dielectric grease? if i use too much will it still be conductive????
dielectric grease? if i use too much will it still be conductive????
my connections keep getting corroded cause i live @ the beach. This time i cleaned the connections w/ electrical contact cleaner & then caked dielectric grease inside the connector. If i use alot will it still be conductive???? or will i have to go back & clean the connector out some??? (the can directions are VERY vague)
Re: dielectric grease? if i use too much will it still ... (fredejo)
Hi fred, First let me clear your post up; dielectric grease is not intended to be conductive, it is an insulator. This is what you can slather it all through the connector and not short anything out. This being said, dielectric grease is made to go inside the connector housing, but it's *really not* intended to go on the contacts themselves: it is only to keep moisture out of the surrounding area. Obviously it's hard to not get any on the contacts, so it is made to be non-conductive.
I used to work in the crane industry, and I found that service techs would 'inject' connectors/contacts plum full of this stuff thinking it will help. I'm not sure on the details, but it would eventually break down, turn an ugly brown, and end up doing more harm than good. You best bet is to use the grease inside, anywhere the wires extend out of the connector. Then just make sure any rubber boots, etc are in good order: use electrical tape or shrink tube(if you can fit it over the conn) to get a good seal.
Just for example: when I first bought my 240, my windshield wiper motor didn't work all the time. I pulled the motor connector and seen all the old grimey grease insude. As soon as I clean it all out, all way good.
Hope this helps to answer your question: bottom line, it does *not* help make a better contact, so use in moderation. Check your pins/terminal to be they still have a solid contact(tight), so even if they do corrode, it'll be OK.
::edit:: oh and the contact clean is a good thing(before the grease): just make sure to connect/disconnect the plugs 5-7times soon after it has *dried* to rub away any remaining corrosion/dirt(the cleaner helps to break down the corrosion/dirt, but you still have to get it off there) ::edit::
-Jamie
I used to work in the crane industry, and I found that service techs would 'inject' connectors/contacts plum full of this stuff thinking it will help. I'm not sure on the details, but it would eventually break down, turn an ugly brown, and end up doing more harm than good. You best bet is to use the grease inside, anywhere the wires extend out of the connector. Then just make sure any rubber boots, etc are in good order: use electrical tape or shrink tube(if you can fit it over the conn) to get a good seal.
Just for example: when I first bought my 240, my windshield wiper motor didn't work all the time. I pulled the motor connector and seen all the old grimey grease insude. As soon as I clean it all out, all way good.
Hope this helps to answer your question: bottom line, it does *not* help make a better contact, so use in moderation. Check your pins/terminal to be they still have a solid contact(tight), so even if they do corrode, it'll be OK.
::edit:: oh and the contact clean is a good thing(before the grease): just make sure to connect/disconnect the plugs 5-7times soon after it has *dried* to rub away any remaining corrosion/dirt(the cleaner helps to break down the corrosion/dirt, but you still have to get it off there) ::edit::
-Jamie