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Dielectric antioxidant grease
 | kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon 
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2009-11-17 166873
I am replacing all the switches and connectors on our generator due to an amazing amount of electrical glitches caused by bad connections, likely due to oxidation. I was thinking about placing dielectric grease on all the connections but after googling for that it seems that opinions are all over the map on this.
Some say that the connection should be made with the contact points dry and the grease applied afterwards. Others say that the grease should be placed on the contacts and a solid connection will displace the grease and allow a good connection. I can see how grease on contacts first would allow the best protection from oxidation but can also see that, as an insulator, the grease could compromise the connection.
Any opinions here on this? The particular product I have is called an anti-oxidant grease that is recommended for aluminum-copper connections in home wiring.
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Dielectric antioxidant grease
 | Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7228 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2009-11-17 166875
Ken, we use copious amounts of the stuff, Loc-tite brand in our case, on nearly everything.
The directions that come with it say to clean the parts, coat them in dielectric grease and then re-assemble them.
The theory is that you want the contact to be complete encapsulated in the product, so by using the connection to displace the excess you know it's well coated.
BTW, after a many years of pretty harsh conditions (snow plowing, salting, etc.) we're still very satisfied with this particular product.
Best of luck. ....
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Dielectric antioxidant grease
| kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2009-11-17 166876
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Thanks, Murf. That seems to be the opinion of the folks in the marine industry as well but there are a whole bunch of people who disagree (and rarely with any data but the theoretical "it's non-conductive" line). I'll do as you suggest and even buy some of the loctite brand stuff. ....
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Dielectric antioxidant grease
 | auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2009-11-17 166877
One kind of stuff to put on electric connections is insulative (or "potting"), and given a good connection you can safely spill it wherever. But dielectric is the opposite -- it is conductive. (No more problems with my trailer connections after I started applying it to both ends.) Just be careful to not get it where you don't want it conducting current. ....
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Dielectric antioxidant grease
| kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2009-11-17 166880
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That's the thing, I don't think it is. Merriam Websters defines dielectric as "a nonconductor of direct electric current". Some people say it conducts, others say it doesn't. I guess it's time to put a gob of it on a piece of glass and measure the resistance. ....
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Dielectric antioxidant grease
| Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7228 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2009-11-17 166881
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I think you've got the terms confused friend. The very term "dielectric" means it is insulating, or non-conductive.
There is another type of grease that is conductive though.
Best of luck. ....
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Dielectric antioxidant grease
| auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2009-11-17 166882
I haven't been so misinformed since "After we're married, dear, any time you want." ....
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Dielectric antioxidant grease
| kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2009-11-17 166883
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LOL, there 'ya go. You shouldn't have showed her that tube of dielectric grease after the ceremony.
....
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Dielectric antioxidant grease
| Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7228 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2009-11-17 166884
Where's the 'biting my tongue' smiley? ;) ....
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Dielectric antioxidant grease
 | GaleHawkins
Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 44 KY 
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2010-04-11 169927
I am not sure this search cleared up much for me but it was funny in the end. :) ....
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