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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Ecode70D on 2013-12-29 19:37

Title: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: Ecode70D on 2013-12-29 19:37
   I'm putting the finishing touches on my 57 custom and was wondering what you coat your bulb sockets, and the ends of the wires with where they plug in.  Now that everything is clean and working I would like to keep it that way and stop corrosion from forming.  I did an internet search on  dielectric and found pros and cons.
    What are you guys and gals using to fight corrosion on electric pieces and parts??
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: rmk57 on 2013-12-29 20:05
I've never used anything, but my car is pretty much a fair weather car and is kept in a dry garage.
Never had a problem with corrosion.
At work we use dielectric in our salt spreaders and rarely have problems with lights not working
and there in the harshest environment you could have.

Randy 
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: SkylinerRon on 2013-12-30 00:52
Back in the old days we used a dab of wheel bearing grease.

Ro0n.
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: petew on 2013-12-30 07:53
Dielectric grease will do the trick. I used to buy it from West Marine but I'm sure you can find it on the net or perhaps Radio Shack.
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: hiball3985 on 2013-12-30 08:40
Quote from: petew on 2013-12-30 07:53
Dielectric grease will do the trick. I used to buy it from West Marine but I'm sure you can find it on the net or perhaps Radio Shack.
You can get it at any autoparts store, Permatex and a few others supply it.
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: Ecode70D on 2013-12-30 19:55
   I'm getting a tube of the Permatex one dropped off tomorrow.  It seems like It will do the trick for what I want to do.
   Does anyone remember  in the 60's and 70' when they used some stuff that looked like peanut butter on the bulb and headlight sockets?  Whatever it was, it worked real well .
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: sprink88 on 2014-01-01 10:51
haha, I remember that stuff. It did do well keeping moisture out too
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: Ecode70D on 2014-01-01 11:00
Sprink88

     That's the question...

   What was that stuff that they used in those days?????
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: SkylinerRon on 2014-01-01 19:41
It was wheel bearing grease.

Ron.
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: Ecode70D on 2014-01-01 19:53
Quote from: SkylinerRon on 2014-01-01 19:41
It was wheel bearing grease.

Ron.

Well OK Ron.... That's what I'll use in the parking light sockets.  I don't want them to get all corroded again
Jay
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: gasman826 on 2014-01-02 08:31
LUBRIPLATE is the product Ford used from the mid '70s as a dielectric sealer for DuraSpark connections.  It looks like white grease and was used liberally on all the connections to seal moisture infiltration into the wires, enhance the connection and prevent corrosion.  My can is 40+ years old and the part # has faded from the label.  I have used this on bulb sockets, battery cables, trailer/truck wire connections with no failures.  Ford also used another semi clear gel dielectric (provided in a Ford labeled tube) for spark plug boots, rotor ends and other inside the distributor parts to provide corrosion resistance and seal stray voltage/noise.
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: Ecode70D on 2014-01-02 14:52
Quote from: gasman826 on 2014-01-02 08:31
LUBRIPLATE is the product Ford used from the mid '70s as a dielectric sealer for DuraSpark connections.  It looks like white grease and was used liberally on all the connections to seal moisture infiltration into the wires, enhance the connection and prevent corrosion.  My can is 40+ years old and the part # has faded from the label.  I have used this on bulb sockets, battery cables, trailer/truck wire connections with no failures.  Ford also used another semi clear gel dielectric (provided in a Ford labeled tube) for spark plug boots, rotor ends and other inside the distributor parts to provide corrosion resistance and seal stray voltage/noise.

Thanks Gary
    I'll bet that's what I was asking about when I said that it looked like peanut butter when it aged a little.
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: hiball3985 on 2014-01-02 16:42
I think the dielectric grease used on electrical parts is the same silicone grease they use on brake calipers..
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: BWhitmore on 2014-01-02 17:35
In another post I made a few days ago about the heat shrinkable boots used in Indy Race cars to seal electrical terminals they coat the terminal with silicone (it may have been dielectric grease)before applying the heat shrink boot.  Probably a headache when you have to diassemble the terminal but I am sure it eliminates the corrosion. 
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: Ecode70D on 2014-01-02 20:17
Bill
    It sounds like it can't hurt.  Jay
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: jumping jack flash on 2014-01-03 16:10
Lubriplate part number, on my 40 + year old can is 105.
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: gasman826 on 2014-01-03 19:29
Did a little research:

DS-ES Electric Switch Lubricant
Lithium Type Grease

Developed for the lubrication of electrical
switch contacts. Used extensively in the
automotive industry for switches, sockets,
and wiring harness connectors. Excellent
oxidation resistance and compatibility with
metal, plastic and rubber. .

Although many Lubriplate products look like white grease, they are not the same.  DS-ES is great for electric connections but not disc brakes.  The Lubriplate used on disc brakes is scorch resistant and will not contaminate rotors, drums, shoes or pads.  The two should not be interchanged.
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: Ecode70D on 2014-01-03 21:07
Gary
      I'm glad that  you told me that before I made a mistake.  My parking light sockets were on my to do list for tomorrow and I was going to use the lithium that I have on the shelf in the shop.
"It is not DS-ES" .
Thank you  Jay
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: RICH MUISE on 2014-01-04 07:56
Yeah, that was some good info there. Thanks for posting that Gary.
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: hiball3985 on 2014-01-04 09:25
Motorcraft XG3A.
Motorcraft Silicone Brake Caliper Grease and Dielectric Compound is designed to lubricate disc brake caliper slide pins and provide high voltage seal to secondary ignition wires. It has high resistance to water and heat. This caliper grease and dielectric compound is compatible with Ethylene-Propylene Diolefin Monomer rubber. It suppresses voltage leaks by coating inner distributor cap surface and delivers efficient performance.

Jay, Permatex makes a product for bulb sockets, not sure what it is.
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: Ecode70D on 2014-01-04 12:55
Jim
    Thanks  for that info.   Does it happen to have DS-ES Electric Switch Lubricant written on it as
Gary had mentioned?  Jay
Title: Re: BULB SOCKETS AND WIRE CONNECTIONS
Post by: hiball3985 on 2014-01-04 13:56
Jay, I have no idea I don't have that product, I don't use any of the dielectric type stuff.