[Elecraft] Dummy loads for dummies

[M. George]

I guess I'll chime in on the dummy load discussion (pictures below).  Over
the last few months, I have picked up a couple Bird Termaline Coaxial
Resistor dummy loads (these may be the models K9YC is referring to).  I got
tired of the crappy cantenna style QRO loads that are typical of the
current Ham Radio market.  The capillary motion of the oil getting all over
the top of the can... attracting dirt, bugs etc... these usually get
relegated to the garage sooner than later. (or dumpster)  I have never seen
any leaking from the following Bird oil filled dummy loads.  Nor have I had
to replace any of the gaskets.

This thread is a bit off topic at this point, but In my humble opinion, I
would consider the following Bird dummy loads to be ones to consider for
your shack. If you are patient on fleaBay, you will find some really good
deals, especially if you are willing to clean them up and have been filled
with the proper dielectric oil.  I don't think anyone would buy one new...
over $800 for the Bird 8401 listed below for example.  But at surplus /
used prices, if you can find one from $50 to $250, it will be the last QRO
dummy load you will ever buy.  They all use Bird QC connectors like you
would find on a Bird 43 watt meter.  If you make it through this email,
I'll admit I got a little obsessed with buying and cleaning up several Bird
dummy loads!  I'm guilty as accused... ;)

*Bird 8401* (the perfect ham shack dummy load IMHO, still in production
<http://www.birdrf.com/Products/Terminations_Loads/Coaxial-Terminations/600-watts/8401_600-Watt-Oil-Cooled-Terminations.aspx>)
Over
$800 new???.  I was very lucky to find a new / old stock one of these with
the cardboard still wrapped around it for $250 shipped.  $250 for a dummy
load you ask???  Well for a commercial piece of Bird equipment that will
handle 600 watts continuous and is good from DC to 3ghz.  De-rated, this
load will handle 1.5kw for 10 minutes easily and more if you put a fan on
it.  This is more dummy load than I'll ever need in the shack and the one I
will never sell.

Here are pictures of my *Bird 8401*:
http://www.nc7j.com/downloads/ng7m/Bird8401DummyLoad/ (new old stock, no
cleanup required)

*Bird 8404* (identical to the 8401 except that it has an N connector gender
bender with mount on the front).  I picked up one of these in rough shape
shipped for $52 shipped and restored it for my good buddy W7CT Jim.  We
added new Shell dielectric transformer oil and the total cost was $82.

Here are pictures of W7CT's $82 *Bird 8404* (before and after cleanup with
new oil):
http://www.nc7j.com/downloads/W7CT/Bird%208404%20Coaxial%20Resistor%20Termaline/

*Bird 8201* Most common Bird 500 watt dummy load you will find on
fleaBay.  Still
in production
<http://www.birdrf.com/Products/Terminations_Loads/Coaxial-Terminations/500-watts/8201_500-Watt-Oil-Cooled-Terminations.aspx>.
I picked up one of these in great shape shipped for ~$150.  This will be
the easiest model to find and probably the best value.  Rated from DC to
1ghz, it's probably the best bargain in a Bird QRO dummy load that is still
in production.  Again, de-rated, this will handle 1.5kw for many minutes...
and more with a fan.

Before and after clean up pictures of my *Bird 8201 *(like new condition):
http://www.nc7j.com/downloads/ng7m/Bird8201DummyLoad/

*Bird 8135* Little brother dummy load to the 8401 / 8201, still in
production
<http://www.birdrf.com/Products/Terminations_Loads/Coaxial-Terminations/150-watts/8135_150-Watt-Oil-Cooled-Terminations.aspx>.
150 watts continuous. These are easily found on fleaBay in the $60 to $150
price range.  150 watts continuous. Good from DC to 4ghz with a bit higher
VSWR along the way.  The one I found was like new and looks like the
current production pictures on the Bird website.  A cool little oil filled
dummy load to pair up with your K3 line, or match with an 8201/8401.

*Bird 8166* Dry 150 watt continuous dummy load, good from DC to 2.5ghz with
a bit higher VSWR (no longer in production
<http://www.birdrf.com/~/media/Bird/Files/PDF/discontinued-manuals/920-8000S_coaxial-load-resistor.ashx>).
You can find these used for around $65 to $150.

Anyway, this is more information than most wanted to see in dummy loads!!
There are many other Bird models out there.  I got over my Bird dummy load
obsession, but I'm happy with what I found and they all make a great
addition to the shack.  There are certainly models from Bird that will
handle much more power, but I'm still of the opinion that the 84/82 line
are the perfect size for use in the shack.

Off my dummy load soap box.

Max NG7M



On Wed, Dec 28, 2016 at 1:52 AM, Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
wrote:

> On Wed,12/28/2016 12:26 AM, Edward R Cole wrote:
>
>> I have a big old Sierra Electronic 500w coaxial load with heat sink and
>> built in power meter; weighs about 40-50 lbs; makes a dandy door stop,
>> too!  It is rated to 1000-MHz.
>>
>
> I found a nice oil-cooled dummy load with a big heat sink integral to it
> at a hamfest many years ago. It's rated 500W continuous. That was a good
> day. Doorstop -- you betcha! :) Measured it with my VNWA and found that
> it's good well into UHF. No attached power meter though, but found a nice
> Bird with some slugs on another day.
>
> I've also found industrial quality 10W and 100W dummy loads at hamfests
> that were salvaged from cell sites. One purchase yielded nearly ten of them.
>
> This is the sort of stuff I look for at hamfests (some call them flea
> markets or swap meets). Also high quality connectors and adapters.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
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-- 
M. George