The latest articles on DEV Community by rtrbrush (@rtrbrush). https://dev.to/rtrbrush https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F4181831%2F827a70a4-717c-4f30-8889-ea386e9eabbb.png https://dev.to/rtrbrush en rtrbrush Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:50:16 +0000 https://dev.to/rtrbrush/how-i-run-a-mini-110-brushless-rc-truck-4gac https://dev.to/rtrbrush/how-i-run-a-mini-110-brushless-rc-truck-4gac <p>I keep a short set of notes for the Rlaarlo Omni-Terminator Metal, a mini 1/10 4WD brushless truck. These ones aren't about getting started. They cover what I look at when a run goes wrong, the limits I hold to, and how the truck and its battery get put away afterwards.</p> <h2> When nothing responds </h2> <p>Sequence is the first thing I suspect. The 2.4 GHz transmitter has to be on before the ESC power button is pressed, so if the wheels and steering do nothing, I switch the truck off, start again with the transmitter, and only then wake the ESC. If that doesn't help, I lift the 1.2 mm PVC body and check that the pack is seated in its tray and that its plug is fully home in the ESC. A pack that hasn't been on my LiPo charger since the last outing is the next suspect.</p> <h2> When it feels wrong on the ground </h2> <ul> <li>Steering sluggish or uneven: the servo is an 11 kg unit with 7075 aluminium gears, so I look for grit around the linkage before blaming the electronics.</li> <li>Losing grip on tarmac: the 104 mm tyres suit loose ground. On smooth surfaces I ease off rather than chase traction.</li> <li>Slower than expected: the published 60–80 km/h is a range, and the top of it is quoted on the included 3S pack. Grass and dirt pull it down.</li> <li>Patchy control at a distance: the transmitter's stated range is about 150 m. If response gets uncertain, I walk closer first.</li> </ul> <h2> The limits I hold to </h2> <p>Water is the firm one. I don't drive through standing water and I never submerge the truck, whatever the rain has left on the field. The ESC is a 45A unit with a cooling fan and accepts a 2S or 3S LiPo, so nothing outside that goes on it.</p> <p>Battery size has a hard edge as well. The bigger bay takes a 3S pack up to 140 × 30 × 45 mm, while the smaller one is 110 × 36 × 30 mm and suits the pack supplied. Anything larger won't go in, so a tape measure comes out before any new pack does.</p> <p>I also remind myself that the 2852 3100KV motor is quick on 3S. Short bursts on open ground suit it far better than a cramped garden.</p> <h2> Care and storage checklist </h2> <p>After a session I run through the same list before the truck goes on the shelf:</p> <ol> <li>Switch off the ESC, then the transmitter.</li> <li>Unplug the LiPo and take it out of the tray.</li> <li>Brush dirt off the chassis, the oil-filled shocks and the nylon suspension arms.</li> <li>Look over the 2.5 mm aluminium chassis and the upper deck for anything loose.</li> <li>Keep the LiPo stored apart from the truck.</li> <li>Put the truck away whole. At 410 × 288 × 172 mm with a 251 mm wheelbase, it doesn't need the body off.</li> </ol> <p>If you'd like to see the truck these notes are about, it's on <a href="https://rtrbrush.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer">rtrbrush.co.uk</a>.</p> hardware watercooler