Dielectric grease on terminals.

[alan camby]

Hello everyone!
I have been getting some conflicting information on the use of dielectric grease. Everyone seems to know it is safe for sparkplug boots and battery terminals.

What about Weatherpack, Deutsch, and metri pack connectors?
I have had the habit of using some on all the little seals in these connectors to aid assembly and hopefully help them seal a tad better. What about the electric terminals themselves? I am not talking about connectors with computer signals with a few miliamps. My possible use is on off-road Jeep auxiliary lighting. Primarily stuff with a decent load, pulling a few amps. Off-road lights that are 20watts or more. E-locker terminals pulling several amps. These connectors might get submerged in water from time to time off-road.

Another example of something that pulls a decent load is the 7 round trailer plug. I have always put a generous amount inside the truck side of this connector to prevent corrosion. Obviously this is transfered to the trailer plug when inserted. I have never had any issues with doing this.

Back in my younger years I used to ride various off road vehicles, ATV's and Dirt bikes. When taking a electrical connector off I would put the dielectric grease in the terminals before reassembly to help with water and corrosion issues. These small Japanese vehicles didn't have rubber seals.

I have always found dielectric grease handy for the old style round automotive bulbs. The style in trailers and old Jeeps. These have always been corrosion points where the bulb twists into the socket. The dielectric grease has always seemed to help with this.

So what do you all think about this?
Am I doing this wrong?

Guess my biggest question is on the weatherpack and Deutsch terminals. Is this going to far and possibly causing more harm than good ?

 

[Mooky]

You’ll get numerous replies with tribal knowledge, myths & hyperbole.

Here’s the answer from the engineers:

Does Grease Affect Conductivity? | Nye Lubricants

Connector grease does not interfere with conductivity. Our test tutorials demonstrate the conductive and insulating properties of NyoGel® 760G.

www.nyelubricants.com

 

[alan camby]

You’ll get numerous replies with tribal knowledge, myths & hyperbole.

Here’s the answer from the engineers:

Does Grease Affect Conductivity? | Nye Lubricants

Connector grease does not interfere with conductivity. Our test tutorials demonstrate the conductive and insulating properties of NyoGel® 760G.

www.nyelubricants.com

Thanks for that as I haven't read that specific link before. I just installed a bunch of weather pack connectors on my friends jeep last week for lights and put the grease on the seals and a little squirt down each terminal bore before connecting. Several people seem to think I made a big mistake doing this. The lights work fine. I did some googling, and like you said, lots of opinions out there. I have always been a fan of dielectric grease and it has never given me an issue.
In a few weeks I will be installing the e-locker axles under the Jeep and my plan currently is to stick with my old ways of greasing.
Thanks again.

 

[rlitman]

...Several people seem to think I made a big mistake doing this...

As pointed out above, there's lots of "tribal knowledge" out there that's dead wrong. As for dielectric grease, I do use it on connections that get hot (spark plug boots & insulators and bulb parts), but prefer Fluid Film on more weather exposed parts like trailer connections, and use DeOxit on sensitive interior parts.

One place you should not grease is crimps. Wires and crimp terminals should be clean and free of grease and/or oils before crimping, as there, contamination can lead to a crimp that's not truly oxygen free. After crimping, grease up to your heart's content. However, grease will also interfere with the adhesive bond of double-wall heat shrink tubing, so maybe grease after crimp and after heat shrink is a better idea.

 

[alan camby]

As pointed out above, there's lots of "tribal knowledge" out there that's dead wrong. As for dielectric grease, I do use it on connections that get hot (spark plug boots & insulators and bulb parts), but prefer Fluid Film on more weather exposed parts like trailer connections, and use DeOxit on sensitive interior parts.

One place you should not grease is crimps. Wires and crimp terminals should be clean and free of grease and/or oils before crimping, as there, contamination can lead to a crimp that's not truly oxygen free. After crimping, grease up to your heart's content. However, grease will also interfere with the adhesive bond of double-wall heat shrink tubing, so maybe grease after crimp and after heat shrink is a better idea.

Oh yeah. The grease is always my last step.
Thanks for the input.

 

[MadMechMaster]

I've put a small film on the main seals to make it easier to push the two connector shells together.

I would imagine that if too much grease was put in at the terminals it could push out the wire seals since it would have nowhere to go. A case of a little is enough but too much can be worse.

 

[alan camby]

I've put a small film on the main seals to make it easier to push the two connector shells together.

I would imagine that if too much grease was put in at the terminals it could push out the wire seals since it would have nowhere to go. A case of a little is enough but too much can be worse.

I agree. I see no reason to get to crazy inside the connector as I am just trying to prevent corrosion if a few drops of water were ever to get in. Thanks.

 

[Uofime]

Echoing others comments, on sealed connectors a little won’t hurt, but they do seal and grease doesn’t compress so don’t go over board. Deutsch also have the quirk where the socket terminals themselves are sealed so if you fill the socket itself the pin will have a tough time being inserted. That’s not an issue with GT, metripack, weatherpack, ect, ect

 

[Solpainter]

I have been using it for years for all my outdoor light bulbs. It seems the newer bulbs get some minor corrosion on the threads. Just a light coat and they turn easy.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Been soaking connectors in dielectric grease for decades.