Solar panel problem
I have used small solar panels for 15 years to keep batteries charged when toys are not use. I bought two new panels to hook up to other toys (motorcycles). These are just 2.5 watts. They have a ...
Forum Discussion
I have been having the exact same problem.
It appears Battery Tenders and solar hook ups are wired backwards from each other! The following is a cut and paste from: http://www.sae2pin.com
Polarity being which side of a particular connector is “hot” (+) positive, and which side is (-) negative.
In the case of Battery Tenders, the connector polarity is driven by the necessity for it to be the “protected” female side of the SAE 2 Pole connector at the end of the assembly connected to a vehicle battery to be the “hot” (+) positive side. Therefore, the exposed pin side of the SAE 2 Pin on the end of a Battery Tender output must be “hot” (+) positve.
Portable Solar Chargers are a different situation, since the solar cells are a power source. Their output connection must therefore be of the polarity which will have the “protected” female side of the SAE 2 Pin connection being the “hot” (+) positive. Accessory assemblies must then be of a polarity in which the exposed male pin of the SAE 2 Pin meant to be plugged into the output connection of a portable solar charger must be the “hot” (+) positve.
Anyone connecting leads in circuits such as those discribed above must be carefully mindful of polarity. There may even be times when it is necessary to use a multi-tester to confirm polarity. The continuity test function of a multi-tester can be employed to determine which contact (or pin) on the connector at one end of a lead is mapped to (leads to) which contact on the connector at the other end.
It appears Battery Tenders and solar hook ups are wired backwards from each other! The following is a cut and paste from: http://www.sae2pin.com
Polarity being which side of a particular connector is “hot” (+) positive, and which side is (-) negative.
In the case of Battery Tenders, the connector polarity is driven by the necessity for it to be the “protected” female side of the SAE 2 Pole connector at the end of the assembly connected to a vehicle battery to be the “hot” (+) positive side. Therefore, the exposed pin side of the SAE 2 Pin on the end of a Battery Tender output must be “hot” (+) positve.
Portable Solar Chargers are a different situation, since the solar cells are a power source. Their output connection must therefore be of the polarity which will have the “protected” female side of the SAE 2 Pin connection being the “hot” (+) positive. Accessory assemblies must then be of a polarity in which the exposed male pin of the SAE 2 Pin meant to be plugged into the output connection of a portable solar charger must be the “hot” (+) positve.
Anyone connecting leads in circuits such as those discribed above must be carefully mindful of polarity. There may even be times when it is necessary to use a multi-tester to confirm polarity. The continuity test function of a multi-tester can be employed to determine which contact (or pin) on the connector at one end of a lead is mapped to (leads to) which contact on the connector at the other end.
