Hi,

We have some 240v tree lights outside - a few heavy duty sets which are designed to stay out there all year. From time to time they get dim, and the problem is caused by small amounts of moisture getting into the electrical joints between the power lead and first set, and similar joints between sets of lights. The joints seem tight and well-designed with O rings, but over time water does get in. (The three pin plug itself is fine, it's in a proper outside socket.) The problem just means that every now and then I have to open up the joints in dry weather to let them dry out, and abrade away any corrosion.

Question: is there anything I can put/spray into the joints that would help to stop this from happening? I'm thinking of WD40, but I've read that it can degrade plastic over time, and the joints are plastic.

Cheers!

Martin

On Tue, 19 Jun 2012 02:55:19 -0700 (PDT), Martin Pentreath
wrote:

Question: is there anything I can put/spray into the joints that would help to stop this from happening? I'm thinking of WD40, but I've read that it can degrade plastic over time, and the joints are plastic.

Silicone spray.

In article ,
Martin Pentreath writes:
Hi,
We have some 240v tree lights outside - a few heavy duty sets which are designed to stay out there all year. From time to time they get dim, and the problem is caused by small amounts of moisture getting into the electrical joints between the power lead and first set, and similar joints between sets of lights. The joints seem tight and well-designed with O rings, but over time water does get in. (The three pin plug itself is fine, it's in a proper outside socket.) The problem just means that every now and then I have to open up the joints in dry weather to let them dry out, and abrade away any corrosion.
Question: is there anything I can put/spray into the joints that would help to stop this from happening? I'm thinking of WD40, but I've read that it can degrade plastic over time, and the joints are plastic.

WD40 does instantly displace moisture, but IME, gives no lasting
protection against moisture, so that's probably not what you want.
If you want to try this, I would use a product designed rather more
for the purpose, such as maybe a spray for waterproofing car ignition
leads and distributor caps (remember those?;-) Holt's Damp Start was
one such, but it may not have existed for years for all I know.

You could fill voids in the connectors with resin, but it obviously
mustn't get into the connector mating area. It's a once off do-or-die
type operation though, in that if you do this and water still gets in,
the connector will not be repairable.

For O-ring and other seals, a light smear of silicone lubricant can
help (the type used for plastic pushfit plumbing).

Given the repeated failure of your connectors, maybe it's time to
replace them? I have an in-line waterproof cable connector outdoors
which has been there for ~7 years, and has never caused any problems.
(I haven't actually opened it and looked inside, but it's powered
24x7, and hasn't ever tripped the RCD.) It's marked IP65, 16A, and
quite small/slim, but I can't see a manufacturer's name on it.
It came from B&Q, but that was before they made way for the
cushions and sfa throws, so they might not do it anymore.
It's important the cable glands correctly fit the cable in use,
and that might be difficult with the oval/flat cable often used
with insulation piercing lampholders used on lighting strings.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

In article ,
Martin Pentreath writes
Hi,

We have some 240v tree lights outside - a few heavy duty sets which are designed
to stay out there all year. From time to time they get dim, and the problem is
caused by small amounts of moisture getting into the electrical joints between the
power lead and first set, and similar joints between sets of lights. The joints seem
tight and well-designed with O rings, but over time water does get in. (The three pin
plug itself is fine, it's in a proper outside socket.) The problem just means that
every now and then I have to open up the joints in dry weather to let them dry out,
and abrade away any corrosion.

Question: is there anything I can put/spray into the joints that would help to stop
this from happening? I'm thinking of WD40, but I've read that it can degrade plastic
over time, and the joints are plastic.

If you want a maintainable (dismantleable) joint I'd say new choc block
packed with petroleum jelly (vaseline). Apparently avail in generic form
in a little tube from the chemist which would probably be ideal for
squeezing into the connectors in a grease gun stylee.
--
fred
it's a ba-na-na . . . .

On Jun 19, 10:55*am, Martin Pentreath
wrote:
Hi,

We have some 240v tree lights outside - a few heavy duty sets which are designed to stay out there all year. From time to time they get dim, and the problem is caused by small amounts of moisture getting into the electrical joints between the power lead and first set, and similar joints between sets of lights. The joints seem tight and well-designed with O rings, but over time water does get in. (The three pin plug itself is fine, it's in a proper outside socket.) The problem just means that every now and then I have to open up the joints in dry weather to let them dry out, and abrade away any corrosion.

Question: is there anything I can put/spray into the joints that would help to stop this from happening? I'm thinking of WD40, but I've read that it can degrade plastic over time, and the joints are plastic.

Cheers!

Martin

I'd make a more suitable connection, such as soldered or perhaps
crimped. If you go with grease, petroleum jelly is the only type that
should be used on electrical connections, others become corrosive when
electricity is applied. Resin potted connections are another option.


NT

Well, I used to use Dampstart but then my joints were not plugs but choccy
blocks in boxes.
I guess its stopping the water ingress in the first place.

Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Martin Pentreath" wrote in message
...
Hi,

We have some 240v tree lights outside - a few heavy duty sets which are
designed to stay out there all year. From time to time they get dim, and the
problem is caused by small amounts of moisture getting into the electrical
joints between the power lead and first set, and similar joints between sets
of lights. The joints seem tight and well-designed with O rings, but over
time water does get in. (The three pin plug itself is fine, it's in a proper
outside socket.) The problem just means that every now and then I have to
open up the joints in dry weather to let them dry out, and abrade away any
corrosion.

Question: is there anything I can put/spray into the joints that would help
to stop this from happening? I'm thinking of WD40, but I've read that it can
degrade plastic over time, and the joints are plastic.

Cheers!

Martin

On 19/06/2012 10:55, Martin Pentreath wrote:
Hi,

We have some 240v tree lights outside - a few heavy duty sets which
are designed to stay out there all year. From time to time they get
dim, and the problem is caused by small amounts of moisture getting
into the electrical joints between the power lead and first set, and
similar joints between sets of lights. The joints seem tight and
well-designed with O rings, but over time water does get in. (The
three pin plug itself is fine, it's in a proper outside socket.) The
problem just means that every now and then I have to open up the
joints in dry weather to let them dry out, and abrade away any
corrosion.

Question: is there anything I can put/spray into the joints that
would help to stop this from happening? I'm thinking of WD40, but
I've read that it can degrade plastic over time, and the joints are
plastic.

WD40 will probably not have the lasting effect you need. I would suggest
a silicone grease since this is plastic and rubber safe:

http://cpc.farnell.com/servisol/2000...This%20Ra nge




--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On 19/06/2012 10:55, Martin Pentreath wrote:
Hi,

We have some 240v tree lights outside - a few heavy duty sets which are designed to stay out there all year. From time to time they get dim, and the problem is caused by small amounts of moisture getting into the electrical joints between the power lead and first set, and similar joints between sets of lights. The joints seem tight and well-designed with O rings, but over time water does get in. (The three pin plug itself is fine, it's in a proper outside socket.) The problem just means that every now and then I have to open up the joints in dry weather to let them dry out, and abrade away any corrosion.

Question: is there anything I can put/spray into the joints that would help to stop this from happening? I'm thinking of WD40, but I've read that it can degrade plastic over time, and the joints are plastic.


Do the joints need to be dismantled? If not, adhesive lined heat shrink
sleeving should keep any water out. It has been protecting some of my
outside electrics in a pit that fills with water from time to time for
more than a decade now. A few layers of self-amalgamating tape might be
almost as effective and would be simpler to cut off if you do
occasionally need access.

Colin Bignell

On Jun 19, 10:55*am, Martin Pentreath
wrote:
Hi,

We have some 240v tree lights outside - a few heavy duty sets which are designed to stay out there all year. From time to time they get dim, and the problem is caused by small amounts of moisture getting into the electrical joints between the power lead and first set, and similar joints between sets of lights. The joints seem tight and well-designed with O rings, but over time water does get in. (The three pin plug itself is fine, it's in a proper outside socket.) The problem just means that every now and then I have to open up the joints in dry weather to let them dry out, and abrade away any corrosion.

Question: is there anything I can put/spray into the joints that would help to stop this from happening? I'm thinking of WD40, but I've read that it can degrade plastic over time, and the joints are plastic.

Cheers!

Martin

If you tin the copper conductors with fine solder, this will prevent
the corrosion.
(Blow lamp and flux. ) Clean off the flux.
Or ideally, solder the joints.

Martin Pentreath wrote:
Hi,

We have some 240v tree lights outside - a few heavy duty sets which
are designed to stay out there all year. From time to time they get
dim, and the problem is caused by small amounts of moisture getting
into the electrical joints between the power lead and first set, and
similar joints between sets of lights. The joints seem tight and
well-designed with O rings, but over time water does get in. (The
three pin plug itself is fine, it's in a proper outside socket.) The
problem just means that every now and then I have to open up the
joints in dry weather to let them dry out, and abrade away any
corrosion.

Question: is there anything I can put/spray into the joints that
would help to stop this from happening? I'm thinking of WD40, but
I've read that it can degrade plastic over time, and the joints are
plastic.


Is

http://www.alertelectrical.com/prod/...proof-compound

any use?

--
Adam

On Tue, 19 Jun 2012 13:29:08 +0100, fred wrote:

If you want a maintainable (dismantleable) joint I'd say new choc block
packed with petroleum jelly (vaseline). Apparently avail in generic form
in a little tube from the chemist which would probably be ideal for
squeezing into the connectors in a grease gun stylee.

Go to a vet suppliers or farm shop and buy a kilo tub for the same
price as a ripoff chemist's size. At the same farmers' place, buy a
25ml or 50ml syringe and fill it with Vaseline. The needle is
unnecessary.
It's easy to squirt some in the connectors with that.

On Tue, 19 Jun 2012 18:23:15 +0100, Nightjar wrote:

Do the joints need to be dismantled? If not, adhesive lined heat shrink
sleeving should keep any water out. It has been protecting some of my
outside electrics in a pit that fills with water from time to time for
more than a decade now.

Surprised, my experinces with adhesive lined heat shrink is that it's
not that good an adhesive and over time comes away from the cable
leaving a nice capillary way for moisture. This is on stuff that is
disturbed quite regulary though not static.

A few layers of self-amalgamating tape might be almost as effective and
would be simpler to cut off if you do occasionally need access.

That would be my choice, easy to cut off should you need to and the
best stuff for keeping wet out of electrical cable joints. I had some
Tx/Rx cable joints on the roof of a flat for about 15 years wrapped
in SA tape. When I took the aerials down and cut open the SA tape
over the connectors they were just as they were when installed.


--
Cheers
Dave.

"NT" wrote in message
...
On Jun 19, 10:55 am, Martin Pentreath
wrote:
Hi,

We have some 240v tree lights outside - a few heavy duty sets which are
designed to stay out there all year. From time to time they get dim, and
the problem is caused by small amounts of moisture getting into the
electrical joints between the power lead and first set, and similar
joints between sets of lights. The joints seem tight and well-designed
with O rings, but over time water does get in. (The three pin plug itself
is fine, it's in a proper outside socket.) The problem just means that
every now and then I have to open up the joints in dry weather to let
them dry out, and abrade away any corrosion.

Question: is there anything I can put/spray into the joints that would
help to stop this from happening? I'm thinking of WD40, but I've read
that it can degrade plastic over time, and the joints are plastic.

I'd make a more suitable connection, such as soldered or perhaps
crimped. If you go with grease, petroleum jelly is the only type that
should be used on electrical connections, others become corrosive
when electricity is applied.

Nope, electrical grade silicone doesn't.

Resin potted connections are another option.

And it doesn't have to be solid, electrical grade silicone works
fine too. and is a hell of a lot easier to get off later if you need to.

In article , Grimly
Curmudgeon writes
On Tue, 19 Jun 2012 13:29:08 +0100, fred wrote:

If you want a maintainable (dismantleable) joint I'd say new choc block
packed with petroleum jelly (vaseline). Apparently avail in generic form
in a little tube from the chemist which would probably be ideal for
squeezing into the connectors in a grease gun stylee.

Go to a vet suppliers or farm shop and buy a kilo tub for the same
price as a ripoff chemist's size. At the same farmers' place, buy a
25ml or 50ml syringe and fill it with Vaseline. The needle is
unnecessary.
It's easy to squirt some in the connectors with that.

Generic is 50p and the chemist is walking distance.
--
fred
it's a ba-na-na . . . .

In article
,
harry writes

If you tin the copper conductors with fine solder, this will prevent
the corrosion.

Bad idea, plastic deformation, loss of contact pressure and overheating.

--
fred
it's a ba-na-na . . . .

On Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:50:59 +0100, fred wrote:

Go to a vet suppliers or farm shop and buy a kilo tub for the same
price as a ripoff chemist's size. At the same farmers' place, buy a
25ml or 50ml syringe and fill it with Vaseline. The needle is
unnecessary.
It's easy to squirt some in the connectors with that.

Generic is 50p and the chemist is walking distance.

Aha, you don't have ripoff chemists near you.
Otoh, I have a very good farmers store. I bought a kilo tub of vet
vaseline for a quid (or something ridiculously cheap) ten years ago
and have only just used a third of it. Marvellous stuff.

On 19/06/2012 22:54, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Tue, 19 Jun 2012 18:23:15 +0100, Nightjar wrote:

Do the joints need to be dismantled? If not, adhesive lined heat shrink
sleeving should keep any water out. It has been protecting some of my
outside electrics in a pit that fills with water from time to time for
more than a decade now.

Surprised, my experinces with adhesive lined heat shrink is that it's
not that good an adhesive and over time comes away from the cable
leaving a nice capillary way for moisture. This is on stuff that is
disturbed quite regulary though not static.

Knowing it was likely to be submerged from time to time, I was very
generous on the length of overlap at each end - around 10 times the
finished diameter - and, as you say, it has never been disturbed.

Colin Bignell

In article , Grimly
Curmudgeon writes
On Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:50:59 +0100, fred wrote:

Go to a vet suppliers or farm shop and buy a kilo tub for the same
price as a ripoff chemist's size. At the same farmers' place, buy a
25ml or 50ml syringe and fill it with Vaseline. The needle is
unnecessary.
It's easy to squirt some in the connectors with that.

Generic is 50p and the chemist is walking distance.

Aha, you don't have ripoff chemists near you.
Otoh, I have a very good farmers store. I bought a kilo tub of vet
vaseline for a quid (or something ridiculously cheap) ten years ago
and have only just used a third of it. Marvellous stuff.

They're not bad but they do have expensive stuff in pretty packages in
sight for the uninformed. I make them work a bit by asking for generics
and stuff in less pretty packages that are generally held only in the
pharmacy (although not PoM). They consult with a dusty old price list
(which seems fixed by what they are allowed to charge NHS) and
frequently check twice when they see how low the price is.

I would like a nice farm supplies shop a bit nearer though ;-)
--
fred
it's a ba-na-na . . . .

On Tue, 19 Jun 2012 10:33:11 -0700 (PDT), harry
wrote:

If you tin the copper conductors with fine solder, this will prevent
the corrosion.

That technique's been discredited for years.

On 19/06/2012 18:33, harry wrote:
On Jun 19, 10:55 am, Martin
wrote:
Hi,

We have some 240v tree lights outside - a few heavy duty sets which
are designed to stay out there all year. From time to time they get
dim, and the problem is caused by small amounts of moisture getting
into the electrical joints between the power lead and first set,
and similar joints between sets of lights. The joints seem tight
and well-designed with O rings, but over time water does get in.
(The three pin plug itself is fine, it's in a proper outside
socket.) The problem just means that every now and then I have to
open up the joints in dry weather to let them dry out, and abrade
away any corrosion.

Question: is there anything I can put/spray into the joints that
would help to stop this from happening? I'm thinking of WD40, but
I've read that it can degrade plastic over time, and the joints are
plastic.

Cheers!

Martin

If you tin the copper conductors with fine solder, this will prevent
the corrosion. (Blow lamp and flux. ) Clean off the flux.

Not acceptable if the terminations are made using screw connectors...

Or ideally, solder the joints.

That would be ok.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/