Dirty electrics.?

Adz · 04-07-2009, 18:53

So you have a tow bar with electrics
&
You have a caravan,trailer,dolly or board
You know it all works but have trouble time to time with lights not working but the bulbs are ok

Well...

That will be a thing of the past thanks to this top tip

200ml of any brand washing up liquid.
200ml of any brand viniger.
400ml of boiled water (any brand

).
Place/poor all 3 into a triger bottle squiter.

Spray the terminals on both plugs then open the terminals with a flat headed screw driver & spray again till all the rubish comes out...wait 10 mins...

Spray again with luke warm water & leave to dry...

Job done

Nice clean terminals & no loose conection

Hope this helps someone

Deleted account DD · 04-07-2009, 19:43

I wouldnt put that solution anywhere near anything electrical.

Corrosives, abrasives, water and electrics. Just what the doctor ordered.........not

Seriously, whats wrong with wd40 especially when Aldi have had it in for just over £1 a decent sized can and I saw the generic equivalent at a show for 99p per 1/2litre aerosol.

Far easier and i've been using just that on my leccies for the past 20yrs plus with no problems

Adz · 04-07-2009, 19:59

Well i wont argu or say good or bad as i have just been shown it by a 50+ year old trucker whos been using it for as long as i am old...
Showed me on his tractor unit which he owns & bought the copper terminals up a treat...
Will try it on mine tomorrow...
WD40 only acts as a water repelant not a cleaner & also acts like glue to dust...

Deleted account DD · 04-07-2009, 20:33

WD40 cleans , the idea its just a water repellant is rubbish. From their site:

CLEANS: WD-40 gets under dirt, marks and grease making it easy to wipe away. It also dissolves adhesives, allowing easy removal of labels, tape, and stickers
PROTECTS: WD-40 protects metal surfaces with corrosion-resistant ingredients to shield against moisture and other corrosive elements
LUBRICATES: WD-40's lubricating ingredients are widely dispersed and hold firmly to all moving parts
PENETRATES: WD-40 loosens rust-to-metal bonds and frees stuck, frozen or rusted metal parts
DISPLACES MOISTURE: Because WD-40 displaces moisture, it quickly dries out electrical systems to eliminate moisture-induced short circuits. Turn the power off before you spray

http://www.wd40.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1519

In my experience it doesn't attract dust any more than any other product and significantly less than others.

In any case youre suggesting introducing a shed load of h2o to the electrical sockets

better to flush through with wd40 or similar. They dont have to be shiny to work, worrying about that could be described as anal.

I appreciate the trucker has gleamo copper terminals but I've also heard that if a woman cuts the nails of her right hand with her left hand she will have the upper hand in marriage

So dont tell the missus and thats probably a better policy to follow

Adz · 04-07-2009, 20:43

Will do both

Report back tomorrow with verdict

WD40:-
I wonder how many people are as ignorant as me as i've never bothered reading the can or go to the web site
Just thought it un-sticks,stuck nuts & bolts etc & acts as a water repelant

Ya learn something every day...

Terranosaurus · 05-07-2009, 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adz

I wonder how many people are as ignorant as me as i've never bothered reading the can or go to the web site
Just thought it un-sticks,stuck nuts & bolts etc & acts as a water repelant

Funny thing that as a penetrant its pretty rubbish yet its the thing everyone uses it for - as a lubricant it is also pretty rubbish - the clues on the tin....

WD40 - WaterDisplacement (formula number) 40.

And of course they says those things about it on their website they are trying to sell it - you don't see it in use in many pro garages.

For freeing of rusty nuts buy specific penetrating oil it is far far beter, for general spray lubericant look for a variety with PTFE in also far far better.

But for blasting out connectors the proper stuff to use is funnily enough electrical contact cleaner, then maybe a blast of WD40 or similar and finish off with a spray grease, clear or white doesn't really matter (don't use copper grease though - its conductive) - won't attract dirt cos the flaps always closed on you vehicle electric and its best to protect the trailer plug either by putting it in one of the holders that are on modern trailer and caravans or stick it in a plastic bag and cable tie tight.

ssteve · 05-07-2009, 22:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adz

Well i wont argu or say good or bad as i have just been shown it by a 50+ year old trucker whos been using it for as long as i am old...
Showed me on his tractor unit which he owns & bought the copper terminals up a treat...
Will try it on mine tomorrow...
WD40 only acts as a water repelant not a cleaner & also acts like glue to dust...

well it will bring em up, it's eating them .

ssteve

jims-terrano · 05-07-2009, 22:55

When I put towbar sockets on from new I allways fill the back terminals with ordinary grease and smear the front pins in the socket with grease too. I don't have problems with corrosion and don't suffer dirt and dust sticking to them either. Be warned using grease or any other lubricant, modern tow hitch type stabilisers do not work when contaminated with oils and grease.

Jim T

PS my sockets now mounted on the rear bumper

Adz · 05-07-2009, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by jims-terrano

When I put towbar sockets on from new I allways fill the back terminals with ordinary grease and smear the front pins in the socket with grease too. I don't have problems with corrosion and don't suffer dirt and dust sticking to them either. Be warned using grease or any other lubricant, modern tow hitch type stabilisers do not work when contaminated with oils and grease.

Jim T

PS my sockets now mounted on the rear bumper

Thats where mines going Eventually

ssteve · 05-07-2009, 23:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by jims-terrano

When I put towbar sockets on from new I allways fill the back terminals with ordinary grease and smear the front pins in the socket with grease too. I don't have problems with corrosion and don't suffer dirt and dust sticking to them either. Be warned using grease or any other lubricant, modern tow hitch type stabilisers do not work when contaminated with oils and grease.

Jim T

PS my sockets now mounted on the rear bumper

i find the battery terminal spray is good in the rear of plugs/sockets

ssteve

04-07-2009, 18:53	#1
Adz Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Roaming Nomad Vehicle: 1995 SWB Terrano Posts: 5,370	Dirty electrics.? So you have a tow bar with electrics & You have a caravan,trailer,dolly or board You know it all works but have trouble time to time with lights not working but the bulbs are ok Well... That will be a thing of the past thanks to this top tip 200ml of any brand washing up liquid. 200ml of any brand viniger. 400ml of boiled water (any brand ). Place/poor all 3 into a triger bottle squiter. Spray the terminals on both plugs then open the terminals with a flat headed screw driver & spray again till all the rubish comes out...wait 10 mins... Spray again with luke warm water & leave to dry... Job done Nice clean terminals & no loose conection Hope this helps someone

04-07-2009, 20:33	#4
Deleted account DD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 4,705	WD40 cleans , the idea its just a water repellant is rubbish. From their site: CLEANS: WD-40 gets under dirt, marks and grease making it easy to wipe away. It also dissolves adhesives, allowing easy removal of labels, tape, and stickers PROTECTS: WD-40 protects metal surfaces with corrosion-resistant ingredients to shield against moisture and other corrosive elements LUBRICATES: WD-40's lubricating ingredients are widely dispersed and hold firmly to all moving parts PENETRATES: WD-40 loosens rust-to-metal bonds and frees stuck, frozen or rusted metal parts DISPLACES MOISTURE: Because WD-40 displaces moisture, it quickly dries out electrical systems to eliminate moisture-induced short circuits. Turn the power off before you spray http://www.wd40.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1519 In my experience it doesn't attract dust any more than any other product and significantly less than others. In any case youre suggesting introducing a shed load of h2o to the electrical sockets better to flush through with wd40 or similar. They dont have to be shiny to work, worrying about that could be described as anal. I appreciate the trucker has gleamo copper terminals but I've also heard that if a woman cuts the nails of her right hand with her left hand she will have the upper hand in marriage So dont tell the missus and thats probably a better policy to follow

04-07-2009, 19:43	#2
Deleted account DD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 4,705	I wouldnt put that solution anywhere near anything electrical. Corrosives, abrasives, water and electrics. Just what the doctor ordered.........not Seriously, whats wrong with wd40 especially when Aldi have had it in for just over £1 a decent sized can and I saw the generic equivalent at a show for 99p per 1/2litre aerosol. Far easier and i've been using just that on my leccies for the past 20yrs plus with no problems

04-07-2009, 19:59	#3
Adz Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Roaming Nomad Vehicle: 1995 SWB Terrano Posts: 5,370	Well i wont argu or say good or bad as i have just been shown it by a 50+ year old trucker whos been using it for as long as i am old... Showed me on his tractor unit which he owns & bought the copper terminals up a treat... Will try it on mine tomorrow... WD40 only acts as a water repelant not a cleaner & also acts like glue to dust...

04-07-2009, 20:43	#5
Adz Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Roaming Nomad Vehicle: 1995 SWB Terrano Posts: 5,370	Will do both Report back tomorrow with verdict WD40:- I wonder how many people are as ignorant as me as i've never bothered reading the can or go to the web site Just thought it un-sticks,stuck nuts & bolts etc & acts as a water repelant Ya learn something every day...

05-07-2009, 22:55	#8
jims-terrano Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 12,965	When I put towbar sockets on from new I allways fill the back terminals with ordinary grease and smear the front pins in the socket with grease too. I don't have problems with corrosion and don't suffer dirt and dust sticking to them either. Be warned using grease or any other lubricant, modern tow hitch type stabilisers do not work when contaminated with oils and grease. Jim T PS my sockets now mounted on the rear bumper