Vaseline? A controversial subject?

[sirch345]

Having just serviced my ignition switch on the Storm as some of you will have read, a very good friend of mine said I did a good job up until I used Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline) on the ignition contacts, due to it being Non-Conductive. He was concerned that it may break the circuit connection of the ignition if the Vaseline became runny in very hot weather. I thought he had a very good point, so was wondering what you experts would suggest using instead? Looking on-line it appears to be a very controversial subject, some recommend using Vaseline, whereas other definitely do not

My concern is if you use a Conductive lubricant over the switch base (as you can see by the two circles in the photo below it was covered with a lubricant from Honda originally), isn't that basically connecting each contact terminal up to each other regardless to what position the ignition switch is in?



Chris.

[darkember]

Best stuff to use would be "Pro Power IPA Solvent"

http://www.stagesuperstore.co.uk/pro-po ... 2213-p.asp

[MacV2]

What you need is Dielectric Grease...AKA silicone grease.

I found it's cheaper if silicone but still says it's electrical conductive on the tube.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Servisol-Sili ... 19d8759371

Put a blob on all connectors & electrical fixings keeps em water proof & still conducts.

Also good for greasing your spigots to make getting tubes & pipes on & off. Very slippery a little goes a long way.

[MacV2]

Best stuff to use would be "Pro Power IPA Solvent"

http://www.stagesuperstore.co.uk/pro-po ... 2213-p.asp

Surly that's a cleaner & not a lube...?

[sirch345]

Cheers Darkember and Mac for your replies and links

Darkember, as it was I used an electrical cleaner from Halfords http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_255223

Mac, dielectric grease/silicone grease is Non Conductive according to what I have been reading.
Can I assume then that's another vote for Non-Conductive grease for this purpose?

Chris.

[AMCQ46]

I am truly amazed that this thread hasn't been hijacked to involve references to sexual lubricant. Well done to lloydie, Virt, jamie and Mac for self restraint and respect

[sirch345]

I am truly amazed that this thread hasn't been hijacked to involve references to sexual lubricant. Well done to lloydie, Virt, jamie and Mac for self restraint and respect

Early days my son, early days

Anyway what's your opinion Al on the original post

Chris.

[AMCQ46]

I have to admit I use Vaseline on electric connectors, but I never researched it, just always have!

My view is that the connectors have to generate strong mechanical contact to pass current, and that mechanical contact will cut through the Vaseline. I am only using it to keep corrosion away from the parts of the connector that are not touching each other.

[sirch345]

My view is that the connectors have to generate strong mechanical contact to pass current, and that mechanical contact will cut through the Vaseline. I am only using it to keep corrosion away from the parts of the connector that are not touching each other.

That is more or less my view, as the top contacts in the Storms ignition switch are spring loaded to give a good connection, cheers for your thoughts Al

Chris.

[MacV2]

Dialectic Grease is for electrics Sirch... Don't know what you've been reading...

Have a look at the write up on this one...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dielectric-Gr ... 588fd87e66

Much the same as on the other ones as well...

Plain silicone grease as in the other link posted is still cheaper...

[Gazfirestormowner]

My view would be that the Vaseline would keep the contacts dry but won't stop metal to metal contact so would not stop conductivity and it would have to be a hell of a hot day +30 degrees c for Vaseline to melt so shouldn't have a problem in the uk

[mattycoops43]

Yup +1

Vaseline or normal grease even. When I take block connectors apart, I fill them with grease before reconnecting. stops the spades inside from corroding, and the mechanical pressure pushes it away from the places it needs to.

Never had a problem.

[sirch345]

Dialectic Grease is for electrics Sirch... Don't know what you've been reading...

Have a look at the write up on this one...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dielectric-Gr ... 588fd87e66

Much the same as on the other ones as well...

Plain silicone grease as in the other link posted is still cheaper...

Mac, I'm not disputing the fact that Dielectric grease is used on electrical contacts. Cheers for the link

As in my original question, I was trying to find out whether I should be using Non-Conductive or Conductive grease for this purpose. It looks like Non-Conductive is in the lead

My view would be that the Vaseline would keep the contacts dry but won't stop metal to metal contact so would not stop conductivity and it would have to be a hell of a hot day +30 degrees c for Vaseline to melt so shouldn't have a problem in the uk

Gaz, That is more or less my opinion

Yup +1

Vaseline or normal grease even. When I take block connectors apart, I fill them with grease before reconnecting. stops the spades inside from corroding, and the mechanical pressure pushes it away from the places it needs to.

Never had a problem.

Matty, I have been using Vaseline on battery terminals for years (bikes, cars & vans included), it was only when researching this subject I found that I shouldn't have been coating the battery posts and leads in Vaseline before fitting them together. Apparently you should clean the battery posts and leads first, fit them together, then coat with Vaseline so that keeps the moisture out. Even so like yourself I've never had a problem using it.


Thanks to all who contributed to this thread

I've decided I'm going to leave the Vaseline on the Storm's ignition contacts as it is for now. I'll keep my eye on how it goes over the next year. If I find it starts playing up like it did before I serviced it, then I know what to do.

Chris.

[VTRDark]

Dielectric grease is obviously designed specifically for the purpose so most likely better but more expensive. But on that note I have been led to believe that Vasaline is Dielectric....an insulator that keeps moisture at bay. I'm not sure if the current is strong enough to have an effect from one terminal to another via the grease. Maybe Markus could shed some light here, I respect his electronic wisdom.

Looking at Wikipedia, Dielectric is an insulator not a conductor but current can pass through it in small doses fighting against negative charges (in the grease maybe ) forcing the positive back. sorry not reading wikipedia only scanning through it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dielectric

Mmmm interesting debate to have.

(:-})

[sirch345]

Cheers Carl for your thoughts on this subject.

From searching the net, the only downside I can see with using a silicone grease such as Dielectric grease is this:-

Silicone grease should not be applied to (or next to) any switch contact that might experience arcing, as silicone can convert to silicon-carbide under arcing conditions, and accumulation of the silicon-carbide can cause the contacts to prematurely fail. (British Telecom had this problem in the 1970s when silicone Symel® sleeving was used in telephone exchanges. Vapour from the sleeving migrated to relay contacts and the resultant silicon-carbide caused intermittent connection.)

Quote was taken from this link:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicone_grease

I'm not sure the an ignition switch on any vehicle with a 12 volt system would experience any arcing, but if it does going by the above information it could be a problem.

We have gone off track somewhat to my original question, and that was "should I be using a Conductive or Non-Conductive grease" on the Firestorm ignition switch contacts.
As I said earlier I'm sticking with the Vaseline (petroleum jelly) for now, although I will be monitoring it closely over the next 12mths.

Chris.