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Reviews For: Ameritron ADL-2500

Category: SWR & Wattmeters & Dummy Loads

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Review Summary For : Ameritron ADL-2500
Reviews: 8MSRP: 199.95
Description:
2500 Watt Dry Dummy Load w/ Cooling Fan
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.ameritron.com/ameritron/products.php?prodid=ADL-2500
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0083.9
AC6BW Rating: 2021-08-28
Great Dummy Load Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have a solid state no-tune 1300W amp, so I don't need to tune it into this dummy load. I bought the dummy load for general purpose transceiver and amplifier testing. The screws were not installed too tightly, and I had no problem inserting the power resistors. All the solder joints looked good. I ran it through its paces with up to a 1300W peak power signal, and it performed well. The SWR is very good. Yes, the fan is a little loud, but I just unplug it when it's not being used. It would be nice if they included a fan switch, but I'm not going to lower the rating because of that.
N1GMV Rating: 2021-06-29
Great unit plan on installing a switch Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Love this unit but after just 2 days of having it I couldn't stand it not having a switch for the fan. Picked up a low profile On/off toggle switch at my local autoparts and using a small pilot bit then a graduating bit drilled just next to the power plug to install the switch. I then shrink wrapped and tie wrapped the wires so they stay clear of the resistors. Simple fun mod, huge improvement.
I now want to come up with a way to mount it.
W9GDH Rating: 2018-08-19
FAN Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Works good. Fan is loud. Installed a 50 ohm resistor in series with 12 + line on the wall wart. Fan runs a half speed. Installed outdoor thermometer with outdoor probe on DL-2500 air outlet to monitor temp.
KA1IS Rating: 2018-04-01
great for testing linear amp Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I bought this dummy load because I have an ACOM 1500 amp that I run into an antenna tuner. The 1500 is manually tuned, so you first need to tune the amp into a dummy load and then let the antenna tuner do its job.

Since I'm not running key down for a long periods, I didn't bother to plug in the fan.

It does exactly what a dummy load is supposed to do - convert RF into heat - at a constant impedance.
NY6C Rating: 2012-04-19
Does the job Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
It does what I need. I can tune my Alpha 8100 with no problems. You have to take the cover off and put in the large resistors...no big deal. I'd give it a '5' rating but it would be nice if they added a switch to turn the internal fan on and off. I have to plug in the DC supply cord every time I want to tune...that leaves a cord dangling here on the desktop. All in all - it's a decent value for the money.
N6KYS Rating: 2007-08-23
Fine dummy load! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Can't relate to the problems below, because I've had nothing but good luck with mine. Seems well made, no problems at all. Loads up to a nice 50 ohm resistive load and stays cool. Nice item.
PE1HZG Rating: 2005-05-18
OK unit, some assembly req'd Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Like the previous poster, on my unit the screws were extremely tight. I believe this is because of an unfortunate interaction between the steel screws and the aluminium thread busses of the enclosure. Air humidity (shipping?) probably contributed.

So, this is what I did:
- Get a really, really good fitting screwdriver
- Bang the screwdriver a few times on the head with a block of wood before turning the screws - this will destroy the chemical bonding between screw and enclosure.

Unfortunately, I stripped one of the screws too, and I used some careful drilling (start with a small drill, then use incrementally larger ones), and I was able to remove the screw w/o damaging the threads in the bus.

I have been in contact with MFJ and they're sending new screws, as USA-gauge screws are difficult to get in Europe.
They are also reviewing the problem and may make changes to prevent this problem in the future.

I can't generate enough RF (yet) to justify this dummy load, so I did some resistance tests and tested the load with DC, and all seems well.
I'm happy with the unit and look forward to exercise a pair of 3-500's with the 2500 as load.
NI1N Rating: 2003-12-11
2 months and still can't use it Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ordered the ADL-2500 a little over 2 months ago from AES. Some assembly is required; the large resistors have to be put inside the unit. To do that, you have to remove a few screws in the cover. One of the screws was way too tight; I could not remove it and it ended up stripping the head of the screw. I called AES, thinking they would exhange it for another. After all, I had just received it less than an hour before I called and it had never been used. But, AES told me I had to contact Ameritron and return it to them for repairs. I called Ameritron and they arranged for UPS to pick it up. That was 8 weeks ago and it was the last I saw of my $200 dummy load. I give this product and Ameritron's service a big fat 0.

If I were rating AES, they wouldn't get much of a score from me on this one either; with a brand new product that was never able to be used they should have made life a little easier for their customer and dealt with the exchange themselves.