Date:         Wed, 5 Mar 2014 19:03:11 -0800
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Dielectric grease
Comments: To: Steve Cotsford <cotsford@AOL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <4AF300E0-0C19-430B-A1D0-6F38CC6E706C@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

There is such a thing, it's used on the big aluminum wires in electrical
service panels.  It's dense with zinc and aluminum oxide particles for
conductivity and sacrificial purposes, and the grease prevents oxidation of
the wire.  You don't want to use that in a bulb socket though or you will
short it out.

Frankly, I've had good luck with ancient bulb sockets using boat trailer
wheel bearing grease. My treated 1965 MGB sockets are still going here in
damp Seattle.  It's really thick and sticky, and does the job since it's
designed to keep water out of submerged bearings.  It's non-conductive, of
course.

Find it at your FLAPS.

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Steve Cotsford
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2014 5:48 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Dielectric grease

If it is possible to buy a product that will conduct electricity reliably
and equally provide protection from corrosion etc, I would love to know
where to get it.   A little while ago I was looking for such a product to
improve my Land Rover starter cable connections and voltage for the cold
weather and did not find one.   I think I read of a German product but I
cannot remember the name.    It may not be available on these shores anyway.
Most products say in the instructions that care should be taken with
electrical connections especially for high currents like starters  as
dielectric grease has basically insulating properties.      I agree it gets
used on electrical connections quite often but perhaps its best if smothered
on after the connections are tightened.

Steve