Dielectric grease...or not?

[HBFL]

This has been on my mind for some time. After seeing the resurgence of the "crisis averted" thread, I checked my 99 I/S 75,000 mi solenoid connection and 30 A fuse, it all looked great. Even though it's buried behind the I/S massive bundles of connectors it's gotta run hot. Never looked bf. So I hit it all with contact cleaner and I will buff the white residue off the spades with some fine sandpaper and crimp the female connectors just a tad, but to dielectric or not? I'm inclined not since after 20 years they are in such good shape. I used to drown all my bikes connections in dielectric but after reading up it on this forum and others, it's not always recommended on connectors. It's beyond my pay grade the explanations. Just curious, I haven't been applying it for some time. Just cleaning, sanding, and tightening. Thoughts?

[hubcapsc]

I checked it on my 97 for the first time a few years ago. It was as
you describe, a little residue, but mostly in good shape. I cleaned it
up and put it back like it was. I think dielectric grease is for keeping
water out of a cover, but not for applying directly to the electrical
conductors...

-Mike

[WintrSol]

Dielectric grease will help keep moisture out, but you may not want to coat the contacts with it; rather, put it where the connector comes together at the base of the contacts, so it will squeeze into the gap. That will help keep whatever residue you found, off of the contact faces.

Rather than use sandpaper, I would use a bit of the back side of some thin leather; the sandpaper can leave bits of grit embedded in the surface. After leather, un-coated cardboard, like the inside of a small box would be my next choice. Dampen either with the contact cleaner first.

[HBFL]

Great. Thanks for the feedback.   

[da prez]

  Dia-electric creates an air tight electrical connection. I use it and it works.

                                              da prez

[Grandpot]

Dielectric grease works well on 12V systems that are either on or off, like our Valkyries.  There are problems when you have a 5V system such as a Can-bus.  The Can-bus is very sensitive.  This is especially true when there is a potentiometer in the circuit, such as a Throttle Position Sensor on a fuel injected system. It transmits a varying voltage between 0 and 5V.  Dielectric grease will cause a problem there.

[MarkT]

Dielectric grease is an ANTI-connector.  It blocks electric flow.  I put it on the contacts of the fuse panel on Deerslayer and it started a fire.  Oops.  More reading and I discovered you use it to seal off the area where there are connectors, AFTER the connection is made.  Blocks air and moistore from corroding the connection.  I still use regular grease on the contacts when I replace incandecent bulbs like in a trailer.  Never caused a problem with that and it still keeps the contacts from corroding.  Use dielectric grease carefully and correctly.

[Valkpilot]

Dielectric grease is an ANTI-connector.  It blocks electric flow.  I put it on the contacts of the fuse panel on Deerslayer and it started a fire.  Oops.  More reading and I discovered you use it to seal off the area where there are connectors, AFTER the connection is made.  Blocks air and moistore from corroding the connection.  I still use regular grease on the contacts when I replace incandecent bulbs like in a trailer.  Never caused a problem with that and it still keeps the contacts from corroding.  Use dielectric grease carefully and correctly.

+1

[HBFL]

Yeah the more I research it's not recommended directly on the contact surfaces. However as a seal on the edges of the plastic connectors it keeps moisture and dirt out. It's s also described as an insulator. Useful on the spark plug boots where contact is made with the porcelain on the plug. It prevents arcing to nearby metallic surfaces.

[98valk]

dielectric grease is basically silicone grease, % can change per manufactuer and usage. silicone does not transmit electricity and is very good at it. higher voltage capacity wires are many times made with silicone outer casings, one common example is spark plug wires.

[..]

Surely any thick grease can be used to seal?

[Valkpilot]

Surely any thick grease can be used to seal?

Petroleum based greases will eventually destroy wire insulation and plastic connectors, so no.

Silicone based greases are safe for rubbers and plastics.

[rws]

as stated previously put the dielectric grease on after making electrical connections

[98valk]

Surely any thick grease can be used to seal?

grease is "Oil" held in suspension via various thickeners. So over time and/or higher temps, the oil will come out of suspension leaving a mess.

[98valk]

Surely any thick grease can be used to seal?

Petroleum based greases will eventually destroy wire insulation and plastic connectors, so no.

Silicone based greases are safe for rubbers and plastics.

[..]

Thanks. 

[Paladin528]

Dielectric grease is a non-conductive grease.  Its purpose is to prevent corrosion due to moisture and prevent arching between contacts when moisture is present.
you can coat the contacts to your hearts content because when you plug the connector back in the contact area will scrape off the grease you applied allowing for a good contact.
It is good practice to use this on any connector exposed to moisture (so pretty much all of them on a bike)  also apply some from the back side of the connector to prevent moisture ingress.

[98valk]

Dielectric grease is a non-conductive grease.  Its purpose is to prevent corrosion due to moisture and prevent arching between contacts when moisture is present.
you can coat the contacts to your hearts content because when you plug the connector back in the contact area will scrape off the grease you applied allowing for a good contact.
It is good practice to use this on any connector exposed to moisture (so pretty much all of them on a bike)  also apply some from the back side of the connector to prevent moisture ingress.

"you can coat the contacts to your hearts content because when you plug the connector back in the contact area will scrape off the grease you applied allowing for a good contact."

I've had cases where this doesn't happen and usually full voltage is reduced btwn the connections if a connection is made, resulting in intermittent operation of the circuit. Had one time with a distributor cap ignition vehicle and there was a problem with reduced power at hwy speeds. It was too much dielectric grease in all spark plug connections, cleaned it up, used DG correctly and full power on hwy was back.

[MarkT]

Dielectric grease is a non-conductive grease.  Its purpose is to prevent corrosion due to moisture and prevent arching between contacts when moisture is present.
you can coat the contacts to your hearts content because when you plug the connector back in the contact area will scrape off the grease you applied allowing for a good contact.
It is good practice to use this on any connector exposed to moisture (so pretty much all of them on a bike)  also apply some from the back side of the connector to prevent moisture ingress.

"you can coat the contacts to your hearts content because when you plug the connector back in the contact area will scrape off the grease you applied allowing for a good contact."

I've had cases where this doesn't happen and usually full voltage is reduced btwn the connections if a connection is made, resulting in intermittent operation of the circuit. Had one time with a distribute cap ignition vehicle and there was a problem with reduced power at hwy speeds. It was too much dielectric grease in all spark plug connections, cleaned it up, used DG correctly and full power on hwy was back.

Right.  And I had a fire by doing this.  Bad idea.

[Valkpilot]

Dielectric grease is a non-conductive grease.  Its purpose is to prevent corrosion due to moisture and prevent arching between contacts when moisture is present.
you can coat the contacts to your hearts content because when you plug the connector back in the contact area will scrape off the grease you applied allowing for a good contact.
It is good practice to use this on any connector exposed to moisture (so pretty much all of them on a bike)  also apply some from the back side of the connector to prevent moisture ingress.

For most connectors this is not the case. They either don't fit tight enough or you reduce the surface area of the metal to metal contact.  Either way, you create either a non-conductive state or a high-resistance connection.  Poor connections and elevated heat at the connector result.

Wedge base lightbulbs seem to be the consistent exception.