electrical connector cleaning product recomendation

[aaronl]

I have been repairing CNC (computer controlled) machine tools for 25 years. Most of the machines I work on were manufactured from the late 70's through the mid 90's. I work on later models also, but the older ones are where most of the failures are. I clean a lot of circuit boards and connectors including plug in ICs' and EPROMs'.

I use a general "no residue contact cleaner" for most work, but in areas that I know are going to be a problem I have found Caig products to be the best. ( http://www.caig.com/) Professional audio people swear by this stuff. The DoxIT product removes oxidation without using abrasives. Normal contact cleaners only remove dirt and oil. The PreservIT product preserves and protects after cleaning with DeoxIT. If you are cleaning gold contacts you would use DeoxIT first then ProGold for protection. For you guys that know about this stuff and have been around for a while deoxit used to be call Cramolin Red and Preservit was Cramolin blue.

My recomendation for automotive connector use would be to buy DeoxIT and PreservIT in the brush applicator or the pen form. With the pen can put it right where you want it and you don't waste much. I first started using the sprays and wasted a lot. Also the small swabs are good for connector cleaning. (Pointer Swabs, #SWPP-12) in the accessories list. You need the brush applicator to get the stuff into connectors with very small pins.

I looked around the Caig website to get the links for this post and found a Honda and a Ford bulletin calling for using DeoxIT for cleaning connectors in some problem areas.

Yes, the stuff appears expensive, but its not expensive when you know what it can save you in down time and trouble shooting time.

good luck,aaronl

[elwesso]

Good information!!!

Where do you get this stuff?

[szh]

Cramolin is definitely good stuff! I used it for my audio system and it works in almost all cases, except where the connector is Aluminum and corroded too much. If there is too much oxidation, it is not useful to restore the connector - far simpler to discard and change it.

Z

[aaronl]

You can buy it on line at the web site in my post.