I would up with both pos/neg terminal clamps falling off. I knew one had some wear and had previously reconnected one of them. I pulled it out to use it and possibly a clamp caught on something I don't know. Either way I am trying to determine the polarity and am not so keen on just trying my luck and see if I get a big spark or small one. I have opened it up but am not convinced I can determine them correctly. I have am Amprobe and tried connecting to one clamp and plugging the other into the ground of an outlet but I'm not getting any indication that clears it up. Any suggestions?

Steve

 

Connect a voltmeter to the 2 cables and see if it reads a positive 12v or a negative 12v. If the meter reads positive then the cable that has the positive lead off the meter connected to it is positive.

 

I believe you are right, Eric.

 

Correct, that resolved it. I hadn't noticed on my Amprobe screen the neg symbol.
thanks,
Steve