Dirty electrics.?

[Adz]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[lacroupade]

Interesting thing though - that spray grease is not good on hot places. A mechanic sprayed it on my daughters Clio on the ECU plugs (which on that pile of shite are right on the back of the cylinder head so get very hot)....within days it had dried solid and was actually conducting and causing all sorts of problems.....the proper garage I took it too had a right little wobbly about "the idiot that did this...!"....they airblasted the powdered remains of it and sprayed with electrical contact cleaner and hey presto, all fixed!

[Deleted account DD]

WD40 is the gerber multi tool of lubricants. Its reasonable at most things and affordable

I do have various lubes & cleaners knocking around but with the likes of electrolube to pick on one (havent looked recently) being several times that of a can of wd40 , wd40 wins every time for flushing ,soaking and protecting it does the job.

My engineering brain is well dominated by my own tight wallet when I have to pay

[Adz]

Should of taken a before & after
Didnt think of it till it was to late

Used the washing up liquid,viniger & water solution.
Within minutes,nice clean sparkling conections
Rinsed it out,followed by a quick blast of WD40
Job done.
Tested it on me trailer,alls working fine

[ssteve]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Adz]

Originally Posted by ssteve

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

ssteve

Didn't know there was a "battery terminal spray" available
Always used Vaseline

[Terranosaurus]

Originally Posted by Adz

Didn't know there was a "battery terminal spray" available
Always used Vaseline

Yes but what do you put on you battery terminals.