[Test-Equipment] Dummy load

[Brian Clarke]

My comment stands about the dielectric coefficient.
Rasputin bought a dummy load for HF and VHF usage. The dielectric coefficient is important at these frequencies.

I don't recall Heath carrying out dielectric coefficient measurements before your alleged claim that Heath recommended usage of bowel treatment for dummy loads. Certainly none was published and in all their literature, I have not seen reference to a chemical lab for testing oils. And while we are on Heath - their Cantenna is a load of garbage - it was designed by a real scatologist. Any electronics engineer, even the ARRL, recommends a negatively exponential funnel over the resistor to maintain a constant impedance; the Cantenna used a straight-sided cylinder. Note, Heath never published impedance vs frequency plots for this product. So, don't give us this BS that because Heath recommends something that that means anything!!!

Thank you for the direction to a list of US products. I read everything it listed about mineral oil. The definitions there cover such a wide range of aliphatic compounds with all sorts of cracking temperatures, specific gravities and applications that I can't see why your 'Mineral Oil USP' has any relevance to dummy loads. And there was absolutely no reference to dummy load usage or to its dielectric coefficient. Also, let's not claim that N American usage = International.

Fractional distillation does NOT equal chemically pure. Fractional distillation will bring over every compound with a similar boiling point to the specific cracking temperature. Ask any olefine chemist.

I looked up your alleged TenTec endorsement of mineral oil in dummy loads - it is nothing of the sort - firstly, there is no moderation by TenTec and secondly, it is just a bunch of amateurs chatting - there is no scientific peer review - it's about as valuable as a technical reference as a bunch of politicians chatting. I believe that Adolph Hitler used to say, "If I say something three times in public, it's true.' Having a ham emailing a TenTec listing saying he agrees with Heath on Cantennas is pure hogwash.

Please people, let's stick to the point. Rasputin wants to know what is the correct oil to use in a dummy load. Mineral oil, however specified, it ain't. Ask an engineer or a scientist - not a salesperson or a sore techo.

73 de Brian, VK2GCE.