[TowerTalk] Oil For Dummy Load

[Al Kozakiewicz]

If they're only rated for a few seconds (yeah, they are), then the difference between transformer and mineral oil is probably measured in milliseconds - not enough to bother.   The thermodynamics of a paint can are really not up to the application.  Unless you're building or servicing amplifiers on a regular basis, there isn’t much more than a few seconds of need for full power into a dummy load on an occasional basis anyway. If you really need more, buy or make a real DL.  If you're tuning into a DL (I hear some hams do this), why?  I use the Cantenna when an amp is on the bench, which isn’t often. Otherwise it gathers dust. A lot of dust since I lost the plastic cap for the pressure relief and the thing is kind of coated in oil...

I have to laugh though.  I've heard time and again how unfair and inaccurate the stereotype of the cheap ham is.....and then there is this thread!

I did buy an inexpensive smoke generator for testing auto EVAP systems recently.  Basically, it is a paint can containing  a wick wrapped with nichrome wire and an LPG regulator to supply 1 or 2 PSI of air.  You put mineral oil in the can. The directions were poor and I filled the can up not really understanding that the wick at the bottom of the can was supposed to be above the oil level - it generates the smoke when heated.  Before I applied compressed air, oil was  oozing out of the regulator.  What a mess!  As a result, I have a surplus of USP grade mineral oil right now.....

Best,

Al
AB2ZY 

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bryan Swadener via TowerTalk
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2015 9:03 PM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Oil For Dummy Load

No, especially when you're pumping a kilowatt into a 90W-rated Globar in only a gallon of media that has only the tin bucket itself to transfer the heat to atmosphere. You need _every bit of advantage_ you can get.  As it is, those DLs are rated a kilowatt for only a few seconds. That's why I stopped using my HN31 with an amplifier, and built my compact 1500W (100% D/C) load.

Bryan WA7PRC



From: D. Scott MacKenzie
To: Bryan WA7PRC
Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2015 5:42 PM
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Oil For Dummy Load

Mineral oil is a proper substitute - and not "dubious."


-----Original Message-----
From: Bryan WA7PRC

Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2015 8:27 PM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Oil For Dummy Load

I found one gallon of actual transformer oil for FREE (unless you count having to drive 2 miles to get it).Why mess around with dubious substitutes when it's available for FREE?
Bryan WA7PRC

   
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