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Most under-utilized preparation meathods

  • Conductive thread sealant in IMC and GRC joints

    Votes: 7 41.2%

  • Conductive pastes inside crimp/press connections

    Votes: 4 23.5%

  • Wire wheel, wire brush, emery cloth

    Votes: 4 23.5%

  • Tinning stranded wire with solder

    Votes: 7 41.2%

  • Conductive pastes on threaded lugs to prevent galling

    Votes: 5 29.4%

  • Conductive pastes on aluminum conductors

    Votes: 5 29.4%

  • Conductive pastes on copper conductors

    Votes: 4 23.5%

  • Conductive pastes worked into stranded conductors

    Votes: 3 17.6%

  • Torque wrench

    Votes: 13 76.5%

  • Locktight / thread stop adhesive

    Votes: 4 23.5%
  • Total voters
    17

Conductive Thread Sealant Compound, Contact Cleaners, And Specialty Chemicals

18882 Views 27 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  markore, 
markore
A thread for all your specialty chemicals and discussion, such as:
  • Electrically conductive thread sealant compounds
  • Insulative delectric silicone grease
  • Gas-tight anti-oxitive pastes
  • Contact cleaners and aerosol films
  • High frequency / data specialty products
  • Sound absorbing sealants

This is not intended to be a NEC - centric thread, as many of these products are used in other areas such as:
  • Power company equipment
  • Industrial/plant/corrosive specialty
  • Aircraft/auto/marine
  • Electronic cigarettes and wearable power
  • High frequency, A/V, and research
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markore
Yes IMC is IRC and meathods is spelled methods; how do you edit a poll?
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markore
DEOX Oxide Inhibitor

  • Working temperature range -40 C to 90 C
  • UL File E312012 Listed for 600 Volts
  • PLAIN - DE-OX series is suitable for aluminum or copper terminations
  • ZINC - DE-OX-Z series contains flecks of zinc mixed into the plain formula for aluminum and copper terminations.
  • COPPER - DE-OX-C series contains flecks of copper mixed into the plain formula for copper terminations.
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markore
Technicians' SURVIVAL KIT Part No. SK-IN30

DeoxIT® DN5MS-15, (Applications = 150 +/-)
DeoxIT® GOLD GN5MS-15, (Applications = 150 +/-)
DeoxIT® SHIELD SN5MS-15, (Applications = 150 +/-)
DeoxIT® D1W, Individual Wipes, 3 each
DeoxIT® GOLD G1W, Individual Wipes, 3 each
DeoxIT® D100L-2C, (Applications = 50 +/- drops, 0.04 ml/drop)
DeoxIT® GOLD G100L-2C, (Applications = 50 +/- drops, 0.04 ml/drop)
DeoxIT® SHIELD S100L-2C, (Applications = 50 +/- drops, 0.04 ml/drop)
Lint-free swabs, brushes, cloths, Display box, (8.0 x 5.0 x 1.5")
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markore
DeoxIT® Grease Cartridges

  • Use with standard caulking gun.
  • Superior Performance on Electrical & Mechanical Applications
  • Available with copper, aluminum, graphite, quartz, Teflon or
  • without particles
  • Convenient and Safe to Use
  • Available in all L260 and M260 Greases
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markore
DX Engineering Penetrox

This one is a thick paste/putty - guys relocate it to a wide tin and use toothpicks to apply:

  • Ensure a proper electrical connection between aluminum and copper metal parts such as conductors, telescoping aluminum tubing, or other antenna and grounding parts
  • Intended to be used between all aluminum to aluminum and aluminum to copper tubing or bare conductor connections.
  • Compounds of a natural oil base with suspended zinc particles, which ensure high conductivity at all voltage levels by displacing moisture and preventing the corrosion or oxidation of the metal.
  • Not recommended for use with rubber or polyethylene insulated wire
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markore
CUAL-GEL® Oxide Inhibitor Compound

  • Newest formulation designed for user & protective benefits
  • High quality general use non-melting, non-petroleum base compound
  • Specifically designed to prevent oxidation and corrosion of aluminum, copper, tin and steel
  • Works over a wide temperature range, sealing out moisture and air
  • Little or no effect on rubber and most other insulating materials
  • Easiest cleanup with soap and water.
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markore
Sanchem No-Ox ID A-Special (Chicago IL)

Thank you Big John, ohmontherange, for suggesting the No-Ox ID.
It looks like the least toxic anti corrosive agent I've seen yet:

No-Ox ID is NSF approved for drinking water tanks and USDA approved as a lubricant/rust proofing compound for meat & poultry plants
Click to expand...
No-Ox ID A-Special has specific applications listed on their website:
  • Apply a thin coat of this electrically conductive grease to mini-lamp bases before inserting into sockets.
  • Apply to base of lamp socket and lens contact area.
  • Apply to all electrical conduit connections by packing the end of the tubing and nut before connecting to box connection.
  • Apply to all wire terminal connections and wire splice connections. Dip the spade or ring into the NO-OX-ID
  • Apply to all electrical junction box connections or terminal posts in light system, starter cable connections, alternator terminal connections, battery posts connectors and ground connections.
  • Apply a thin coat of this electrically conductive lubricant to 7-way trailer plug connections and VW cable connector.
  • Use NO-OX-ID A-Special as a battery terminal grease to prevent battery corrosion for your car battery maintanance and marine battery maintanance. For battery connections coat the post, screw, clamp, terminal liberally with NO-OX-ID.
SPECIFIC ALUMINUM CABLE APPLICATION
When splicing aluminum cable with compression-type connectors, brush NO-OX-ID A-Special to the inside surfaces of the connector. Using a wire brush, brush these inside surfaces through the through the A-Special coating. This roughs up the surface assuring positive contact. At the same time the NO-OX-ID A-Special is providing protection against the oxide film, that can occur in the short space of time between roughing up the surface and final connection. Apply a thin coat of NO-OX-ID A-Special to cable ends to complete the splice to prevent aluminum rust.
Click to expand...
Fallacy of adding metals to increase Conductivity:
Many contact greases have copper, zinc or other metals blended into a grease to increase conductivity. In a study for an aerospace company in 1985 it was concluded that putting a metal into grease does not help conductivity. In many cases it reduces conductivity. The United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation in their Facilities instruction Journal Volume 3-3 Electrical Connections for power circuits states in Sec. 6.3.2 that "Use of grease with embedded zinc particles will cause a poorer connection due to the lower conductivity of zinc".

Aluminum Oxide is one of the hardest substances known to man, just softer than diamonds. How can a metal as soft as Zinc cut through it? It can't! Zinc metal can not dissolve aluminum oxide either. The aluminum oxide that typically forms on an aluminum connection is only 50-120 angstroms thick. Sanchem's NO-OX-ID penetrates the oxide film by the chemical action of our corrosion inhibitor system.
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markore
You can try google, I don't want to get in trouble with the mods for posting sales links. This area is mainly just for discussion of the performance of the different brands of compounds and chemicals, not so much on pricing and availability. I can tell you a major retailer is listing it as Ham Radio Conductive Grease.
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markore
BBQ said:
There must be some touted benefits, it does seem to adhere better than normal grease.
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Big John said:
Actually makes me wonder if in reality, practically any inert grease would work just as well as No-Alox...?
Click to expand...
Well, most advocate using electrical specialty grease for these 4 specific purposes:
  • Seal out oxygen / water vapor (Gas tight joint)
  • Seal out liquids (which catalyze corrosion / galvanic reactions)
  • Lubricate insulators like rubber spark plug boots
  • Reduce galling/seizing

Many types of grease used in electrical applications are nonconductive insulators and are designed for use in high pressure contacts that displace the grease from between conductors.
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markore
Spunk#7 said:
Is mobile 28 a suitable replacement for what everybody is using for an aluminum oxide inhibitor? (No-alox,etc.)
Click to expand...
Other guys on here are more qualified to discuss the code application side, however, on a physical level:

Grease does not conduct so it should only be used in high pressure connections where there is a lot of direct contact. Examples of low-pressure, low contact connections are found in classic automobile restoration, and vintage fixtures which have loosened or were not manufactured with close tolerances.

So lets say you have a connection which is only making contact in a tiny area, then you will know that would be a good candidate for conductive paste which would increase the conductive surface area and potentially reduce punch-through arcing. That said, as posted below, zinc is a far inferior conductor to aluminum or copper so you are always better off with a connection with more direct contact.

When water vapor levels are high and dissimilar metals are involved, galvanic reactions should be considered to avoid premature failure. Liquid water, pre-existing corrosion, and electrical current catalyze these reactions so keep an eye on things for a while when you use new materials or new alloys. Some of these reactions can be pretty vigorous, especially on pumps where cavitation can also be a factor.
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Semi-Ret Electrician said:
Mark, just for grins I did megger check of No-lox and Isco De-Ox and couldn't get any conductivity (>999m) at 1000V

Has anyone else seen this?
Click to expand...
Thank you for posting your test results. Your findings are consistent with the assertions of the manufacturer of No-Ox ID:

Fallacy of adding metals to increase Conductivity:
Many contact greases have copper, zinc or other metals blended into a grease to increase conductivity. In a study for an aerospace company in 1985 it was concluded that putting a metal into grease does not help conductivity. In many cases it reduces conductivity. The United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation in their Facilities instruction Journal Volume 3-3 Electrical Connections for power circuits states in Sec. 6.3.2 that "Use of grease with embedded zinc particles will cause a poorer connection due to the lower conductivity of zinc".
Click to expand...
Do you have a picture of your test setup or know the distance apart you set the probes?
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markore
chicken steve said:
I would've thought it the other way round SRE...:001_huh:~CS~
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CS, what are you talking about??? :001_huh:
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