Protecting electrical connections

David2452 said:
Best thing is to start out with decent materials in the first place, tinned cable and tinned copper terminals instead of the nasty pre packs from chandlers and Halfrauds et. al., don't use spades where you can use ring terminals. For extreme exposure parts in anchor lockers and similar areas make sure the connections are bright, tight and free from grease then apply liquid neoprene, sometimes sold as liquid insulating tape. For less critical areas use protective grease, my favourite is Servisol which has been around ever since I can remember and gives good results. For well protected dry areas provided the materials used are of good quality there is no need for any protection other than that provided by the quality of the materials used. For things like relays which you have no control over terminal quality using the liquid neoprene is no bad thing wherever they are sited.
This makes interesting reading for those interested in the dialectric -v- conductive grease debate.
http://www.w8ji.com/dielectric_grease_vs_conductive_grease.htm
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On the subject of "liquid insulating tape."
It occurred to me to daub the connections with some stuff I have bought very cheaply just recently that seems like wonderful stuff called "Unibond weather-guard outdoor. Extreme repair sealant." I bought it as a substitute for silicon sealant because it says it is guaranteed for 35 years & seals damp surfaces.In practice it seems like wonderful stuff & sets like ordinary rubber.The trouble is once set if you were to get a fault (in this case in the relay) how do you test it when you can't stick a multi-meter on the terminals?
Otherwise your advice seems sound.
 
nigelmercier said:
There is a lot more to continuity than testing with the continuity range on a meter. You would get a positive reading if a single atom was in contact. OK, I exaggerate, but it makes the point.
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A friend of mine reckoned you could smear Vaseline around the battery terminals & then tighten them down & the pressure produced a good connexion which surprised me but then Vaseline is or was universally used for protecting the battery terminals so I'm afraid I still doubt your information Nigel.
The Juries still out as far as I'm concerned.
 
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Nicholas123 said:
A friend of mine reckoned you could smear Vaseline around the battery terminals & then tighten them down & the pressure produced a good connexion which surprised me but then Vaseline is or was universally used for protecting the battery terminals so I'm afraid I still doubt your information Nigel.
The Juries still out as far as I'm concerned.
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That's correct in that vaseline can be used all round the terminal but that's only after the connection has been made and tighened up. I certainly wouldn't put it on the battery post before fastening on the cable clamp.

Richard
 
Sometimes sticky grease like vaseline can attract and hold dirt. The dirt then attracts and holds moisture.
I also like to be able to do maintenance without getting dirty grease on everything.
Vaseline or silicone grease inside connectors can be good, most connectors exert enough metal to metal pressure to cut through any grease.
Corrosion in the crevices where you don't quite get contact is the problem, it swells and pushes the metal bits apart.
 
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