[Boatanchors] Re: Cleaning rotary switch contacts

[Richard Keller]

Jim,
Sounds like a great idea. I also have used D5 for years. It
is now DN I believe. Has something to do with environmental
requirements. Of course it costs more now too.

I considered Stabilant 22 for a long time but it was only
sold in large amounts and was very expensive. Is this the
same thing to which you are referring? D5 followed by
Stabilant sound like the best of both worlds.

I use Progold too but only on precious metal contacts. It
does not clean, just improves conductivity and preserves. By
the way, I never noticed D5 fade away after a month.

73, Dick KF4NS
St. Petersburg, FL 33714 USA
Keep the glow!


Message: 1
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2006 20:42:49 -0600
From: "Jim Wilhite" <w5jo at brightok.net>
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Cleaning rotary switch contacts
To: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <013701c6158f$8bc9c280$0201a8c0 at Wilhite>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed;
charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original

DeOxit D5 will wear off or evaporate in a few months, or has
for me.  Good
for a while but be prepared to re-do it.  I don't know about
the Pro Gold,
anyone have experience with it?

I use the D5 to clean the contacts then use denatured
alcohol to clean again
then apply a product called Stabilent.  I did a receiver
with an oscillator
wafer that was giving trouble about a year ago and haven't
had to touch it
since,  Just run the switch through its travel one time and
it comes right
in.

Stabilent is used on computer boards and other very
sensitive contacts and
all reports from industrial users are positive.  After
redoing the contacts
with D5 and Pro Gold for several years, I switched.  Others
may comment on
the Pro Gold as desired.  Stabilent is a concentrate that is
mixed with
alcohol at a 10:1 mixture and applied only to the contacts.
If you dip the
switch in it, don't worry it is very stable as the name
implies. It only
remains on the metal contacts.  The product adheres to the
metal and the
alcohol evaporates.

Stabilent does not evaporate on metal as others do and coats
the contacts
with an enhancer to provide a low current path.

Not for high voltage contacts...meaning above 500 volts or
so.

73  Jim   W5JO