OFNA charger King 201

Radio Control Car Action, Sep 2002

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ACCORDING TO OFNA, THE CHARGER KING 15 A DO-IT-ALL Ni-Cd and NiMH charger with the features that electric and nitro racers demand yet is easy to operate for RC fans of all skill levels. Let's find out what this little silver box can do for you.

INCLUDED ACCESSORIES

The CK201 includes the following items: two power leads (one with a standard Tamiya connector and the other with an unfamiliar connector); a standard AC cord; and a long DC cord with alligator clips. A spare 7-5A fuse is also included along with plastic standoffs that can be attached to the bottom of the charger to lift it at an angle to provide a better view of the LCD screen when you're sitting. Not included but available as an option is a battery-pack temperature probe.

FEATURES

AC/DC power operation. Nothing beats the convenience of being able to plug the charger into a wall socket. Large alligator clips are provided to hook the charger up to a power supply.

Automatic Ni-Cd and NIMH charging. No buttons to press; the CK201 knows the type of battery pack that's hooked up to it.

Automatic cell selection. Once the battery pack is connected, the CK201 checks the pack voltage and sets the number of cells automatically.

LCD display. A two-line LCD screen provides important charge information.

0.5 to 5A adjustable charge current. The CK201 will charge everything from delicate receiver and transmitter packs to larger sub-C and "D"-size battery packs.

0.3 to 2.5A discharge rate. Great for discharging receiver and transmitter packs.

Battery cycling. The CK201 will automatically charge and discharge (cycle) battery packs up to three times-very useful for bringing old Ni-Cd receiver and transmitter battery packs back to life. I- to 12-cell (1.2 to 14-0) charge output. The CK201 Will charge from 1- to 12-cell battery packs in either AC or DC operation.

Fuse protected. The CK201 has a replaceable 7.5A fuse to protect the unit if you ever hook up the battery pack or power supply incorrectly. Optional battery temperature probe. Allows you to charge the battery pack according to temperature (thermal charging). Once the battery pack reaches 48 degrees C, the charge process is terminated.

Removable charge leads and AC cord. This is a great feature because you'll be able to install power leads with various connectors quickly and easily. The standard AC cord can be easily replaced if it's lost or damaged.

Overall, the CK201 is a great charger for both electric and nitro racers. It charges just about every imaginable battery configuration, and it's small, lightweight and super-easy to use.

OFNA Racing (949) 586-2910; ofna.com, IRS Aluminum Caster Blocks

ASSOCIATED'S DYNAMIC STRUT IS THE UNOFFICIAL FRONT END of nearly all pan cars (except for Trinity's, natch), thanks to its easy assembly and independently adjustable ride height, camber and caster. That's enough adjustability for most of us, but Irrgang Racing Service's (IRS) aluminum Dynamic Strut caster blocks increase the system's tunability with six new upper-arm hinge-pin positions that adjust the suspension's roll center. In addition, their stiff aluminum construction combined with a "wide mouth" design that reaches around the upper arm increases rigidity (but causes linkage clearance problems in 1/12-scale cars). The IRS blocks are nicely machined and directly replace the stock upper-arm standoffs. Extra-long, E-clipped hinge pins are provided and slide easily through the upper arm-no more supertight friction fit. Since style matters, IRS polishes the blocks to a bright shine, and no machine marks are to be found; this is first-class stuff all the way. Exactly how much the IRS parts will speed up your laps depends on your tuning skills, and the caster blocks aren't cheap-but they are very well made, look killer and offer a genuine advantage in the form of increased tuning flexibility.

Irrgang Racing Service (609) 476-2371; teamirsrc.com.