1:1 Balun 400w

It's a bit of an animal - actually, it's a lot of an animal -  A 1:1 Balun for use on HF (1.8-30MHz) that easily handles 400w RF power (full-duty cycle). Ideal for Dipoles at the home QTH.  We don't cut corners: This balun is wound on an FT240-31 ferrite core offering resistive performance 3.5MHz up to 30MHz so a perfect companion for your resonant HF aerial or fan-dipole.  At resonance, this balun is good for around 1kW CW/Datamodes.

160m/80m : If you intend to use this Choke mostly below 15MHz, we can supply it with 12 turns instead of the usual 8. This gives improved choking performance on the lower bands but it can still be used across the whole of HF.

QRO option : For extra power handling, this offers 2x FT240-31 ferrites with RG142 making the balun capable of 1000-watts continuous.

USE WITH : Resonant Dipole

• 8 (or 12) turns on a FT240-31 core
• 8-turns: >2k-ohm choking across 1.8-30MHz , 12-turns: >4k-ohm below 10MHz
• 2 side eye-bolts for wire strain-relief
• 1 top eye-bolt for use with a halyard
• SO239 connector
• 120x80xx45mm
• Filled with potting-compound for a complete weather-proof solution
• Weight: 585g

We also have a Doublet/G5RV Choke, using the same internal configuration, but with the terminals at the top of the box.

Baluns - What/Why?
It's good practice to put a Bal(anced)Un(balanced) where coax meets aerial or balanced-feeder.  A Balun will help prevent "common-mode current" on the outer of the coaxial braid - This is vital to ensure that RF does not flow down the coax, turn it into part of the antenna system and give you "RF in the Shack".  Using a 1:1 Current Balun at the junction of balanced-feeder+coax is also recommended.

We do not advise the use of "ugly chokes" (air-cored coils of coax) for use at HF - these do not offer a consistent choking impedance and, in some cases, can actually increase common-mode current!  Simply put - Use a 43 or 31 mix ferrite toroid and a coax of a suitable power rating.  At VHF, a few turns of coax is perfectly adequate - for 50MHz/70MHz, Aerial Parts of Colchester offer a ready-made choke for a yagi.