On 11/22/2013 12:19 AM, Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
OldGuy wrote:
Electronic flash has corroded electrical contacts. Duracell AA
batteries leaked. The contacts are molded into a plastic holder and
cannot be easily removed. I have cleaned the metal contacts using a
diamond tip. I did this a few months ago and the contacts re-corroded.
Again cleaned but what can I do to retard corrosion? Some in place
coating or plating?


Remove the corrosion with vinegar or acid (ammonia) based window cleaner.
Put it on with a Q-Tip, let it sit and wipe it off. DO NOT spray it with
anything, including those things sold as contact cleaners.

Once the corrosion is visbaly gone, you can use a real contact cleaner,
such as Cramolin or DeOxit liquids. Again, a little bit on a Q-Tip, wipe
it off with a dry one.

There are electronic contract enhancing compounds that can be applied
sparingly to help it work. Someone else mentioned the ones used for
car batteries, but that IMHO is using a sledge hammer where a gentle tap
is needed.

More suitable to general electronics is Stabilant-22 (very expensive),
or DeOxit makes one for gold plated contacts and one for non gold contacts.

You can buy a kit containg DeOXit, cleaner, contact enhancers, and
fader lube (for lubricating variable resistors) for under $20, it will
last for many years use by the average person.

Not appropos to the original question, I have rescued many bad volume
controls with a drop of DeOxit and a drop of Fader Lube.

Whatever you do, DO NOT USE A SPRAY.

Geoff.


Warning! "Fader Lube" doesn't work on all linear attenuators. It can
make some of them worse, as in stuck. Ammonia is an alkali, higher than
normal pH.

Duracell makes very crappy batteries. "The worse the product the better
the ad campaign." Sennheiser now ships with Energizer. Fry's house brand
batteries leak less than Duracells.