Brushless Radio Controlled Cars
News, reviews, tuning and hop-ups
RC Glossary - The A to Z of Radio Control
P
Pan Car -- In Rc terms, this is a car that is made from a flat pan of graphite or
fiberglass, with an independent front suspension and straight-axle rear pod. These
cars are rear-wheel drive only and use foam tires. Rc Formula 1 cars fall into this
category, although the front suspension uses much longer arms and the chassis is
narrower.
PCM -- A type of transmitter and receiver that is even less prone to glitching
than FM radio systems. Although more expensive than FM radios, PCM radios were very
popular until FM radios got cheaper and almost as glitch-free.
Peak Charger --The
recommended type of charger for nickel-cadmium batteries. Although not recommended
for nickel metal-hydride batteries, these chargers can charge these types of batteries,
but they must be monitored for temperature (so they don't rise above 110 degrees
Fahrenheit) and voltage.
Pinion Gear-- In electric Rc cars, this is the gear that
is attached to the car's motor, which in turn spins the spur gear, turning the rest
of the drivetrain.
Piston -- An internal part of an internal combustion engine that
slides back and forth inside a sleeve. If the piston must be replaced, the sleeve
must be replaced also.
Pitch -- The measure on a pinion gear or spur gear of how many
teeth fit per inch. On a 64-pitch gear, 64 teeth will fit within one inch; on a 48-pitch
gear, 48 teeth will fit in one inch.
Pivot-Ball Suspension --A type of suspension
system brought to scale Touring Cars from 1/8 scale Nitro cars. Instead of the more
common lower suspension arm/upper turnbuckle link, the pivot-ball suspension uses
inner hinge pins and screws on the outer pivots that adjust camber and track. The
caster is adjusted by moving clips on the inner upper hinge pin.
Port--An opening in the sleeve of a nitro engine. Modifying the port size and shape
can affect the power and fuel consumption of an engine, but the modification is best
left to a professional.
Porting-- A method of hopefully gaining more power from a
nitro engine. If done correctly, you can get more power. If not done correctly, you
will have possibly more power but much worse fuel consumption. If done very badly,
the engine will not run at all!
Pullstarter-- A mechanism that allows the starting
of a Nitro car engine without the need for a separate engine starter box. Because
it is permanently attached to the engine, the engine must sit higher in the car,
which affects its centre of gravity. It also can affect the rotating weight of the
engine itself, however this and the centre of gravity affect will not concern anyone
but the most serious racer.
Punch -- In Rc terms, this means the same thing as acceleration.
Driving full punch means you are on the throttle all the time!
Push -- See Understeer
Pole Position -- A start position for a race where a car is
in the very front of the starting grid. Usually the most desirable position to start
from, because other cars must pass you to be in the lead.
