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From: GeneO on 18 Sep 2009 11:28
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
From: N_Cook on 18 Sep 2009 11:39
GeneO <genosmm(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:a690e81b-0559-4308-8444-c03d943b245b(a)p9g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...
> 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

Assuming not sputter damaged contacts, otherwise good underlying surfaces.
I use a nylon cable tie, introduced with the contacts in contact. In a
filing action with the ratchet part of the nylon, then turn upside down and
repeat


--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/



From: Dave Plowman (News) on 18 Sep 2009 11:41
In article
<a690e81b-0559-4308-8444-c03d943b245b(a)p9g2000vbl.googlegroups.com>,
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.

A good contact cleaner followed by a switch lubricant - will help prevent
corrosion later. Servisol or Electrolube for the latter.

> If a connector is too damaged would also be interested in what are
> considered the best type replacement.

--
*The modem is the message *

Dave Plowman dave(a)davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.
From: nesesu on 18 Sep 2009 11:59
On Sep 18, 8:28 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 get the impression that you are talking about pin and socket
connectors rather than 'button' contacts as used in relays for
example.
First of all, connectors have a very finite numbers of mate-unmate
cycles in their original design and once they reach that number
[either half] they are basically scrap. Further, if you mate a worn
out connector with a good one, you may contaminate the surface of the
'good' half and compromise it's future performance.
Except for connectors especially designed for large numbers of mating,
most commercial connectors are good for 50 to 200 cycles, and that is
highly dependent on the environmental conditions [dust and grit are a
quick death].
Once the surface plating is worn through or the pins have overheated
and lost some spring tension, there is nothing one can do to improve
the connection but replace it with NEW components.

Best replacement? Depends on the application. A lot of engineering
goes into the choice of a simple connector for a product if long life
and durability are needed.

Neil S.
From: GregS on 18 Sep 2009 12:06
In article <266cd8ae-325e-4cd7-bd08-43d62fd4892e(a)w37g2000prg.googlegroups.com>, nesesu <neil_sutcliffe(a)telus.net> wrote:
>On Sep 18, 8:28=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 get the impression that you are talking about pin and socket
>connectors rather than 'button' contacts as used in relays for
>example.
>First of all, connectors have a very finite numbers of mate-unmate
>cycles in their original design and once they reach that number
>[either half] they are basically scrap. Further, if you mate a worn
>out connector with a good one, you may contaminate the surface of the
>'good' half and compromise it's future performance.
>Except for connectors especially designed for large numbers of mating,
>most commercial connectors are good for 50 to 200 cycles, and that is
>highly dependent on the environmental conditions [dust and grit are a
>quick death].
>Once the surface plating is worn through or the pins have overheated
>and lost some spring tension, there is nothing one can do to improve
>the connection but replace it with NEW components.
>
>Best replacement? Depends on the application. A lot of engineering
>goes into the choice of a simple connector for a product if long life
>and durability are needed.
>
>Neil S.

The OP didn't say a whole lot. Some oxides can be removed with water,
like the green type. Not many contact cleaners actually remove oxide.
Oleic acid based cleaners will help remove oxides as well as friction.

greg
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