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| Reviews Summary for Palstar DL2K Dummy Load |
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Reviews: 27
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Average rating: 4.8/5
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MSRP: $Suggested Retail Price $159.95
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Description: Specifications
2000 watts for 1.5 minutes
Fan cooled ( switched )
Frequency range DC to 30 Mhz
Internal wattmeter and analog metering
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More info: http://www.palstar.com
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N2TU
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 9, 2009 16:50
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Two Thumbs Up!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased the older version of the DL2K from an estate sale, however it doesn't have some of the niceties of the newer DL2K units. It is, however, built with the same high quality as my AT4K tuner.
The newer version of DL2K Dummy Load is equipped with a thermostatically controlled fan, larger lighted meter and the coax connector in the rear.
Not needing another SWR/Power meter in the shack, I was OK with the smaller meter and a front mounted coax connector didn't bother me. I did want a thermostatically controlled fan so I called Paul.
I purchased the board required and did the modification. It works great. As I increase power, the board senses the load resistors heating up and turns the fan on full blast. While I had the DL2K open, I installed meter lamps and fused the new circuit board.
I pushed 1.5KW into the Dummy Load and the unit appeared to handle it with ease.
By the way, good old US Postal Service manhandled the shipment and I wound up with a defective thermistor. I called Paul and I had a new one in two days. No questions asked! He was great to deal with and I have an upgraded DL2K.
If anyone needs pictures of the mod or instructions, I'd be glad to pass them along. (my call at ARRL.net).
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W7CNK
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 2, 2008 08:20
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Ezcellent product
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The mechanical design is great, very solid. The fan is a bit noisy but it hard to find a fan of this size that isn’t. The highest power I’ve used is 1KW and it handled that just fine. The power meter is accurate, however, I believe it should read Peak Power not Average, I’ll probably correct that issue after the warranty period. I would recommend this dummy load it’s an excellent product.
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PA3HGT
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Rating: 4/5
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Aug 22, 2008 13:14
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Fan is noisy
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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This dummyload was new when i bought it from Gaga-products.(nice company!)
Good product but the fan is really noisy.
It's like a Boeing-747 is starting their engines !
For the rest good quality product and accurate powermeter,good enough for my Acom 2000a.
73,Hans,PA3HGT
www.pa3hgt.nl
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W3RXO
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 22, 2008 09:37
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Great Product!!!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Addendum, to my previous post. Yes, the fan is a "bit" noisier, than the fan on my Alpha, but far less noisy than the fan on my former amplifier, a Gonset GSB 201 MkIII. And, while we all might like a quieter environment, remember, you only need the fan while tuning into the DL2K, at greater than 500 watts. Then you shut it off, and it causes no noise whatsoever. For one to be concerned about the noise factor, one must truly be a very persnickity individual, since the fan noise should never go out over the air.
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OE3SGU
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 9, 2008 07:10
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Very valuable addition to the shack
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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After my purchase of the AT2K and experiencing the superb quality of this tuner, I could not resist and added the DL2K. It shows the same great quality and the meter seems to be quite accurate. As everything from Palstar I ever owned it is wellworth the money allthough it is not cheap. But it might save you some trouble that you could experience with other less quality products. Guess its the last dummy load I will ever need. Waiting patiently for a new model of the Palstar antenna analyzer that adds at least 6m.
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K1JOS
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 3, 2008 17:35
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Great Company - Great DL
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned my DL2K for about 2 years. It has worked flawlessly even beyond legal limit with key down with my Alpha 87A. Yes, the fan is a bit noisy but hey it's a DL and you're not on the air and the fan works when I pumping almost 2k into it. I recently had a problem, beyond warranty and not even a real warranty issue if it were still covered. I emailed Paul... he is very busy and you might not think he is reading but low and behold, I received a very special box by UPS within a few days. Paul knows how to stand behind his products when other companies would not even tread. My appreciation to him and Palstar for a great Ham USA company. BTW, their AT-AUTO is also one FB tuner. It memorizes all of the best matched settings with my ICOM/Alpha combination and just effortlessly tunes across bands, etc as I listen for DX and it's then all set for me as soon as I hit that xmit button on my mic. Another made in the USA perfect tank.
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VE3LLL
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Rating: 3/5
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Mar 14, 2008 10:01
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Not as enthused as others
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had the DL2K for a couple of years. I believe I got one of the last of the models with the fan switch on the rear of the unit.
After receiving it I wrote to Paul @ Palstar expressing incredulity that the switch was on the rear and asking for advice about how best to hook up a front switch. I wasn't terribly rude, but I guess my expression of incredulity at the design was enough that my first two emails were ignored and Paul's reply to my third was inscrutable; no help at all.
I did put in a switch, and have used the unit at 200-300W since but without using the fan. As others have said, it's really well built for such loads.
However in testing an amp today I put the DL2K to work at the loads it's supposed to handle, putting in power from 1,250W to 1,950W.
First, I was quickly reminded how very noisy is the fan in this device (the fan must be used when power exceeds 500W). Chances are, NOTHING else in your shack has ever made so much noise. It's about 3-4 times as loud as a Drake TR7 supplementary cooling fan, if that helps you imagine it. If not, think "jet engine", you won't be TOO far off! Great strides have been made in cooling and cooling fan technology (compare your new computer to your old one!) but they haven't been found at Palstar.
So the fan was on, and use was well below the load curve printed on the front of the unit. Loads were rarely applied for even 30 seconds, while the unit should handle 2kW for 60 seconds and lower loads for longer.
Under these loads the unit smelled quite strongly of hot resistors. As I said, it was first time at these power levels, but even after repeated use with minutes of cool-down time between each use, the reek was very noticeable and worrying. And after about fifteen minutes of total use (maybe 3 minutes of that was loaded time) I reached up to turn it off and found the case VERY hot to the touch; you would not be able to leave your hand on it for long. Despite all its noise, the fan doesn't seem to keep up.
This experience suggests that this device is maxed-out at quite a bit less than its advertised capacity. If you are routinely dealing with legal-limit or higher loads, you might consider something else, maybe even Palstar's 5000W unit (but only if it has a quieter fan.)
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K2MK
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 14, 2007 06:02
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Nice package
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Just received my DL2K. As stated by others, there is a front mounted fan switch and light switch. It's a nice solid piece of equipment and I was able to mount my two position antenna switch directly to the SO239 connector on the rear. That helped clean up some cables. I'm only running 200 watts but when I moved from the basement to an upstairs home-office the XYL wouldn't let me bring up the old Heathkit Cantenna. Just too messy looking. This unit works great with the added benefit of having a lighted power meter. The fan sounds quite powerful but doesn't appear to be needed for 200 watts.
When I showed the XYL the improvement she had thought I was kidding when I said it was a dummy load. But those words are printed right on the front panel. Unfortunately "Dummy Load" has become her new nickname for me. It makes up for my ten or more nicknames for her.
Don't hesitate to purchase this device. It's a well made and attractive addition to the shack. And no oily mess. Make the XYL happy and you too could receive a new nickname.
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KE0XS
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 14, 2007 17:53
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Very Cool
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Received my DL-2000K today and put it through the paces with my LK-550. Handled every power level I threw at it. The fan really cools the unit down quickly. My only recommendation is that they consider a different plug for DC power. Mine was loose in the socket and I had to wrap a piece of electrical tape (as a shim) around the shaft of the plug so that when inserted it didn't move around and pull out so easily. Great Unit. I will be installing a thermo switch this week to automatically turn on the fan.
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W0NGS
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 8, 2007 22:44
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Nice unit and no messy oil
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I received my DL2K yesterday and the first thing I noticed was how well it was packaged for shipment. Not a scratch or dlemish on the unit. Once unboxed I just had to take the cover off and peek inside. I was really impressed by the quality of workmanship. Nice features are the fan/lamp/and range switches are well marked and mounted on the front panel. This unit replaced a old Cantenna by Heathkit and a oil filled load by MFJ both I have used for years but was getting tired of cleaning up the oil mess when they leaked. Only changes I would add is to put a handle on the top, and a thermostat mounted near the resistor stack which would turn on the fan when needed. I will probably add the thermostat myself before mounting the unit in the radio stack. All in all I am impressed with my first Palstar purchase and look forward to seeing other products from the company in the future. And it's made in the USA.
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