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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
PE1HZG Rating: 2023-07-27
OK unit, some assembly req'd Time Owned: more than 12 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.

Having has the unit for a few years I have used it to exercise several amplifiers, including a pair of 3/500's and a solid-state amplifier and it is very nice for this, much nicer than "a can of oil" that can drop, leak, ...

The noise of the fan is definitely there and while I initially had added a switch for that, some years later I added a small electronics circuit that would measure the RF level and, based on time and power level, would switch on and off the fan automatically and that is really nice - the unit makes noise when testing and switches off again when things have cooled off. I offered the circuit to one of the amateur magazines and was rejected - presumably "too simple" so you'll need to roll your own.

After a decade of use in many different settings I am still very happy I bought this. And the "catching screw" problem has not returned.
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.
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.