Vaseline/contralube

[ghostlymoron]

I've been advised to pack some Vaseline around the terminals on my deck plugs before fixing to the deck. This is to prevent corrosion due to the soldering flux.
I'm a bit concerned that the Vaseline may conduct electricity and cause shorting. Would Contralube be better (or worse). I believe the latter is conductive.

 

[PCUK]

Vaseline has been used for years on battery terminals to protect from corrosion so is fine for your application. Absolutely no electrical conductivity.

 

[dslittle]

I've been advised to pack some Vaseline around the terminals on my deck plugs before fixing to the deck. This is to prevent corrosion due to the soldering flux.
I'm a bit concerned that the Vaseline may conduct electricity and cause shorting. Would Contralube be better (or worse). I believe the latter is conductive.

I used to use Vaseline on my bow nav lights until Nigel extolled the virtues of Contralube. I gave it a try and never looked back - instead of having to clean/dry contacts every year everything seems to work as it should!!! I don't know the chemistry of the two products but Contralube works for me... (wish that I bought the batteries he also posted on before it was too late!!!)

 

[nigelmercier]

Vaseline ... Absolutely no electrical conductivity.

So a bit like a very thin layer of insulating tape then, perfect for making a good contact

This is why Contralube was developed. It conducts where two metals are in contact, but (obviously) not between adjacent terminals.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I'm completely confused by Nigel's reply. Insulating tape insulates doesn't it? So either product will do what I want?

 

[nigelmercier]

My point was that if you use Vaseline inside a terminal (between the contact surfaces) it reduces the contact area.

If you want to protect the outside of a terminal, you could use Vaseline; personally I would use silicone.

Going back to your OP, don't cover up flux, clean it off.

 

[Mistroma]

I'm completely confused by Nigel's reply. Insulating tape insulates doesn't it? So either product will do what I want?

Splodge either Vaseline or Contralube non-conducting plastic surface between the connector sockets or plugs and neither will conduct electricity.

Tiny amount of either Vaseline or Contralube spread over metal pins before inserting into socket and electrical contact will be made. I believe that the resistance might be slightly higher when using Vaseline.

Both should exclude air and reduce corrosion. Contralube will probably provide a better connection and be better at inhibiting corrosion. Vaseline would work if you don't have Contralube. I'm lucky enough to still have plenty of Contralube so that's what I use. It does work extremely well.


Update: I've just checked to see if there's anything about the above point on the internet. There is a lot of incorrect or confusing stuff out there. But this little demonstration does show a spade connector conducting even when coated with Vaseline (though it's a bit long winded).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC2HVoHWNLA

It doesn't tell the whole story. If point loading is high enough any grease will be squeezed out, leaving metal to metal connection at a micro level and there are other issiues. I still believe that Contralube is a better product than Vaseline for electrical applications.

 

[ghostlymoron]

OK. Finally clear. I have Vaseline so I've used it. I'm too cheap to spash out a tenner on a spoonful of Contralube. Vaseline has a variety of uses so is more versatile and readily available.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Take your point about cleaning off flux Nigel but difficult to remove all traces.

 

[alant]

I used to use Vaseline on my bow nav lights until Nigel extolled the virtues of Contralube. I gave it a try and never looked back - instead of having to clean/dry contacts every year everything seems to work as it should!!! I don't know the chemistry of the two products but Contralube works for me... (wish that I bought the batteries he also posted on before it was too late!!!)

Vaseline, is simply a somewhat refined version of petroleum jelly, a mixture of hydrocarbons.
Used to get the industrial version, to grease my ears when playing number 3, bit like axle grease.

 

[peteK]

Copper grease works for me on deck plugs.

 

[Mistroma]

Copper grease works for me on deck plugs.

I looked at the batteries on a friend's new boat a couple of years ago. It was dark and I had to lean over batteries to check something. My T-shirt was covered in greasy stains when I returned to the cockpit. Some pillock had smeared blobs of copper grease all over the terminals. It was promptly removed and terminals cleaned up.

I couldn't even begin to imagine why anyone would put grease on the battery terminals. I assume that you are limiting the grease to a tiny smear inside the socket holes and it is therefore contained. I imagine that some of the copper based greases available will conduct reasonably well but may not be true of all. You should only need a minute quantity but at least Vaseline and Contralube are clear.

 

[[3889]]

My understanding is that contralube and vaseline are both non-conductors and each work by isolating the asperities where the contact is made at the molecular level.http://contralube.com/wp-content/up...s_About_Lubricating_Electrical_Connectors.pdf
The advantage of contralube is that it is very stable so doesn't dry out.

 

[macd]

I couldn't even begin to imagine why anyone would put grease on the battery terminals. I assume that you are limiting the grease to a tiny smear inside the socket holes and it is therefore contained.

I presume you're referring to applying Vaseline between the terminal post and the connector socket. As I'm sure you're aware, applying petroleum jelly over the finished assembly to inhibit corrosion is as old as motoring, and specifically recommended by battery manufacturers.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I've never put Vaseline on battery terminals as I didn't know whether to put it on the outside or between the posts and the caps. Now I know that it's non conductive, I'll put it on the outside.

 

[nigelmercier]

I hate to rain on the parade, but the one place I don't use Contralube is on the battery terminals.

I use Würth Battery Terminal Grease smeared under the clamp, and a thin layer brushed over the outside.

 

[macd]

Just to elaborate a little on my earlier post, here's what Trojan has to offer about battery terminal protection:
Corrosion can build up on terminals if they are not kept clean* and dry. To prevent corrosion apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly or terminal protector that can be purchased through your local battery dealer.

Petroleum jelly's in the heads cupboard; my local battery dealer isn't.

Just an observation, but neither Trojan nor Würth seem at all precise about whether the goo should be smeared over the bare post or over the assembled terminal, or both. FWIW I apply Vaseline only over the assembled (cleaned) parts.

* The admiral would no doubt insist that being clean and smothered in grease is a bit of an oxymoron, but sometimes one has to be flexible

 

[Chris_Robb]

I've been advised to pack some Vaseline around the terminals on my deck plugs before fixing to the deck. This is to prevent corrosion due to the soldering flux.
I'm a bit concerned that the Vaseline may conduct electricity and cause shorting. Would Contralube be better (or worse). I believe the latter is conductive.

Just bought a tube of contralube - thanks for the info here!

With deck glands and plugs, I never rely just on the design to keep saltwater out. I always use self amalgamating tape to complete the protection like this:-

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p55...=&pmt=&gclid=Cj0KEQjwoYi4BRDF_PHHu6rI7NMBEiQA
.

 

[RichardS]

I hate to rain on the parade, but the one place I don't use Contralube is on the battery terminals.

I use Würth Battery Terminal Grease smeared under the clamp, and a thin layer brushed over the outside.

AFAIK unless battery terminal grease contains ground metal plus a suitable substrate, and it doesn't look like it does, it must be a dielectric / isolating grease like vaseline, Contralube and silicone grease. You might as well use whichever is cheapest or most readily available. As someone says, the disadvantage with vaseline is that is dries out relatively quickly so I would not use it unless I had no alternative.

Personally I put a smear of silicone grease around the bottom of the posts / pillars where they enter the battery case but leave the main body of the connector and clamps completely clean. I then bolt up the connector and smear silicon grease on the outside of the the connector assembly. Not the huge dollop of grease (usually just general purpose engine grease) that car mechanics sometimes slap over the terminals. You only need enough to protect against water vapour ingress.

Richard

 

[Mistroma]

I presume you're referring to applying Vaseline between the terminal post and the connector socket. As I'm sure you're aware, applying petroleum jelly over the finished assembly to inhibit corrosion is as old as motoring, and specifically recommended by battery manufacturers.

Yes, I first learnt this about 50 years ago. I also don't use Contralube on the battery posts as others have mentioned. Lead oxidises very quickly once cleaned back to bare metal. I've taken to cleaning clamp with wet'n' dry, smearing some Contralube into gap at side, just inside the top and bottom. I clean the post and lower the clamp onto the post and tighten. The post and clamp don't end up smeared in Contralube as both are tapered but a little of it is squeezed out of the joints. Similar process with tags on T105s where I put a little Contralube on the edges before tightening.

Probably not idea and the lead will still return to it's normal grey colour. However, the joints remain sound with low resistance during the season and I've never had any problems.

I used to use Vaseline before Contralube but not keen on grease. I'd use grease if nothing better was available but couldn't see why someone would choose the dollops of copper grease used on a friend's boat. That was just so messy.