Cleaning electrical contacts...

Printable View

10-06-2009, 09:01 AM
Cane Pole

Cleaning electrical contacts...

Electrical

Cleaning Electrical Contacts

The copper parts of the connections, like circuit board edge connectors and the like, can usually be cleaned with a white eraser. If you want to get aggressive, try a fine Scotch-Brite pad, but be sure to leave some copper foil on the connector edge. For most jobs the eraser is the safest way.

The brass and silver and tinned connector pins are self-cleaning when they are removed and replaced. A thin layer of oxide forms on the surface, protecting the base metal from further damage. The pins and such are designed so that the oxide layer is scraped off when they are assembled/disassembled, exposing virgin metal for the best current flow.

All that said, I learned a good lesson from a marine electrician-- use silicone dielectric grease on the connectors to protect them from corrosive elements. In the boat this is usually salt water, but in the car this can be something like fumes from the battery, or from something that's in the air that day. No problems here in the crystal-clear L.A. basin, but some places may have real smog. Add a little moisture, shake well... Anyway, this stuff is sold in small quantities as "spark plug boot grease" at auto parts stores, or in larger tubes at industrial hardware stores as "high-voltage bushing flashover grease" or something similar. I buy Dow #5 in a small tube that lasts a long time. A little in the connector before assembly means you will never have a corrosion problem there again. Great stuff!

Also good to know-- NEVER use conventional RTV products on or around electrical connections. Use only non-contaminating non-corrosive stuff made specifically for electrical applications. Conventional RTV uses acetic acid as part of the curing agent, and plays hell with any nearby electrical connections.

And last but not least, most common spray contact cleaners are a waste of time. The ones that work for degreasing and really cleaning tend not to be sold at radio shack stores, and also like to eat some common plastics. Use your best judgement on this.

I got this article somewhere.

Connector pins are usually gold flashed. Don't get too aggressive when cleaning them. They can self clean by plug and unplug.

Best solution. Grease it.
10-06-2009, 11:50 AM
Yodibuzz

thanks cane pole

one question, where can i find silicone dielectric grease?
thanks for all these little tips you pass on to us.
10-06-2009, 01:16 PM
chuckauten

I have been using the dielectric grease for over two years. No more problems with corrosion. See you 10/23. If you have a chance, I would like to talk a little about my 997.

Chuck
10-06-2009, 01:20 PM
Cane Pole

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yodibuzz

thanks cane pole

one question, where can i find silicone dielectric grease?
thanks for all these little tips you pass on to us.

You can get it at car parts places such as Advance auto. Locktite makes some and 3m makes it. There are others I am sure.

good stuff.
10-06-2009, 01:21 PM
Cane Pole

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuckauten

I have been using the dielectric grease for over two years. No more problems with corrosion. See you 10/23. If you have a chance, I would like to talk a little about my 997.

Chuck

Ok. There will be others there to help too. Pete and JeffW know more than I do about this critter.
10-06-2009, 02:05 PM
chuckauten

Looking forward to meeting all of you Tenn folks. I am arriving on Wed.

Chuck
10-06-2009, 02:06 PM
Wannabe...

Go to any auto parts store and ask for spark plug boot grease. Same stuff. Advance and O'Reily's carries it in a single use package like ketchup from McDonalds for like 15 cents each. Good idea to drop a couple in your boat tool box in case you have an on the water repair to do. That way it get's done right the first time.

Wannabe...
10-06-2009, 02:11 PM
Cane Pole

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wannabe...

Go to any auto parts store and ask for spark plug boot grease. Same stuff. Advance and O'Reily's carries it in a single use package like ketchup from McDonalds for like 15 cents each. Good idea to drop a couple in your boat tool box in case you have an on the water repair to do. That way it get's done right the first time.

Wannabe...

Yep. Also you can get a pack of grease in a package (looks like a pill) at car place for lubing the car bulbs. Same stuff. I can't remember the name of it. Also distributor grease. Help me Wanna.......
10-06-2009, 03:55 PM
Pomoxis

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cane Pole

<cut>use silicone dielectric grease </cut>

I've been using vaseline for about 17 years or so for the same purpose. It's much cheaper and works. When I worked at Westinghouse we used vaseline between connections (especially puck diodes) to improve the connection and prevent corrosion.

Works well.

I'm ex-Navy avionics so I'm used to the extremes when it comes to cleaning contacts and preserving them. To date the BEST contact cleaner is an eraser like CP said. It removes the least amount of material.

I would love to find a civilian replacement for amlguard :( ..great stuff for any bare metal you can't immediately paint but need to protect..
10-06-2009, 04:56 PM
Cane Pole

Careful with vaseline as it will attack some plastics and rubber. Check first.
10-06-2009, 08:38 PM
Barnacle Bill

The old cross bar telephone switches had many, many, many relays in it. They were a constant fight to keep clean and we found that using a new dollar or 100 dollar bill worked just great as they do not leave any lint. I cleaned many of them that way. It was either that or replace them and some of them had up to 24 connections and everyone wire wrapped.
10-06-2009, 09:54 PM
jaxsprat

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yodibuzz

thanks cane pole

one question, where can i find silicone dielectric grease?
thanks for all these little tips you pass on to us.

Any auto parts or hardware will carry PERMATEX Brand dielectric grease, usually comes in a small 2 1/2 to 3 inch tube, like toothpaste tube. Been using it for years on car bulbs, outdoor flood lites, & all boat wiring-anything electrical, wire connection or bulb socket that will be near water. Just a little dab on a outdoor lite bulb thread & bulb will not corrode in socket & be as easy to unscrew as day it was installed.
10-06-2009, 09:56 PM
Cane Pole

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxsprat

Any auto parts or hardware will carry PERMATEX Brand dielectric grease, usually comes in a small 2 1/2 to 3 inch tube, like toothpaste tube. Been using it for years on car bulbs, outdoor flood lites, & all boat wiring-anything electrical, wire connection or bulb socket that will be near water. Just a little dab on a outdoor lite bulb thread & bulb will not corrode in socket & be as easy to unscrew as day it was installed.

Permatex. That is the name I couldn't remember.:o:o
10-09-2009, 10:23 PM
ifish

Can you use dielectric grease on fuse holders? Mine are breaking contact and the fuses on the old Bass Tracker are a bugger to get to.
10-10-2009, 08:36 AM
Cane Pole

Quote:

Originally Posted by ifish

Can you use dielectric grease on fuse holders? Mine are breaking contact and the fuses on the old Bass Tracker are a bugger to get to.

Yes. Remember corrosion is also an insulator. You pick the less of the two evils. Thin coat is best after cleaning the contacts. I don't care what the pros say (it's an insulator grease). I have used it for years with great results. Bell South also uses it in their phone jacks that are exposed to the elements.
10-14-2009, 09:37 PM
Cane Pole

Quote:

Originally Posted by IBNFSHN

The old cross bar telephone switches had many, many, many relays in it. They were a constant fight to keep clean and we found that using a new dollar or 100 dollar bill worked just great as they do not leave any lint. I cleaned many of them that way. It was either that or replace them and some of them had up to 24 connections and everyone wire wrapped.

I like to watch them crossbars work. Amazing. Can't clean with the dollar bill anymore. I heard it shrunk to nuthin.:eek:
10-14-2009, 11:25 PM
Hanr3

Good post CP.

I use a pencil eraser to clean my contacts. Habit from my AFX race track days.

From my electrician days I used dielectric grease for all my auto/boat contacts, including light bulbs. The grease prevents the sockets from corroding and prevent dim bulbs, plus they keep teh water and other elements out. You can pick it up at auto parts or your local electrical supply store. I have been using a fairly large tube for the past 20 plus years.

I also use it on my boat trailer, and I never unplug my trailer lights. Second season on this set of bulbs. So far, so good.