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Tuna Charger -- temp sensing charger

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2011 9:09 pm
by WC1982
Anybody remember the "Tuna Charger" circa 1982? It was the first commercially available temperature sensing charger I can remember. They were made by a racer named Gary Slayton who worked for Panavision in SoCal. Here's a pic of mine, complete with custom yellow/green/blue sensor wires.

Re: Tuna Charger -- temp sensing charger

Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2011 9:29 pm
by THEYTOOKMYTHUMB
Nice piece of history there. :D Why was it called Tuna? I may be missing something obvious, but I'm a bit curious. :?

Re: Tuna Charger -- temp sensing charger

Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2011 7:06 pm
by WC1982
Unfortunately I don't know the story about the name.

Mike Reedy used to build custom chargers that some of the team guys used. I wish I still had mine, not sure where it went. They were AC/DC timer chargers.

Re: Tuna Charger -- temp sensing charger

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 3:22 pm
by Jay Dub
Get it? Tuna, Hot Box, -should have called it "Lunch at the Y". :lol:

Re: Tuna Charger -- temp sensing charger

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 3:24 pm
by WC1982
Ah, good point. :oops:

Re: Tuna Charger -- temp sensing charger

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 4:30 pm
by THEYTOOKMYTHUMB
Wow, I can't believe that went right over my head. :lol: I wonder where you hook up the jumper cables then?? :shock:

Re: Tuna Charger -- temp sensing charger

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 4:59 pm
by Jay Dub
One on the flute, the other to the drum set of the band geek next to you @ Band Camp.

Re: Tuna Charger -- temp sensing charger

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 12:20 am
by VintageCat
At least there's something to be said for being subtle with the name.... the dirty danglers being on the other end of that spectrum (and one of the worst rc products ever, imho.)

Re: Tuna Charger -- temp sensing charger

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:25 pm
by WC1982
Hey I ran across a photo of Gary Slayton. Now I remember his nickname was "Gumball", looks like he was a slot car guy from way back.

He's the guy on the far left

Image