[TowerTalk] Oil For Dummy Load

[Bryan Swadener]

Pete,
When I refurbished my Heath HN31 Cantenna (overheated resistor), I replaced the olde unknown oil with transformer oil. It was free from my electric utility's transformer shop. A few phone calls, and I tracked-down the supervisor, who was happy to give me a gallon. The trick was getting their gnarly fill pump to supply ONLY one gallon. Even if I had to buy transformer oil, I would NEVER use anything else.
Since then, I built a 1500W dry dummy load that can take 1500W at 100% duty cycle (unless I run out of cooling air). Leaks are also not an issue. I just pick the dust bunnies out once in a while. The Cantenna now sees no more than 100W (the Kanthal-Globar #886SP resistor is rated only 90W @ 40°C). If necessary, MFJ sells transformer oil.
vy 73 es gl,Bryan WA7PRChttp://www.tinyurl.com/wa7prc-dummy


 
    Date: Sat, 28 Nov 2015 12:25:43 -0500
From: Pete Smith N4ZR
To: TowerTalk <TowerTalk at contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Oil for Dummy Load

My Cantenna-type dummy load developed a pinhole leak in the can, and all 
the mineral oil drained out.  I have several gallons of clean (unused)  
peanut oil left over from Thanksgiving.  Is there any reason not to use 
this instead? From internet sources, the flash point appears to be 
higher than mineral oil.

-- 
73, Pete N4ZR