Condutive Grease?

[bluewool]

Thanks for everybody's input. I am still a little confused. I know and understand that it should not be liberty applied on connectors because of voltage leakage, especially high voltage. etc..However,if conductive grease is applied sparingly in a thin layer to a low voltage connector (butt,ground etc) would it not improve the conductivity and performance of the connector or connection.One would think since it is conductive it would. If not, why?
Thanks for everybody's indulgence.
Geo

If you want to speak in hypotheticals yes, a very minute difference.
You should run a bench test. Set up two static connections with the same load and use conductive grease on one and the other just clean very well. Be sure to use about 13vdc source and maybe a 5amp load(that's your high beam). Then measure the voltage drop across the connection. You know what you'll find?
No difference.
nothing. Because you likely do not have equipment accurate enough to measure the difference. We are talking microvolts at best.

It's not a spaceship it's a motorcycle.

There are much better things to waste time and money on than conductive grease.

[chuck hahn]

Its not a spaceship..its a motorcycle..ROTFLMAO! WELL PUT Bluewool, WELL PUT! Next topic:: cotter pins or small nails!!! LMAO!!!

[Steve]

Next topic:: cotter pins or small nails!!!

Neither one.













Cut coat hangers.

.

[bwringer]

Neither one.

Cut coat hangers.

.

I, uh... yeah, I'll admit to that one. But it was a long time ago, when I was young, and foolish, and ill-equipped...

[cowboyup3371]

What about paperclips?

[Matchless]

Thanks for everybody's input. I am still a little confused. I know and understand that it should not be liberty applied on connectors because of voltage leakage, especially high voltage. etc..However,if conductive grease is applied sparingly in a thin layer to a low voltage connector (butt,ground etc) would it not improve the conductivity and performance of the connector or connection.One would think since it is conductive it would. If not, why?
Thanks for everybody's indulgence.
Geo

Just again, do not confuse theory with practical application! They can be two completely different animals. We are talking only motorcycles here and mostly 30 year old GS's.

No OEM ever used conductive grease. If needed gold plated connectors would be a better idea.

If you use conductive grease in multipin connectors or switches you are sure to eventually have some bridging between pins and allowing leakage.

Anyone working on the bike down the line would never expect conductive grease and when disconnecting a connector may smear some around that could cause faults that may be very hard to locate.

An insulator with some conductive grease on the outside would not be a good insulator, especially if it is touching ground or another insulator with a bit on the outside.

Rather clean or replace any connectors that are suspect and only use dielectric grease if needed.

[OldVet66]

I think the biggest problem is that dialectic compounds are mistakenly termed as conductive grease, even by retailers advertising the product. I did find a carbon grease for switch gear knife blades, and a silvered thermal compound used to reduce contact pitting in contactors. Besides that I saw a lot of dielectric compounds advertised as conductive grease.

[bluewool]

I think the biggest problem is that dialectic compounds are mistakenly termed as conductive grease, even by retailers advertising the product. I did find a carbon grease for switch gear knife blades, and a silvered thermal compound used to reduce contact pitting in contactors. Besides that I saw a lot of dielectric compounds advertised as conductive grease.

Yea, that may be the case; however he had a specific product in mind "mg chemicals carbon grease", which IS a conductive grease, see post #11

[OldVet66]

Dielectric good conductive grease bad, and it doesn't matter how you apply the former.

[Geo]

Thanks to everybody for their great advice and tips! As a newbie reading the electrical problems of these bikes sometimes you start thinking outside the box..That's why I posted my questions,I didn't want to do something stupid....Now,about those "emergency" cotter pins...........................

[bluewool]

Now,about those "emergency" cotter pins...........................

twist ties.

[chuck hahn]

Your wifes bobby pin..LOL

[koolaid_kid]

Thanks to everybody for their great advice and tips! As a newbie reading the electrical problems of these bikes sometimes you start thinking outside the box..That's why I posted my questions,I didn't want to do something stupid....Now,about those "emergency" cotter pins...........................

I have used all the reasonable ones listed, coat hangers, nails, etc. But no one has listed baling wire yet.
And Geo, if you own a GS you are already outside the box.

[cowboyup3371]

I have used all the reasonable ones listed, coat hangers, nails, etc. But no one has listed baling wire yet.
And Geo, if you own a GS you are already outside the box.

True...so how about this picture of me holding my rear master cylinder reservoir on with bailing twine:

(didn't want to take the time to upload it to my photobucket account)

[Geo]

Cowboy...That would be creative use of available resources ..:-)