AnyTone AT-5555 Plus (New Version) DC Power Loss

[BC Coyote]

Sounds like you have the right meters. When I do run an amp with my 5555N2 I run AM deadkey at just under 1 watt. Remember it's the swing that kills amps, not the deadkey!
What kind of amp was it? The RM Italy ones seem to be ultra-sensitive.........I know a couple people that bought them and promptly cooked them with a wee bit too much input. Those MOSFETs are sensitive.

 

[Recon]

Sounds like you have the right meters. When I do run an amp with my 5555N2 I run AM deadkey at just under 1 watt. Remember it's the swing that kills amps, not the deadkey!
What kind of amp was it? The RM Italy ones seem to be ultra-sensitive.........I know a couple people that bought them and promptly cooked them with a wee bit too much input. Those MOSFETs are sensitive.

Fat Cat amp

 

[Elliott Hart]

Fat Cat amp

I would run this radio wide open into a straght 4 pill. Choking this radio down to a 20 watt peak is a waist of power. Let the dragon breath...lol

 

[Recon]

I would run this radio wide open into a straght 4 pill. Choking this radio down to a 20 watt peak is a waist of power. Let the dragon breath...lol

Will the radio drive the 4-pill?
1.5 watt carrier = 20 PEP watts
4 watt carrier = 25 PEP watts
6 watt carrier = 40 PEP watts
10 watt carrier = 48 PEP watts

 

[Elliott Hart]

Will the radio drive the 4-pill?
1.5 watt carrier = 20 PEP watts
4 watt carrier = 25 PEP watts
6 watt carrier = 40 PEP watts
10 watt carrier = 48 PEP watts

Yes, I have a AT-5555n II (long case) driving into a Carlbuilt 4 pill with a 4 watt DK key I get about about 600 peak bird watts. With the radio wide open (8 watt DK-60 peak watts). I get about 850 bird peak out of my CB 4 pill. My radio is tuned for a 8 watt max dead key. I talk 99% on SSB so my dead key number is irrelevant. If you talk on AM I would not hit the 4 pill with nothing more than 8 watts DK and nothing more than 100 peak watts

 

[Recon]

Yes, I have a AT-5555n II (long case) driving into a Carlbuilt 4 pill with a 4 watt DK key I get about about 600 peak bird watts. With the radio wide open (8 watt DK-60 peak watts). I get about 850 bird peak out of my CB 4 pill. My radio is tuned for a 8 watt max dead key. I talk 99% on SSB so my dead key number is irrelevant. If you talk on AM I would not hit the 4 pill with nothing more than 8 watts DK and nothing more than 100 peak watts

I'v

Yes, I have a AT-5555n II (long case) driving into a Carlbuilt 4 pill with a 4 watt DK key I get about about 600 peak bird watts. With the radio wide open (8 watt DK-60 peak watts). I get about 850 bird peak out of my CB 4 pill. My radio is tuned for a 8 watt max dead key. I talk 99% on SSB so my dead key number is irrelevant. If you talk on AM I would not hit the 4 pill with nothing more than 8 watts DK and nothing more than 100 peak watts

Yes, I use the "rule of thumb" formula, 25 watts per pill for the dead-key and reduce the formula by twenty-five percent. I have returned the 1 X 4 to the builder and requested to convert it to a straight 4 pill and install the components required for sideband delay.

 

[Recon]

Pretty much guarantee it. The thing is if you don't have a proper peak reading watt meter you will see less power from the 5555N2 than what it is actually putting out on peaks. It's very easy to overdrive an amp with that radio unless you've gone into the service menu and turned deadkey way way down.

I often run my 5555N2 barefoot and have no trouble whatsoever talking DX. It talks just as well as my 148GTL with a Palomar 200 on it. No need for an amp with that radio if you have a good antenna system!

I've tried a different radio with a two-watt carrier and I have the same problem. Definitely no defects with with jumpers, antenna and coax because my Stryker 955 works great with the same jumpers, antenna and coax.

 

[Recon]

Check the simple things. Assuming the Astron is fine check the radio power cord, fuse, and connection points. Maybe try a different power cord. After that it would have to be in the radio. Loose connection, bad solder joint, or a failing component.

I had taken your advice and triple-checked all connections and identified the problem. My home-brew heavy-duty 10 gage power cord. I connected a six-inch piece of a standard 14/16 gage 12 volt power cord to a thirty-six inch piece of 10 gage wire with butt-connectors and the crimp onto black/ground wire wasn't the best.
Yeah...............Operator Error!