[pure-silver] Re: Off topic, Spot meter problem

  • From: Eric Nelson <emanmb@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:43:36 -0700 (PDT)

WD-40 works wonders on electrical contacts.  

Once I had an older TV in for repair and mentioned that when I turned the 
volume knob (see it WAS old!) it made a scratchy noise through the speaker.  
Repair guy told me to squirt some WD in there, I did, and no more problem. 

Same thing happened with a high end analog radio tuner I have.  I don't know 
what exactly I squirted the WD onto, but it was something making electrical 
contact inside the unit when I opened it up and moved when I turned the dial.  
Turned it on and problem was fixed.   

Recently had a  pull switch in the darkroom go "bad" and when I couldn't find a 
replacement in the house, I did squirted some WD in there and now it works 
fine.  One doesn't need to use a lot.




________________________________
From: Tim Daneliuk <tundra@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tue, October 20, 2009 11:58:55 AM
Subject: [pure-silver] Re: Off topic, Spot meter problem

BOB KISS wrote:
>     Though I would not argue with Tim's experience, I would worry that
> WD-40 might leave a film on the battery contacts that might be either an
> insulator or, at least, cause some resistance...which may cause problems
> with meter accuracy or battery life.

Nope. WD-40 is just fine on battery contacts. It neither causes
increased resistance of any significance nor - when used sparingly -
is there all that much residue. WD-40 was invented as a water
displacement and rust inhibitor. When used rationally, it is an
excellent cleaner/lube in many contexts. There are probably some ultra
high impedance situations where the film left behind might cause an
undesirable current leak, but these are few and far between. As I
said, I've resurrected all manner of dead/sick electronics - tube,
transistor, FET, and IC - with an appropriate application of this
magic juice to contacts, switches, potentiometers, and the like.

>     A better idea is to contact an electronics shop, especially an
> Amateur Radio supplier (Google them) and purchase some "conductive
> lubricant".  It is both an excellent conductor and a rust inhibitor.  

This would also be fine BUT one has to be very careful.  Under no
circumstances would I recommend the use of "Contact Cleaner" type
solutions.  The solvents used in many of these are quite destructive
to plastic.  I've seen components and plastic mounting hardware melt
under the onslaught of contact cleaner.


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Tim Daneliuk    tundra@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
PGP Key:        http://www.tundraware.com/PGP/

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