Hello. I'm an electronics beginner so be gentle. I have a device which discourages cats from pooing on your garden. It is powered by 4 x 1.2v AA batteries and has a solar cell in the top which is supposed to charge them. My problem is that it is not charging the batteries, they run down after about two weeks and I have to take them out and charge them in my battery charger. I've done a bit of investigating, here's what I have found so far.
1. The charger reports that the batteries are OK and charges them with no problems so I assume it's not the batteries.
2. I've taken the following readings with my multimeter:-
The solar panel gives a very low reading while connected to the pcb without the batteries, so might that mean that something on the pcb is draining the power from the solar panel?
If so, what might that be and how can I fix it?
Many thanks for any help you can give me.
1. The charger reports that the batteries are OK and charges them with no problems so I assume it's not the batteries.
2. I've taken the following readings with my multimeter:-
a. across where the wires from the solar panel are soldered to the pcb, with the batteries in place 4.6v
b. same but without the batteries 0.7v
c. I disconected the solar panel from the pcb and measured 4.6v across the leads when exposed to light and 1.2v when shielded.
Using my simple logic the solar panel seems to be OK, as are the batteries, so should I assume that something on the pcb is causing the problem?The solar panel gives a very low reading while connected to the pcb without the batteries, so might that mean that something on the pcb is draining the power from the solar panel?
If so, what might that be and how can I fix it?
Many thanks for any help you can give me.