Bird’s RF Loads are trusted around the world to safely absorb RF energy and protect critical systems from reflected power. Built for durability, precision, and performance, our load family covers a wide range of power levels, frequencies, and connector types—supporting everything from lab or field testing, to high-power embedded applications.
Choosing the Right RF Load: What to Use – and What to Avoid
Convection-Cooled Loads
Utilizes internal heat sinks and chassis cooling fins for passive air cooling.
- Best for: Low to mid-power (< 1500 W) applications where ambient airflow is available.
- Avoid if: Space is tight or airflow is restricted.
Conduction-Cooled Loads
Dissipates heat through direct contact with a heatsink or chassis.
- Best for: Embedded systems or rack installations with custom cooling.
- Avoid if: There’s no solid mounting surface for heat transfer.
Water-Cooled Loads
Uses flowing water for high-efficiency cooling.
- Best for: High-power systems (> 1000W) or continuous-duty applications.
- Avoid if: Unsuitable when water quality is poor or when water supply or plumbing infrastructure are unavailable.
Self-contained, Water-Cooled Loads (Moduloads)
Bird’s Moduload integrates water cooling in a sealed, portable unit—no external plumbing needed.
- Best for: High-power testing environments that demand portability and fast setup.
- Avoid if: Your application requires a permanently installed, plumbed water-cooled system.
Oil-Cooled Loads
Uses oil for both dielectric properties and heat dissipation.
- Best for: High-power systems where stability and longevity are critical.
- Avoid if: Weight, size, or handling of oil-based equipment is a concern.
Forced Air-Cooled Loads
Actively cooled using high-velocity airflow (often fan-assisted) to cool internal resistors.
- Best for: High peak power or elevated temperature environments.
- Avoid if: Fan noise or maintenance is an issue, or if cooling air isn’t available.