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Re: [Amps] Can distilled water be used for a dummy load ??

To: w9ac@arrl.net, amps@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] Can distilled water be used for a dummy load ??
From: dd3ly@arcor.de
Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:49:33 +0100 (CET)
List-post: <amps@contesting.com">mailto:amps@contesting.com>
 Kanthal-Globar or Cesiwid sells such professional water(-stream) cooled 
rf-loads...

73 de Andy DH5AK


----- Original Nachricht ----
Von:     Paul Christensen <w9ac@arrl.net>
An:      amps@contesting.com
Datum:   29.11.2011 16:05
Betreff: Re: [Amps] Can distilled water be used for a dummy load ??

> Jim,
> 
> Tap water has long been used as a coolant in high-power loads, like the 
> Altronic Omegaline models.  In college, I used a 25KW Omegaline water-cooled
> 
> load with a Harris FM-25K FM broadcast transmitter.  These loads are very 
> compact in relation to their ability to dissipate heat through running 
> water.  With 25KW being dissipated, you can hold the load in your hand and 
> it stays cool.  However, touch the water on the output and of course it's 
> very hot but nowhere near boiling.  All one needs is a household faucet, 
> garden hose, and a water drain.  For shacks in a basement with a utility 
> sink, it's ideal.
> 
> Flow sensor switches are commonly available that open the transmitter's 
> interlock in the event water flow stops or become impeded below a 
> pre-determined cubic volume per unit of time.  The Omegaline loads can be 
> found on the used market although it takes a hawk to find one at a 
> reasonably inexpensive price - but they're out there.  These loads offer 
> incredibly good return-loss specs.  Typically one can expect -30 dB 
> return-loss up to near 1 GHz.
> 
> So, I see no reason why water cannot be used, but I would sweep the load in
> 
> water with a VNA and plot return-loss as a function of frequency.  You may 
> find that the Z changes substantially as it's immersed in water.  Z may also
> 
> change with temperature, and that's something that may be part of the 
> commercial designs.  It may be helpful to call the folks at Altronic for 
> their input.  They're the world's experts with H2O-cooled loads.
> 
> Paul, W9AC
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jim Thomson" <jim.thom@telus.net>
> To: <amps@contesting.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2011 9:05 AM
> Subject: [Amps] Can distilled water be used for a dummy load ??
> 
> 
> > My  hb 50 ohm dummy load  consists of  4 x 200 ohm globars in parallel 
> > [type SP, glass bodied
> > and suitable for oil immersion].   Each resistor is 1" diam x 12"  long. 
> > [275 W CCS in air]
> > Each resistor  resides inside it's own  2.875" OD x sched 40  Aluminum 
> > tube.
> > All 4 x thick walled  AL tubes are heliarc welded.
> >
> > I heard some place that instead of xfmr oil, that  distilled water can be
> 
> > used instead?
> > The same glass bodied type SP  resistors, [50 ohm, high wattage]  are used
> 
> > in  water cooled loads,
> > the type that  has the garden hose on one end, etc.
> >
> > Seems to me that distilled water will conduct heat a lot better than xfmr
> 
> > oil.  The question is,
> > will the use of distilled water in a 7 gallon metal container, with 
> > resistors immersed present any
> > swr problems ?    If I remember correctly, swr was high on heath cantenna
> 
> > loads  if no oil used at all,
> > and dropped to dead flat once the oil was poured in.   There was also a 
> > similar 50 ohm load in the
> > old arrl books, same resistor as I'm using but it was a single 50 ohm 
> > unit, and not 4 x 200 ohms in parallel.
> >
> > I would prefer not to use xfmr oil if at all possible.   It's a little 
> > tougher to get a hold of these days..and not cheap.
> > My main concern however is something leaks. Water on the concrete floor in
> 
> > the shop is one thing, but 7 x
> > gals of xfmr oil is a disaster.  Can you add  rust inhibitor's  or  glycol
> 
> > to the distilled water ??
> > Do I even  have to use distilled water, or will  clean tap water work ?
> >
> > A 50/50  mix of water/glycol will result in a 265 deg F  boiling 
> > point..BUT the heat transfer is no
> > where as good.   I'm using a new 7 x gal paint can for this project, the 4
> 
> > x resistors and the welded AL
> > tube assy, hang from the top lid.
> >
> > Thanks... Jim   VE7RF
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Amps@contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/amps 
> 
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