![]() ![]() In general, direct current is harder on contacts than alternating current, because AC arcs tend to self-extinguish during zero-crossing. Arcing across contacts can cause corrosion and oxidation too. The copper and zinc oxides are nowhere near as conductive as either base metal, so electrical contacts made of brass can have problems if there’s too much oxidation on them.Įxposure to the atmosphere isn’t the only source of trouble for contacts. Other times, metal oxides cause problems. ![]() Sometimes this is handy, as when an aluminum screen door forms a layer of aluminum oxide that makes it essentially impervious to further corrosion. Pure metals rapidly combine with oxygen to form metal oxides, which usually have different properties than the base metal. Oxygen in the atmosphere is the culprit, and metals are the victims. ![]() It may not seem like it, but we live at the bottom of an ocean of corrosive gas. Oxidation is the Enemy Badly oxidized game cartridge connectors. With that in mind, I thought I’d look at contact cleaners that are in use today, what’s really going on when you clean contacts, and why contacts even need cleaning in the first place. All I know is that I’ve never found its equal for cleaning electronics gear. I never knew for sure if that stuff was Freon, but it was the mid-80s, shortly before CFCs were banned, so it might have been. He gave me some for my shop in a little jar. He had a 5-gallon pail of cleaning solution under his bench that he told me was Freon, which he swore by for head cleaning and general contact cleaning. I was working for a video production studio at the time, so there was a fair amount in common about our jobs. One of the regular chores we faced was cleaning the heads on tape machines. I visited him at work once, and despite the fact that he wouldn’t let me climb the 1,200′ antenna tower, I had a great time. Audio I can't recall to the same extent as I last tweaked my video.I had a friend who was an engineer for a small TV station. Usually with video at least everything looks better at first then settles a bit as the days go by. I know there are other enhancers, but I have not tried them. I've seen and heard changes for the better with all of these. Normal De-Oxit (use the 100% solution) is mainly a contact cleaner and not enhancer so it should be completely wiped off with a microfiber cloth.įor contact enhancers I'd use Stabilant 22 gel concentrate (I've bought it for around $80 off of eBay, much better than the diluted stuff, the bottle is also large and can treat your entire house multiple times over), De-Oxit Gold 100% (significantly thicker and a better enhancer than the normal solutions, about $20-25 gets you a decent sized little glass container), Furutech Nano-Liquid (doesn't last as long as the previous two, but is a more powerful enhancer, costs nearly $200 though and the bottle is the smallest of the lot), or Mad Scientist Audio's Graphene Enhancer (most potent enhancer, only just started using it in the past couple of months, so not sure about lasting effects, seems to form a shell around the contacts though, $50 gets you a 5 oz. The small ones re perfect for tube pins and sockets. I do use the Caig small and big foam applicators for the glue don’t fall apart the tip stays intact. I use it on AC all the time even though they don’t mention it no problems over 3 years and fantastic on Vacuum Tube pins after cleaned. NASA ,and a bunch of high tech,military companies use it. Stabilant -22 which has 25% Isopropyl in it, to help get into tight areas. made in Canada I have tried almost everythingĬaig is greasy and not in the same league the Furutech nano fluid is conductive and only lasts a year or two usesshsrk oil. and many high techĬompanies have been using this for Years. My uncle is a electronics designer and turned me on to this several years ago. Once the Stabilant is applied it will protect conductors for a Minimum. I have been saying this for awhile but Stabilant-22 which is not only a great signal enhancer but once all connectors are cleanĩ9% Isopropyl alcohol is purest. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |