Date: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:03:38 -0800
Reply-To: Doug Noganav <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Doug Noganav <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
Subject: Re: Di-Electric Grease....Magic Stuff
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Always an interesting topic.
Important to know what is actually happening with respect to greases and
electrical contacts.
Dielectric grease apparently is a "non-conductive" medium. so the grease
itself does not conduct electricity. What it does do is prevent oxidation to
an electrical connection over the long haul and keeps moisture away.
When connectors are slid together the grease moves away and allows metal to
metal contact which is essential
There are cases where dielectric grease can reduce connectivity.
There are also greases which do conduct electricity however this seems like
it would be very important to realize where the grease is located, like for
example the end of a light bulb, where conductive grease could easliy short
between the post and body.
My personal use with the black dielectric grease has been quite good. most,
purple 3m scotch brite pad and grease seems to make a good connection and
makes thing slide much easier like trailer plugs, spade connectors where you
pull the boot and plug apart just trying to get the connector off the spade.
Apparently the proper way to use dielectric gease on a battery is to clean
the terminals, install the clamps tight and then put the grease all over the
outside..
Doug
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Koerner" <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, December 21, 2009 7:14 PM
Subject: Di-Electric Grease....Magic Stuff
Since it's a slow news day on The List....let me toss this one out:
Di-Electric Grease. I first bought a little "Taco Bell Sauce" pack of it at
Kragen for a buck or two for use on my Vanagon horn ring. Had and still have
excellent results (along with filing down the rough edges of the contact
spring which is part of the turn signal thingee). I squeezed the rest of it
into a plastic syringe...for later use on stuff.
Lately, when I've been having weird electrical phenomenom, I've been using
the grease. Both on Vanagon and around the house. I just smear a little onto
the contacts, rub it in to dissolve and remove whatever's on there, and wipe
off the excess. Then, I may apply a little more, leaving a thin film, right
where it matters.
Boy, have I been having good luck! Latest fix was this Halogen desk lamp
next to my computer...it would sputter and fit and blink until it was warmed
up. Cleaned up the contacts, applied the grease, no more sputter! Same thing
with my cheapo $1 WalMart flashlights, spread all around the car and
house....now they always fire right up nice and bright, no matter how many
weeks or months since I've last used them, seems to keep the white flakey
stuff from forming, too. Same story with other things, like noisy telephone
contacts. Have even gotten to the habit of applying a little bit on things
like bulbs on the Vanagon or whatever when I'm in there cleaning. So far,
only good news....but always the caveat, YMMV.
I'd love to hear news to the contrary or warnings....but so far so good. My
dad said that when he worked for the telephone company with mechanical
relays before the modern era of digital electronics, the di-electric grease
was the fix at his job at the Central Station. Cheap, simple, works. I mean,
by nature, it's got to keep the moisture off the metal, right?
Rich
85 Vanagon
San Diego
