Water resistant gloop/paste/lube to protect electrical contacts?

Your after Di-electric grease.

There are a few types and there is a good type & bad for this use. Ive asked on the forum before for a recommendation but so far no joy.

Ebay throws some stuff.

 

Try silicone grease, should be able to get it from radio spares.

 

I'm on the same track as you. I found some on ebay called 'Molykote Dow Corning DC4 Electrical Compound suitable for electrical connections and joints' and was about to order some and I noticed that in the details it states 'Electrically Insulating'? How can it be good for electrical connections and joints and also be electrically insulating???
Unless someone clarifies this for me I'm staying with Vaseline too.

 

This is the correct stuff to use , you should get it in Maplins

 

If it wasn't insulating the compound would promote electrical "leakage" everywhere it was applied.

 

Silicone grease but it Will attract dirt & grit to stick to the outside

 

You could try using hot melt glue (you can pick up hot melt glue gun kits pretty cheap) we use this a lot on electronic boards, 3m (the glue makers) even have a specific glue stick for electrical work - Scottish weld 3748

Its a very robust solution for us

 

must of missed it JC - I don't know if there is a trade pack available to get the best price, but nearly anything that excludes oxygen and is truly dielectric will do. I tend to use what's around at a good price - vaseline is excellent so is silicone grease but the proper stuff is very expensive wherever you look (I used some from a diving equipment supplier last). don't go ordering the Maplins spray titled Silicone 'GREASE' because (unless they have changed the contents) they are mis-using that term and in no way do the contents resemble grease.

 

I use the spray white Lithium grease as you can get it into the sockets very easily ...not too heavy and easy to reapply.

 

ACF 50 do a grease, should do the job, I still use vasoline without any problems,
Steve

 

Thanks Dave but my thought was that if it's insulating then if you put it on the contacts of the connectors before assembling then won't it interfere with the conductivity of the contacts? If so maybe it's only for applying on the outside of plug/socket assemblies to keep water out? It doesn't seem to matter with Vaseline.

 

You have to clean and repair all contacts so they are sufficient before applying dialectric grease, it is'nt for improving contact but for maintaining a good contact in adverse conditions (ie - wet or corrosive environments) try looking on a Landrover chat site, I believe they are very fond of the stuff, you might pick up an idea for a cheap alternative, I use Dow Corning but it was "work supplied" :wink:

 

I use this on my bikes and havent had an electrical issue as yet....