Version A	Version B

Overview

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Version A
(#2977/2978)

Front View: Closed	Rear View: Closed
Front View: Open for Rigging	Rear View: Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired my left-hand Camnal from the Shenzhen Oucong Electrical Technology Co., Ltd. (深圳市欧从电器科技有限公司) in 2020, and my right-hand from Amazon.com a few days later.

The Camnal is 192 mm. tall, 95 mm. wide, 26 mm. thick, and weighs 203 g.

The shell is a tall irregular shaped stamping made from 3.5 mm. aluminum alloy sheet metal. A 15 mm. wide rope channel is formed in the upper portion of one side and a smaller cam channel lies opposite the first. A hole drilled through both sides of the cam channel accepts a 5.5 mm. semi-tubular rivet. The cam and cam spring are mounted on this rivet. The handle below the cam has a soft "rubbery" hand grip molded into place. The hand grip has a ledge to support the index finger. A 14.8 mm. sling attachment hole is punched below the handle opening, and an 9.8 mm. hole is punched below and outside the first. A 14.5 by 17.1 mm. oval hole punched through both sides of the rope channel provides an attachment point just above the cam.

The cam is a plated skeletonized steel casting. The cam radius increases from 37 to 54 mm. over an angle of 36°, giving a 32° cam angle. The cam has number of small conical teeth. The upper teeth are parallel to the top of the cam, but the lower teeth have their axes sloping downward. The tooth pattern is 3.4.1S1.2S2.2S2.1S1.2S2.3.2.3.

A spring-loaded manual safety bar is riveted to the cam. The normal action of the spring holds the safety against the cam. When the cam is opened, the shell interferes with the safety bar, thus preventing opening the cam. If the safety bar is moved away from the cam (opposing the spring), it will clear the shell and the cam will open. At full open the safety can be released and the spring will hold the safety against the back of the shell. This provides a means of locking the cam open.

The front of ascenders are printed with an up-pointing arrow enclosing the word "UP," the Camnal logo, "Camnal," and "ASCENSION." The rear is printed with "CE1282," a book-with-an-"i" icon, "EN567:2013," Ø8-13mm," "EN12841:2006-B," •Ø10-13mm | 100KG," and "MADE IN CHINA."

Fraudulent Certification Warning: Notified Body #1282 marks on Chinese vertical equipment are fraudulent. Notified Body #1282 is Ente Certificazione Macchine. Ente Certificazione Macchine does not certify this type of gear.

Comments

This is a nicely made ascender, and the quality of the cam teeth is excellent. The hand grip is large enough for my extra-large hands, but would be better suited for someone with smaller paws. I find it easy to operate with the correct hand, but like many ascenders, it is difficult to open and lock with the opposing hand.

The weight ("100kg") printed on the rear of each ascender can easily be less than the weight of a fully loaded caver. Although I know what this means, American courts may not, so I cannot recommend this ascender for heavier cavers or for expedition caving.

Warning: The weight ("100kg") printed on the handle can easily be less than the weight of a fully loaded caver.

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Version B
(#3475)

Front View: Closed	Rear View: Closed
Front View: Open for Rigging	Rear View: Open for Rigging

Technical Details

I acquired my Camnal Ascension, Version B from eBay seller weddingmall2017 in 2021.

The Camnal Ascension, Version B is 199 mm. tall, 94 mm. wide, 28 mm. thick, and weighs 206 g.

The shell is a tall irregular shaped stamping made from 3.5 mm. aluminum alloy sheet metal. A 15 mm. wide rope channel is formed in the upper portion of one side and a smaller cam channel lies opposite the first. A hole drilled through both sides of the cam channel accepts a 4.5 mm. rivet set against a stainless steel washer. The cam and cam spring are mounted on this rivet. The handle below the cam has a soft "rubbery" hand grip molded into place. The hand grip has a shallow projection to support the index finger. A 17 mm. tall, 29 mm. wide irregular. sling attachment hole is punched below the handle opening. A 14.3 by 17.1 mm. oval hole punched through both sides of the rope channel provides an attachment point just above the cam.

The cam is a plated skeletonized steel casting. The cam radius increases from 34 to 51 mm. over an angle of 39°, giving a 30° cam angle. The cam has number of small conical teeth. The upper teeth are parallel to the top of the cam, but the lower teeth have their axes sloping downward. The tooth pattern is (3.4)(1S1.2S2)^2(1S1.2.3).

A spring-loaded plastic safety is riveted to the cam. The normal action of the spring holds the safety against the cam. When the cam is opened, the shell interferes with the safety bar, thus preventing opening the cam. If the safety bar is moved away from the cam (opposing the spring), it will clear the shell and the cam will open. At full open the safety can be released and the spring will hold the safety against the back of the shell. This provides a means of locking the cam open.

The front of the rope channels are stamped with an up-pointing arrow enclosing the word "ASCENSION," and the area behind the cam is stamped with a book-with-an-"i" icon. The front is printed with the Camnal logo, "Camnal," "ROPE:Ø8-13mm," "Max 150KG," and a book-with-an-"i" icon. The rear is printed with "CE EN567:2013," "MADE IN CHINA," "CA-9328," "21100002" on the left and "2100002" on the right ascender, "ROPE:Ø8-13mm," "Max 150KG," and yet another a book-with-an-"i" icon.

Comments

This is a nicely made ascender, and the quality of the cam teeth is excellent. The hand grip is large enough for my extra-large hands, and the index finger protrusion is placed to leave enough room for my remaining fingers. I find it easy to operate with the correct hand, but like many ascenders, it is difficult to open and lock with the opposing hand.

The indentations on the handle portion are decorative surface features, and do not serve to reinforce the handle against bending.

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