In article , "Michael A. Terrell" wrote:
GregS wrote:
In article
, Dubtron
wrote:
On Sep 18, 10:28=A0am, GeneO wrote:
Have been Googling the proper way to clean plated electrical contacts
but either get nothing if use " or a lot of nonrelevant hits without.
Am interested in any suggestions esp how to remove the nonconductive
oxides.
If a connector is too damaged would also be interested in what are
considered the best type replacement.
Thanks
Gene
I have had very good luck repairing low current relay contacts and
mechanical rotary switches using "tarn-x" silver cleaner containing
acidified thiourea. MSDS: http://www.jelmar.com/msds/TX_MSDS_eng.pdf.
If you take the relay or switch apart to get to the contacts, use a
cotton swab with a small amount of cleaner and apply to the oxidized
(tarnished) surfaces. They shine right up and the surface does not
appear to be damaged by it. Then dry and apply a very light film of
silicone based contact cleaner to keep the air away and help with
lubrication. Works great for speaker relays in amplifiers and mode
switches for VCR's.
Silicone based products are really not a good thing, at least thats what
some say. However sometimes a silicone grease is used to
protect connections. Silicone sprays were common 30 years ago.
I don't recall any of the more common recommended sprays having
silicone. I see mixed recommendations of lubing relays.
Some say no, but I do.
Silicone based chemicals were banned from all telephone switching
centers with mechanical switching.
The old General Cement "Tuner Lube" is petroleum based and doesn't
build up an insulating film like Silicone based products.
I got some of that stuff. For rubber and some plastics
petroleum based products can hurt. I have been using plastic safe liquid
CRC 2-26 but I really don't know whats in it. For those outside
the US, if you use Cramolin Contaclean, it must be removed after
cleaning because it will gum. Here is an old
can. Check out the buildup at the top.
http://zekfrivolous.com/misc/cramolin%20contaclean.JPG
greg