I am considering buying a DX-440 off someone for $40. It requires
a 9V 300mA AC adapter. The one with it is a 9.6V AC adapter. The
radio seems to work fine. I have a correct 9V adapter, but I was
wondering whether this should put me off the purchase because it
may have shortened the life of the radio.

Craig

On 8/22/2012 6:09 PM, Craig Franck wrote:
I am considering buying a DX-440 off someone for $40. It requires
a 9V 300mA AC adapter. The one with it is a 9.6V AC adapter. The
radio seems to work fine. I have a correct 9V adapter, but I was
wondering whether this should put me off the purchase because it
may have shortened the life of the radio.

Craig

If the voltage is AC and not DC on the transformer I wouldn't buy the
radio. Otherwise 9.6 volts DC is well within the tolerance of the radios
voltage. Voltage should be no more then 10% above or below the required
voltage.
9V * .10 = 0.9 volts so the range of the radio input voltage is from 8.1
to 9.9 volts DC.

HTH.

On 8/22/2012 6:38 PM, Saul wrote:
On 8/22/2012 6:09 PM, Craig Franck wrote:
I am considering buying a DX-440 off someone for $40. It requires
a 9V 300mA AC adapter. The one with it is a 9.6V AC adapter. The
radio seems to work fine. I have a correct 9V adapter, but I was
wondering whether this should put me off the purchase because it
may have shortened the life of the radio.

Craig

If the voltage is AC and not DC on the transformer I wouldn't buy the
radio. Otherwise 9.6 volts DC is well within the tolerance of the radios
voltage. Voltage should be no more then 10% above or below the required
voltage.
9V * .10 = 0.9 volts so the range of the radio input voltage is from 8.1
to 9.9 volts DC.

HTH.

The wall transformer should be 110-120 volts AC input and 9 volts DC
output.

On 8/22/2012 6:09 PM, Craig Franck wrote:
I am considering buying a DX-440 off someone for $40. It requires
a 9V 300mA AC adapter. The one with it is a 9.6V AC adapter. The
radio seems to work fine. I have a correct 9V adapter, but I was
wondering whether this should put me off the purchase because it
may have shortened the life of the radio.

Craig


The working voltage input to the radio is dependent on the load
capacity of the adaptor, and the draw of the radio. With an unregulated
adaptor, sufficient load will draw down the voltage input to the radio,
so if the adaptor's output is rated at 9v for that radio, the open
circuit voltage can be considerably higher. As much as 12v, in some
cases. So, when evaluating an unregulated adaptor, both the rated
current and rated voltage should be considered against the drain of the
radio.

The bad news is that if the adaptor is unregulated, and the capacity
is sufficiently large, that the voltage draw down will not be sufficient
to bring the voltage input to the radio down to the radio's specs. Most
radios, today, are diode protected so any reasonable overvoltage won't
harm the radio. If the radio is not diode protected, the overvoltage of
the adaptor when load is not sufficient can damage the radio.

My recommendation would be to see if the radio works on batteries. If
so, make the purchase. Life of the radio is rarely affected
incrementally by an over voltage, or an incorrect current. It's either
damaged, and stops working, or it's not and works properly. But don't
use the supplied adaptor. Find another one, either regulated at the
correct rated voltage, or unregulated at voltage and current ratings
that are correct for the radio.

DX-440, is a common enough radio that you'll be able to find a
correct adaptor easily.

On 8/22/2012 9:09 PM, Craig Franck wrote:
I am considering buying a DX-440 off someone for $40. It requires
a 9V 300mA AC adapter. The one with it is a 9.6V AC adapter. The
radio seems to work fine. I have a correct 9V adapter, but I was
wondering whether this should put me off the purchase because it
may have shortened the life of the radio.

Craig

If the radio works fine and you like it, buy it. Normal variations on
the AC line (115 to 125 volts) can cause a few tenths of a volt
variation in the output voltage even on the factory adapter.

Also, you say you have "a correct 9V adapter". If it was *specifically*
made for the radio, that's great. If not, make sure the voltage AND
*polarity* are correct for the radio.