Cleaning Plated Electrical Contacts?
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From: Ross Herbert on 20 Sep 2009 21:52 On Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:28:42 -0700 (PDT), GeneO <genosmm(a)yahoo.com> wrote: :Have been Googling the proper way to clean plated electrical contacts :but either get nothing if use " or a lot of nonrelevant hits without. : :Am interested in any suggestions esp how to remove the nonconductive :oxides. : :If a connector is too damaged would also be interested in what are :considered the best type replacement. : :Thanks : :Gene I don't think I have ever come across a "plated" electrical contact. In my experience electrical contacts are always a solid material such as brass (cheap and nasty - often used in electrical appliances) or a more exotic alloy material such as nickel-silver. The contact material used is dependant on the application (AC or DC and whether inductive) and the magnitude of the current being handled. Most relay contacts can be cleaned and reconditioned using a contact burnishing tool such as http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/22-910 The use of a lubricant such as those mentioned in other responses may be considered useful.
From: Arfa Daily on 21 Sep 2009 04:41 "Ross Herbert" <rherber1(a)bigpond.net.au> wrote in message news:3cmdb51o9cfgaantdo289j3dlqsbpvquj4(a)4ax.com... > On Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:28:42 -0700 (PDT), GeneO <genosmm(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > :Have been Googling the proper way to clean plated electrical contacts > :but either get nothing if use " or a lot of nonrelevant hits without. > : > :Am interested in any suggestions esp how to remove the nonconductive > :oxides. > : > :If a connector is too damaged would also be interested in what are > :considered the best type replacement. > : > :Thanks > : > :Gene > > > I don't think I have ever come across a "plated" electrical contact. In my > experience electrical contacts are always a solid material such as brass > (cheap > and nasty - often used in electrical appliances) or a more exotic alloy > material > such as nickel-silver. The contact material used is dependant on the > application > (AC or DC and whether inductive) and the magnitude of the current being > handled. I'm sure that you must have, Ross ?? I'd agree with you on 'solid brass contacts' in clunky mains power switches etc, but elsewhere, many contacts seem to be plated rather than solid. For instance, I just put the word "plated" into the search pane on one component supplier's website, and it came back with 59 items, most of which were connectors with a variety of plating materials quoted for their contacts, including gold, silver & tin. Similarly, a quick look in a catalogue at switches, reveals many to have either gold or silver plated contacts. Also, many relays have contacts described variously as gold "plated", "covered", "overlayed" etc. It is these contacts that I find you have to be careful not to use any kind of abrasion on, for fear of going through the very thin layer of plating. I generally find that pulling a piece of dry cardboard through things like relay contacts, is enough to clean them. A tiny spot of cleaner/lubricant introduced to the contact gap, finishes the job off. Arfa
From: Dubtron on 21 Sep 2009 09:55 On Sep 18, 10:28 am, GeneO <geno...(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > Have been Googling the proper way to clean plated electrical contacts > but either get nothing if use " or a lot of nonrelevant hits without. > > Am interested in any suggestions esp how to remove the nonconductive > oxides. > > If a connector is too damaged would also be interested in what are > considered the best type replacement. > > Thanks > > Gene I have had very good luck repairing low current relay contacts and mechanical rotary switches using "tarn-x" silver cleaner containing acidified thiourea. MSDS: http://www.jelmar.com/msds/TX_MSDS_eng.pdf. If you take the relay or switch apart to get to the contacts, use a cotton swab with a small amount of cleaner and apply to the oxidized (tarnished) surfaces. They shine right up and the surface does not appear to be damaged by it. Then dry and apply a very light film of silicone based contact cleaner to keep the air away and help with lubrication. Works great for speaker relays in amplifiers and mode switches for VCR's. Scott
From: GregS on 21 Sep 2009 11:03 In article <f46025b5-ecf1-4d8c-b925-6dcb0bd5ca86(a)q14g2000vbi.googlegroups.com>, Dubtron <swohlfarth(a)gmail.com> wrote: >On Sep 18, 10:28=A0am, GeneO <geno...(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> Have been Googling the proper way to clean plated electrical contacts >> but either get nothing if use " or a lot of nonrelevant hits without. >> >> Am interested in any suggestions esp how to remove the nonconductive >> oxides. >> >> If a connector is too damaged would also be interested in what are >> considered the best type replacement. >> >> Thanks >> >> Gene > >I have had very good luck repairing low current relay contacts and >mechanical rotary switches using "tarn-x" silver cleaner containing >acidified thiourea. MSDS: http://www.jelmar.com/msds/TX_MSDS_eng.pdf. >If you take the relay or switch apart to get to the contacts, use a >cotton swab with a small amount of cleaner and apply to the oxidized >(tarnished) surfaces. They shine right up and the surface does not >appear to be damaged by it. Then dry and apply a very light film of >silicone based contact cleaner to keep the air away and help with >lubrication. Works great for speaker relays in amplifiers and mode >switches for VCR's. > Silicone based products are really not a good thing, at least thats what some say. However sometimes a silicone grease is used to protect connections. Silicone sprays were common 30 years ago. I don't recall any of the more common recommended sprays having silicone. I see mixed recommendations of lubing relays. Some say no, but I do. greg
From: Michael A. Terrell on 21 Sep 2009 11:28
GregS wrote: > > In article <f46025b5-ecf1-4d8c-b925-6dcb0bd5ca86(a)q14g2000vbi.googlegroups.com>, Dubtron <swohlfarth(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >On Sep 18, 10:28=A0am, GeneO <geno...(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > >> Have been Googling the proper way to clean plated electrical contacts > >> but either get nothing if use " or a lot of nonrelevant hits without. > >> > >> Am interested in any suggestions esp how to remove the nonconductive > >> oxides. > >> > >> If a connector is too damaged would also be interested in what are > >> considered the best type replacement. > >> > >> Thanks > >> > >> Gene > > > >I have had very good luck repairing low current relay contacts and > >mechanical rotary switches using "tarn-x" silver cleaner containing > >acidified thiourea. MSDS: http://www.jelmar.com/msds/TX_MSDS_eng.pdf. > >If you take the relay or switch apart to get to the contacts, use a > >cotton swab with a small amount of cleaner and apply to the oxidized > >(tarnished) surfaces. They shine right up and the surface does not > >appear to be damaged by it. Then dry and apply a very light film of > >silicone based contact cleaner to keep the air away and help with > >lubrication. Works great for speaker relays in amplifiers and mode > >switches for VCR's. > > > > Silicone based products are really not a good thing, at least thats what > some say. However sometimes a silicone grease is used to > protect connections. Silicone sprays were common 30 years ago. > I don't recall any of the more common recommended sprays having > silicone. I see mixed recommendations of lubing relays. > Some say no, but I do. Silicone based chemicals were banned from all telephone switching centers with mechanical switching. The old General Cement "Tuner Lube" is petroleum based and doesn't build up an insulating film like Silicone based products. -- You can't have a sense of humor, if you have no sense! |