Electrical - Solar - Car Float ?

[Mako Koiwai]

I bought an inexpensive Harbor Freight Solar Panel to supply a little float to my small racing battery.

I thought that before I started the engine I would simple disconnect the cable ... but leave the clips attached to the battery. See Photo.

I'm driving home from a quick errand, smell smoke, turn around and the cable from the battery to the shelf behind the seat (where I place the solar panel when I'm not driving) is smoking. For some reason I grabbed it and burned the crap out of a finger. I pull over and disconnect the clips.

So does one have to disconnect the clips? I'm thinking that the cheap cable insulation wore through where I passed it from trunk forward, and it shorted out the wire?

[Rick Brown]

Same solar panels we used on the previous timing system for the lights. Shouldn't have to disconnect the clips but why in the world would you use clips to connect on a moving vehicle? Don't think they are designed for that. I'd certainly have made a more permanent connection. I'd agree the only likely short is rubbing somewhere.