Dielectric grease offers a strong seal for metal surfaces. It can be used on the electrical system’s metal components to prevent corrosion and rust.

The products discussed below are suitable for electronic/electrical applications and data connections – both digital and analogue. Maybe take a look at our short article – Conductive grease not recommended for use on electrical connectors (opens in new tab). These terminals are the bridge for electrical current flow to and from the battery, powering everything from the ignition system to the headlights and the car’s computer system. Using dielectric grease on stabilizers is a non-automotive application. Stabilizers are used in keyboards to provide balance across keys. They need protection and a little lubrication to continue functioning as designed. Distributor CapIn this guide, I touch on the basics of dielectric grease. I evaluate the pros and cons of the lubricant, and I show you when and how to use it. I also determine the differences between two popular automotive grease types. What is Dielectric Grease? Insulators are both dielectric grease and “conductive” greases (anti-seize). The main distinction between dielectric and “conductive” greases is that “conductive” greases and anti-seize greases contain finely powdered metal. Because insulating oil suspends the finely powdered metal, it does not conduct. The metal powder suspended in the grease reduces the voltage breakdown of any arc routes. Gold plated will quite often still need a connector grease as the gold plating is microscopically porous and can easily be compromised, especially during initial mating of the connector. A suspended base metal powder is present in conductive greases and anti-seize chemicals. Because the suspended metal powder occupies a fraction of the space filled by insulating grease, the connection is still insulated. The grease doesn’t conduct electricity.

Silicone Dielectric Grease (and lubricant) is a lubricant with a low viscosity. The usual temperature range is between -40 and +500 degrees Fahrenheit. For protecting connections, Silicone Dielectric Grease is considerably superior to petroleum jelly or Vaseline. Lead acid battery posts and terminals are prone to oxidation and corrosion. This is why you should clean them regularly ( preferrably with a battery terminal cleaner) and apply grease to seal off atmospheric moisture. When the electrical connection of a circuit breaker in the panel becomes weak and does not improve with tightening the screw, it means you need to replace the bus bar or wire terminal.

Hotjar sets this cookie to identify a new user’s first session. It stores a true/false value, indicating whether it was the first time Hotjar saw this user. Dielectric grease is available in any major auto-parts store. It is also available in larger department stores. Finally, there are dozens of outlets online that sell name-brand dielectric grease as well as several brand alternatives. FAQs It can also reduce the wear of connecting surfaces. With this protective coating, resistance is minimized and oxidation is prevented. 3. Insulates Arcing between electrical components can be prevented with dielectric grease. Some people have pondered what makes dielectric grease different from other types of grease. Is silicone grease and dielectric grease the same thing? What is the benefit of using dielectric grease? These are some of the concerns that may be bothering you.

The application of a conductive grease on an electrical connector in a volume production project would be considered a crazy decision, in the opinion of the article author. The potential process hazards of introducing a conductive grease are numerous. If the connector to be dosed with grease is anything but the most simplistic connector (such as a spade connector), the grease application method will end up being far too intricate and the possibility of introducing a fault will be too hight. Dielectric grease also provides more protection against corrosion. Corrosion protection is why dielectric grease is so good when applied to vehicles and marine vessels. Exposing dielectric grease to corrosive elements like salt will not dissolve or erode it, leaving what it is protecting safe. Minimizing Waste: Use only the necessary amount of grease to reduce waste. An over-application not only leads to potential performance issues but also contributes to environmental harm. Flooding with an appropriate insulating grease of low-viscosity dielectric grease is totally allowed in ordinary low voltage multiple-pin circuit connectors, such as automotive applications, unless a manufacturer cautions against it. The grease should be stable, free of metals in any form, and manufactured expressly for use as a dielectric grease. Although some Teflon-based greases are permitted, this is usually a silicone dielectric grease.

Silver Conductive Grease

Reconnect the Terminals: Once the terminals are coated, reconnect them to the battery, ensuring a snug and secure fit.

However, the ultimate fix for electrical connections that are affected by vibration is to inspect them regularly and tighten them. 8. Prevent galvanic corrosion The dispersed powder causes an issue that dielectric grease does not have. The hanging metal must be completely compatible with the constrained metals. As a result, conductive grease has to be used for a specific application. The connection will eventually fail if the metals clamped are incompatible with the grease’s suspended metal powder. This is what occurred with the plugs in our CATV system. Copper, aluminum, and steel were used to make the connections. The trunk center conductors cables were copper wrapped aluminum, while the cable shields were aluminum. Aluminum shields and connectors were used on drop cables, with copper clad steel centers. Corrosion failure was far more common when conductive grease was used, according to our records. When we switched to pure dielectric grease, the rate of corrosion failure dropped dramatically, virtually to nil. If the reader works for an equipment/device manufacturer or is a parts supplier to industry (e.g. automotive), then using a conductive grease on electrical connectors should be ruled out as an option. In most circumstances, a faulty connector can be cleaned and lubricated with a dielectric connector grease to restore circuit reliability. Ideally a connector grease is used as a preventative maintenance action, it’s also a dependable fix for an ‘in service’ problem where it is possible to issue a service bulletin or other field service instruction for the relevant connector; this service bulletin could be accompanied by introducing the use of connector grease during the manufacturing stage or loom assembly stage of the harness/circuit.Today, I still use silicone dielectric grease. I use it to lubricate the O-rings and threads of coaxial connectors. It’s what I use to keep stainless bolts and nuts from galling. It comes in handy for plug-in connections, which I use a lot in my automotive hobby. For battery terminal connection preservation, I also use silicone dielectric grease, which I apply directly to the battery post. I use it liberally on ground connections to protect stainless-to-zinc (galvanized), lead-to-lead, stainless-to-copper, and stainless-to-aluminum electrical connections against corrosion. Tune-up grease is another name for dielectric grease. It’s a non-conductive silicone-based grease that protects electrical connectors against corrosion, moisture, and grime. Permatex Dielectric Grease and CRC Dielectric Grease are two prominent dielectric greases.