-Po batteries will provide an ample boost in power over the stock NiMh batteries. You can use either one pack alone or two packs wired in parallel. Running two packs in parallel will give a more noticeable increase in performance because the voltage drop under load will be less. Using two packs will also double the runtime.

Insane Setup – 1 or 2 (parallel)  x TP1300-3SPP45

One or two TP1300-3SPP45 Li-Po batteries will provide more power than most drivers can reasonably control. You will have to be extremely careful with the trigger if you run these packs, as the E-Revo VXL will flip over with all but the slightest touch on the gas. If you’re interested in having more power than you’ll ever need, you can run either one of these packs or two in parallel.

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© Draganfly Innovations Inc.
Phone: 1-800-979-9794 / 306-955-9907
Email: info@rctoys.com
Web: www.rctoys.com