A dummy load is a piece of equipment which allows transmitter testing and adjustment with minimal radiation of RF energy.
Most dummy loads are constructed using non-inductive resistors and utilize various heat sinking methods, ranging from passive air cooling (e.g. Elecraft DL-1, MFJ-261) to submersion in non-conductive oil baths (e.g. Heathkit Cantenna, MFJ-250), to dissipate the transmitter power.
An inexpensive, and easy to assemble, home brew alternative to conventional dummy loads is the K5LXP Saltwater Dummy Load
The article provides construction and alignment instructions along with an network analyzer SWR plot and a graph of thermal performance for 100w input over 30 minutes.
Individuals building this project assume all risk of injury, loss, or property damage.
