What to use to clean electrical contacts?

[workinonit]

The name is all I need to leave it on the shelf.

 

[gwinger]

De-Ox-It makes a line of products.. One is a cleaner. and another is a protectant.. The Cleaner comes with a number 5-10.......100 (Strength in percentage)

For really bad I use a wire brush or some other abrasive substance.. Relay contacts common paper often helps. or a "Contact tool" or nail file or emery board.

Just looked at my can of D5. Says "dissolves corrosion, Improves contact, protects surfaces.
The Caig website only shows, D5 (2-3 different formulas), D100 and Shield S5. The Shield is a protectant only.

 

[rvlifer]

WD40 is a brand name now.

When wasnt it a brand name?

 

[Lou Schneider]

When wasnt it a brand name?

When it was invented in the 1950s to displace water and avoid corrosion on the Atlas rocket. WD-40 = Water Displacement, 40th formula. Engineers started taking cans home to use as a general lubricant and the legend was born.

The History Of WD-40 Is Stranger Than You Think And No This Isn't Sponsored Content I Just Thought It Was Weird

First off, let me be clear that while, yes, I am talking about WD-40, a commercially available product, I in no way care if you buy it or not. This is not sponsored content, and I have no dog in this pond. I don’t care if you never, ever buy WD-40 ever again to use on your car projects, just to...

jalopnik.com

 

[gwinger]

WD40 is a brand name now. The WD40 contact cleaner in Mark's post is no diiferent from CRC and has nothing in common with the WD40 original.

Many companies have started to come out with multi-use products.

 

[gwinger]

My work is in power plants across the country. Open any flammable cabinet in any power plant and you will find all of the CRC products especially 226, Kearney Rust Cutter, PB Blaster, Kroll Oil and Marvelous Mystery Oil for instrumentation. What you don't find is WD40.

Strange, WD40 says "flammable" right on the warning label.
I'll guarantee is is. We used to light it with a match and make a flame thrower.

 

[Lou Schneider]

Strange, WD40 says "flammable" right on the warning label.
I'll guarantee is is. We used to light it with a match and make a flame thrower.

WD40 works great to help diesel engines start in cold weather. When I had a worn out diesel Rabbit I used it to start the the engine when the temperature was close to or below freezing. A shot into the engine's air intake worked about as well as a shot of ether but seemed to be a lot gentler on the engine.

 

[John From Detroit]

Just looked at my can of D5. Says "dissolves corrosion, Improves contact, protects surfaces.
The Caig website only shows, D5 (2-3 different formulas), D100 and Shield S5. The Shield is a protectant only.

I can nto find it but I'm supposed to have a can of 100 here .... Somewhere.

 

[workinonit]

Strange, WD40 says "flammable" right on the warning label.
I'll guarantee is is. We used to light it with a match and make a flame thrower.

I wasn't saying that it's not flammable, I was saying that it doesn't exist in power plants. LOL. It is extremely flammable which is another reason it's not used in the power industry. WD40 in my opinion is a decent cleaner but it's not a lubricant. If you doubt that spray some on a bearing while it's spinning.

 

[Gizmo]

CRC makes the best contact cleaners and electrical lubes on the market. I've been using them in the power plant environments for 40 years. The old green can was the best I've ever used but they had to stop making it because it was flammable. I use 226 a lot now. I don't own any WD40 products and never see them in the power plants.

I also use CRC contact cleaner to clean the connection points and their dielectric grease to help prevent corrosion

 

[Utclmjmpr]

I like LPS2 for most things.>>>Dan

 

[Mark_K5LXP]

I just thought of another thing I use WD40 for. I have some turn of the century railroad lanterns I light sometimes. I'm a cheap arse and instead of lamp oil I'll give the fount a squirt of WD40 and it runs as long as I need it to. Isn't the cleanest burning but it's outside and I don't care.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

 

[rvlifer]

I use wd40 to remove labels

 

[DavidRamey]

I use CRC contact cleaner. WD40 is great for removing glue residue.

 

[Ray-IN]

I would consider that a feature in some applications. Maybe not inside a cell phone but washing down a battery cable or trailer connector to get out moisture and crud would check the box. In a case where whatever you're working on would have isn't operable or would to be replaced otherwise, there's not much to lose by trying.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

That was exactly the purpose of WD40, to spray on and dry spark plug wires. After the carrier dried it left a waxy insulating film.
I once didn't allow the carrier to dry before starting the engine. The flames were exciting for a short while.

 

[John From Detroit]

I also use CRC contact cleaner to clean the connection points and their dielectric grease to help prevent corrosion

Yup Used a lot of Chemical Rubber Company products.. Even go their book.. Back when I was in College) Yes they published a reference book.. Math and Science as I recall)

 

[TheBar]

That was exactly the purpose of WD40, to spray on and dry spark plug wires. After the carrier dried it left a waxy insulating film.

And don't forget to spray the distributor cap.

 

[Knobs]

The 2,000 Uses For WD-40

Selected items:
• Cleans outdoor electrical relay contacts
• Cleans gunk from electrical contacts
• Protects electrical connections in car/truck engines

• Lubricates hydraulic rams on slideout of 5th wheel
• Lubricates arms on window awnings
• Lubricates sunroof crank
• Cleans gunk from travel trailer siding
• Keeps RV slides rust free