I recently purchased a realistic dx440 radio. I would like to use a charger with it, but is read somewhere on the Internet that if you use the wrong charger or if the polarity is switched (how can you do that with a wall wart anyway?) , it will fry it. There are a lot listed specifically for this model, yet do not provide the voltage/ amps. Could someone please recommend a quality charger that won't let all of the magic smoke out of the components when I turn it on for the first time? Thanks for your help!
Charger needed for a Realistic dx 440
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Look on page 9 for some cautions…
Page 51 has the answer…
More to follow…
More to follow…
AC adaptor 9V/400mA center negative
What the semi-non-standard thing about that wall wart is the center is NEGATIVE. That is why you are warned to not touch the outside barrel (POSITIVE) to ground.
<edit> Now let’s just hope the manual shown is for your model’s version so none of that “magic smoke” is released.
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Worse comes to worse, just buy some D cells. The DX-440 is very good with them. If you're using headphones to DX the MW or SW, they'll last even longer.
As for the wall-wart polarity issue, not all radios have the same polarity. Many radio manufacturers (Sangean and some Panasonics) had the center pin being negative. Sangean has since changed over to center pin being positive. So you don't want to plug a center positive wall-wart into a radio designed for center negative.
As for the wall-wart polarity issue, not all radios have the same polarity. Many radio manufacturers (Sangean and some Panasonics) had the center pin being negative. Sangean has since changed over to center pin being positive. So you don't want to plug a center positive wall-wart into a radio designed for center negative.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
The Radio Shack DX-440 and the Sangean ATS-803A are the same radio. I have one sitting here in my garage.
The power supply it came with is 9vdc at 450ma and it works just fine. Center pin is negative and outer is positive, as mentioned above. You need one rated for 9 volts with the polarity correct and at least capable of 450ma. More current won't hurt the radio. I had a Radio Shack DX-440 many years ago and I used a 9v 1000ma power supply for years.
Be aware, this isn't a charger and it won't charge the batteries, it's just a power supply.
The power supply it came with is 9vdc at 450ma and it works just fine. Center pin is negative and outer is positive, as mentioned above. You need one rated for 9 volts with the polarity correct and at least capable of 450ma. More current won't hurt the radio. I had a Radio Shack DX-440 many years ago and I used a 9v 1000ma power supply for years.
Be aware, this isn't a charger and it won't charge the batteries, it's just a power supply.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
duplicate post.
I just noticed the dimensions in my post above, number 4. It has three-tenths and nine-twenty-fifths. To make those measurements on a tape measure, it would need to be marked in fiftieths of an inch instead of our thirty-seconds of an inch.
majoco
Stirrer
I think that's the dimensions of the radio - not the power supply - and you can easily measure 9/25" with digital callipers - but why would you want to?
Thanks, K4EET for that nugget of wisdom. Do you know what years use the center negative terminal or is there another way to tell?
Thanks Boombox, I do have some D batteries available for when it arrives in the mail.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I'd highly doubt they changed the polarity of the connector in the middle of the model run. That would require some small redesign of the circuit board, update manuals, having to deal with all the customer service issues, etc.
Look closely at the left side of the radio where the power supply plugs in. It shows the connector polarity under the jack. It's molded into the case.
The wall wart for mine shows a Model number of A30950. I believe it is the original Sangean power supply that came with the radio.
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Thank you mmckenna, for the link. I will have to check what the case shows as correct polarity once it arrives. The pictures the seller provided did not show the side of the case.
@mmckenna is usually right about 127.46% of the time and yes, the polarity will be shown on the case as indicated in the manual that I referenced.
I want to apologize for the confusion with my edit. What I should have said is simply to double-check everything before plugging in the wall wart just to make sure that the positive goes to where it is supposed to and the negative does likewise to keep everyone happy. You never know when a distributor might accidentally ship you the wrong item. I’m just an overly cautious person who doesn’t like to see anything give off that magic smoke. 🤣
mmckenna
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You, sir, have obviously never spoken with my wife. She'd say you are off by 127%.
And that is great advice. Most people will stick the plug in and as long as it fit, they'd assume it was good. Making sure the polarity is correct before using it is a really good idea. No need to take chances with a radio like that.
And they are nice radios. I'm on my second one. The first one I sold for some stupid reason, and I regretted it. I had a coworker that had 2 and was kind enough to give me his second one. I've done the various mods to it, and it's been a great radio. No, it's not the "best" radio, but for the original price, it was pretty respectable. I used to do a lot of long wave dx'ing with mine, mostly use it for listening to AM broadcast band DX at nights now. It has its place in my garage and I use it quite a bit. Great little radio.
It came in the mail yesterday. Both the radio and charger. Little disappointed in MW and SW. Strong signals sound distorted and unintelligible even with the rf gain down. When i touch the metal speaker grille the sound is less distorted. My Sony sounds much better. Any ideas?
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Try plugging in some headphones and see if it sounds better. It should.
Sounds like debris rattling around in the speaker cone, loose speaker, loose grill, etc. You may need to get in there and clean it up and tighten down the screws.
Thanks McKenna! I hope its something that simple as the FM sounds non distorted. Should I grab some electronic parts cleaner before I go home?
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Wait, if FM isn't distorted through the speaker, then it's not likely a speaker issue.
If it's AM, there's a switch on the bottom right that shows Narrow/Wide. Try switching that to one or the other and see if it improves.
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