[TenTec] Argosy (I)

[Scott Cowling]

I have used my Argosy I (analog dial) on many a Field Day on 5W, and 
easily operated the entire 24 hours on batteries. I typically use a 
much bigger battery than needed, such as an Optima blue-top (55AH, I think).

 From memory, the 590mA RX current drain is about what I measured 
too.  About half of that is the panel lamps, which I disconnected. 
Being incandescent, they consume about 280mA of current. Once they 
are disconnected, you get a very reasonable 250-300mA current drain on RX.

73,
Scotty WA2DFI



>Message: 11
>Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2011 21:56:31 -0700
>From: D Finch <kq6k12 at gmail.com>
>Subject: Re: [TenTec] Argosy (I)
>To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment <tentec at contesting.com>
>
>I have an old Argosy 525 (Analog). I measured the power consumption a long
>while ago.
>
>What I got was:
>
>Receive: 590ma
>Transmit low power:  2.2 amps , power into a 50 ohm dummy load was 4.5 watts
>Transmit high power: 7.6 amps, power into a 50 ohm dummy load was about 40
>watts
>
>Power source was a 12.6 volt deep cycle lead acid battery.
>All dial lights etc were as supplied with the radio.
>
>I also used a fast acting circuit breaker between the battery and the rig.
>Ten-tec said this was important!!
>
>Don Hall KQ6KV
>
>On Wed, Sep 7, 2011 at 4:16 PM, John <jh.graves at verizon.net> wrote:
>
> > Dave,
> >
> > Thanks for jumping in.  I have a battery distributor almost in my
> > backyard (1 town over) and will have to ask him about a case like
> > yours.  I was kind of hoping for 3 hours and it sounds like I can do
> > better than that.  What kind of an antenna are you using?
> >
> > John / WA1JG
> >
> >
> > On 9/7/2011 6:21 PM, Dave Humbertson wrote:
> > >    I have the Argosy II 525D and I can get many hours of operating at 5
> > > watts even with the digital display and the meter lamp on. I use a 7 ah
> > > battery in a little case with a charger built in. I am not sure of the
> > > actual current drain. If I get a change I will measure it.
> > >
> > > 73, Dave - W3NP
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 9/7/2011 10:40 AM, John wrote:
> > >> I have an Argosy and think it would fun to use it as a portable rig.
> > >> Has anybody built up a portable supply for it?  The listed specs say it
> > >> draws .5 A on RX and 9 A. Max.  Is it really 2 A. total at low power ( 5
> > >> W)?  as an extrapolation ?  The FT-817 runs about 2A on transmit  aso I
> > >> would think I would be in that range.  At least one person is using a
> > >> 5000 mah battery as a supply for the 817.   Just thinking out load.
> > >>
> > >> John / WA1JG