[AMRadio] Dow Corning DC 4

[David Knepper]

Another alternative is to check with the parts department at a local car 
dealership.  Ask the clerk that you are looking for the chemical that is 
used in the sockets of the taillights, etc.

This product is generally light brown in color and is used to prevent 
moisture build-up in the sockets thus preventing corrosion.


David Knepper, W3CRA/W3ST
Collins Radio Associaton - Join Today
www.collinsra.com
Editor of the Collins Journal
Secretary of the Collins Radio Association
See us on Facebook:  Collins Radio Association

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dennis Gilliam" <dennisgilliam at gmail.com>
To: "Discussion of AM Radio in the Amateur Service" 
<amradio at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, September 20, 2011 1:13 AM
Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Dow Corning DC 4


> Not that it relates to the connector issue, but pro auto paints stores 
> have
> a product for eliminating 'fisheyes' in paint jobs from wax & silicone
> residue.  It is a liquid used in the stripping & sanding phase.  RM 
> marketed
> it under the name "Pre-Kleano" when I bought some a few years back.
>
> 73DG  W7TFO
>
> On Mon, Sep 19, 2011 at 2:32 PM, Jim Wilhite <w5jo at brightok.net> wrote:
>
>> A couple of weeks back I asked if anyone knew what the grease
>> composition was in the little packets furnished with commercial VHF
>> antennas.  Several people responded with the answer Dow Corning DC 4.
>>
>> I had a friend who send me a couple of packets and I put it in several
>> connectors that I am using now in my temporary transmission line.  First
>> I measured the reflected power into a dummy load from 1.8 up to 29 Mc.
>> I did that in the middle of the 6 bands.
>>
>> Then I put the grease in one connector and measured at the same points.
>> The reflected power did not change so I put it in the rest of the
>> connectors.  Still the reflected power did not change and the power
>> measured at the dummy load did not change.
>>
>> Given those results I clinched my jaw and ordered a tube of it, about 5
>> oz.  I forget the exact cost but it was about $20.  I made the decision
>> to put the grease in my PL 259 connectors because over the years I have
>> used them in all sorts of installations.  I put tape around them, I put
>> heat shrink over them after taping them but in most cases I found
>> corrosion on the center pin from condensation.
>>
>> So by filling the connector this should help keep that problem down to a
>> very little bit.  I hope this time I never have to move and this will
>> last from now on.  Thanks to all of you who posted your thoughts and
>> suggestions.  In my measurements it is a worth while thing to do
>> particularly if you live in high humidity areas.
>>
>> The only thing to watch is it has silicone in it.  If you use it on
>> something to be painted, you will regret it.  Paint will not stick to
>> surfaces that have had silicone on them.  And it does not matter how
>> much you clean the surface, it will always cause trouble.
>>
>> Jim/W5JO
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net
>> AMRadio mailing list
>> Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/
>> List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html
>> List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio
>> Post: AMRadio at mailman.qth.net
>> To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-request at mailman.qth.net with
>> the word unsubscribe in the message body.
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net
> AMRadio mailing list
> Searchable Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/amradio@mailman.qth.net/
> List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html
> List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio
> Post: AMRadio at mailman.qth.net
> To unsubscribe, send an email to amradio-request at mailman.qth.net with
> the word unsubscribe in the message body.
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html