3.8/3.5 1.1mm adapter cable w/ 6V2W Solar Panel: No Way This Fits?

[Ashlike]

I'm working on a project that needs to stand up to limited outdoors use, so I picked up the recommended Solar Charge Controller (https://www.adafruit.com/product/390), a Outdoor Friendly Solar panel (https://www.adafruit.com/product/5366), and an adapter https://www.adafruit.com/product/2788 between the two jack sizes.

The adapter documentation suggests it may be a tight fit, but there is NO way that this thing will work. I have a big kit of various other adapters that claim to be 3.5x1.1, and these do fit with a bit of pressure, so it makes me wonder if the documentation for the panel in question is incorrect? Did I buy the wrong adapter, or is this adapter just known not to be compatible (despite recommendation) with this solar panel because of tolerances? Or is the adapter cable I have just defective? Has anyone else gotten this combination of hardware working?

[mikeysklar]

The fit is very tight and requires an excessive amount of force, but it does work.

[kjoenth]

I am unconvinced that it fits. I made a similar purchase (panel 5366 and adapter cord 2788) and have not been able to connect the two even with a great deal of force.

Can someone post images (or even better, a video) showing that the two actually connect?

[mikeysklar]

I'll order the current stock and confirm.

[kjoenth]

@mikeysklar that's extremely nice of you to do. I wish that @adafruit could weigh in, but maybe they don't have easy access to the physical stock?

[mikeysklar]

I am a paid Adafruit contractor.

The hardware support team is remote so it is normal for us to order the components to reproduce forum issues. I'll post an update here when the components arrive.

[mikeysklar]

The Solar Panel ( #5366 ) and 3.5mm adapter ( #2788 ). I was able to connect the two, but it did take more than hand strength. I took the vice on my desk lamp to pinch the adapter cable so I could insert the red solar panel 3.5mm plug.

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[T_Mo]

Gotta say, that's not really an ideal situation.

[kjoenth]

Agreed. This sounds like confirmation that the plug doesn't fit.

[kjoenth]

Agreed. This sounds like confirmation that the plug doesn't fit.

I completely take this back. I sat down and decided to stop being gentle with the plugs. Using just my hands, a little bit a wiggling, a little bit of turning, and suddenly they plugged together.

Even better, once plugged in, they smoothly plugged and unplugged.

So for the record, the parts _will_ plug together, and you _can_do it with hand strength, but you have to decide to not be gentle.

[mikeysklar]

Agreed and well said. It is a commitment to not being gentle.

[dwbarne]

Here's what I believe to be the easiest way to get these two connectors ... well ... connected.
First, make sure there is no power to any cable. Now, look at the very tip of the solar panel connector (my solar panel is 5V/10W) at the loose end of the red wire coming out of the solar panel. It has what looks like a very hard plastic black tip. It is this hard plastic black tip that is responsible for it being so hard to push into the 3.8/3.5 1.1mm adapter. So take a 1/16" drill bit (nothing bigger!!!), insert the end of the drill bit only slightly into the solar panel connector, and twist the drill bit BY HAND (do NOT use a drill!) a few times to remove only a small sliver of the inside diameter of the black tip. Be sure to gently remove any loose slivers using the drill bit as a pick if necessary. Now try to insert the solar panel connector into the 3.8/3.5mm adapter. When I did this, the two connectors mated with a nice firm friction fit with very little effort, like they are supposed to. This proved to me the biggest holdup in getting the two connectors to mate was that hard plastic black tip on the solar panel connector.