But di-electric grease IS an insulator.... It only works good because putting plugs or lights back in pushes out the di-electric grease in between the contacts so electricity can flow but the rest of the contact is still protected from air and moisture by the grease.
Dielectric grease does not conduct electricity. It seals surfaces against corrosion and prevents bonding between parts. The pressure of metal-to-metal connections is sufficient to push the grease out of the way to make contact and electric flow resulting in the connection being encased in grease, keeping water and corrosive elements away.
Thank you. When electricians can be so confident that "dielectric grease is a conductor" it gets a guy feeling kinda down about his prospects for getting the right answer on anything just about anything.
Maybe you misspoke? Dielectric does in fact mean "resistant to" electrical conductivity. Which is the same thing as saying insulator. I'm not saying it will prevent contact. I'm not even saying don't use it. I'm just pointing out that it is an insulator.
Where's the actual comparison between the two greases? He just said he's used both. That's it. First half was the man ranting about how much experience he has and calling a man an idiot because he said dielectric grease is an insulator which IT IS (3:00). And the second half was basically again ramblings of whatever how many jobs he's done plus an infomercial of his own product. What's the purpose of this video?
I love that CRC bottle of dielectric grease on all my electrical contacts. I’ve redone a lot of fittings in my furnace. I used a light coat on all the contacts. I especially use this stuff on any dc connection in my truck. Works perfect and waterproofs. Your rationalization on lighting jobs and having someone tell you how to do your jobs reminds me of the public telling a cop how to do his job. I was an electrician for 8 years and now a cop. Great video!!
According to the dictionary: dielectric = a medium or substance that transmits electric force without conduction; an insulator. In electromagnetism, a dielectric (or dielectric material or dielectric medium) is an electrical insulator that can be polarized by an applied electric field. When a dielectric material is placed in an electric field, electric charges do not flow through the material as they do in an electrical conductor.
Pretty much all grease has low conductance so technically, they can be used to stop moisture ingress. The reason they say to use silicone/dielectric grease is because unlike petroleum grease products, it won't eat away at plastic insulation. I have seen petroleum products like wd40 melt plastic over time. Silicone is also very good with heat so it makes the perfect grease for use with electrical connections.
Thank you! I’m convinced that I got exactly what I hoped to get, which was confirmation that I can use white lithium inside an auto electric switch in the absence of dielectric grease.
You not only can, but some automotive manufacturers did this, which is often why you end up needing to redo their work. Frankly over the long term, you should just invest the $5 to use the best product. It is not like a manufacturer trying to shave off 2 cents in 10,000 different areas to save millions of dollars over the production life of a vehicle. Rather, your time saved in not having to do a job again and the peace of mind is worth the few extra pennies per application. PLUS, not all switches are created equal. Take a simple headlight dimmer switch for example, many use conductive traces to bias a transistor to vary the output and this heats up and will make standard (petroleum based) lithium grease thin, separate, and run out of the area of application.
The stuff in the green metal tube (DC-111) is one of the best silicon based compounds for electrical connections I have used. We bought it by the case in grease gun sized tubes for use in the oilfield on downhole 5/16 electric wireline operations. it held up in 150*C temperatures and to hydrostatic pressure rated from 10,000 - 15.000 psi. Its also an amazing ring sealant/lube.
Dielectric grease is an insulator. This means Non-conductive... That's the definition of dielectric. It is great to prevent sticking in high heat or corrosive environments. Who am I... just a guy who took Automotive Electrical Repair at the Bill Shaw Vocational Technical School. That doesn't mean I know it all, but this is a common misconception that has plagued many people when the fill their plugs full of grease and can't figure out why they have intermittent electrical current or reduced current flow (HIGH Resistance) due to the grease preventing a good connection. It's meant to go on spark plug boots, and connector seals, not on the contacts directly... Hope This helps.
Alright I got one for you, I already got all the greases and lubes out there, lithium, sili, multi, dry, name it. I'm changing a car battery today, do I need to go buy some dielectric grease too or I can just smudge a little white lithium topped with a spray on the connectors once im done? I use the stuff on all my metal moving parts exposed to rust and its doing amazing at it, whats the only downside other than its messy? All greases are I'd rather see the white stuff than smudge my hand in some vaseline lol. Basically im asking why go for dielectric if I got white lithium around?
@@PatTheRiot Use the White lithium for sure if your just trying to prevent air and corrosion. Dielectric on the post or inside the clamp ( or side bolt, etc.) will reduce current and cause possible issues so I'd do just like you suggested.
The term dielectric was coined by William Whewell (from dia- + electric) in response to a request from Michael Faraday.[5][6] A perfect dielectric is a material with zero electrical conductivity (cf. perfect conductor),[7] thus exhibiting only a displacement current; therefore it stores and returns electrical energy as if it were an ideal capacitor.
1982 automotive school graduate here. I've witnessed that White lithium grease does turn to a hard dried mud after many many years making it difficult to remove old bulbs on old cars. Also, dielectric grease, or tune-up grease, is a silicone-based grease that repels moisture and protects electrical connections against corrosion. ... The grease does not conduct electricity, so it shouldn't be applied directly to the mating surfaces (pins and sockets) of an electrical connection. Only apply around the connection not where the metal connects to weather proof and to make easier dismantling in the future.
Open any car ignition switch and the contact surfaces are coated with dielectric grease because it keeps atmospheric reactants away from these surfaces. As another poster said, the grease somehow, amazingly, squeezes out at metal-to-metal pressure points allowing conduction. At the same time, it reduces the groove-forming wear of metal sliding on metal. You really can't put on too much, just like you can't put too much water in a nuclear reactor.
dielectric, insulating material or a very poor conductor of electric current just saying , now that does not mean that dielectric grease will hurt the connection in any way.
Usually in a terminal connection metal to metal contact between asperities penetrates the "insulating material" ? The purpose of the insulating grease,oil or dielectric is to prevent air and moisture corrosion/oxidation of the metal contacts?
I've used Vaseline or a clear or translucent lithium grease on battery terminals since the 50's. In more recent years I've switched over to a silicon dielectric. I tend to avoid greases which contain a collodial dry lubricant such as graphite.MoS2, teflon, or talc as on the case of white lithium grease. The small particles of powder in suspension could create a resistance.
The NEC does not require Nolaox unless the manufacturer calls for it as part of the instructions. See 110.3b. 110.3b could also prohibit certain chemicals. For example, an anti-oxidant containing grit used on a conductor cannot be on the lug threads, since that prevents getting a reliable torque value.
What I learnt in this 10 & a half minute video - the dude has done 40 to 50 thousand lights and doesn't like other people's opinions. That's it - you could have said that in half a minute and save me the other 10 for learning elsewhere.
You're a straight shooter, thank you! I've used White Lithium for decades too, mostly for machine electrical applications. Thanks again, Alex C. (FAA licenced aircraft mechanic (A&P), and Industrial Engineer.
I disagree with the argument from authority. I know its annoying, but its a logical fallacy. Expertise should make it easier for you to explain things, it is not some sort of permit to refuse questions.
Dielectric grease can be used sparingly on connectors. Microscopically, the metals have pitting. The grease fills in those small valleys and the metal to metal contact will push the remaining grease away. Using large globs of it can possibly create resistance which stresses the power source. That's my understanding.
There are two important things when hiring someone for a job. 1) Experience (number of years and how many jobs done). 2) Willingness to do the job YOU want, not to do the job HE/SHE wants to do.
ahh,not for nothing,but you never touched upon the title of your video,which was about the differences between the 2 types of grease,which is why i watched the video,the on;y thing we learned is you seem to have done many lighting jobs and are fond of lawn lights,lol
How often do you think this guy actually went back to check his old work years later? It's kind of a weird concept for empirical testing, I did something but didn't check the results 90% of the time. I think we need to get project farm installed.
It means that the grease itself does not conduct, not that it is a problem to use in a circuit where you have a mechanical/friction method where the metal contacts the mating piece and the grease is just there to seal out contamination by debris, moisture, oxygen, UV (sunlight), etc. The problem is that the guys who mention what a dielectric is, are suggesting that it interferes with a good connection when it does not unless you have some kinda of captive cavity where an extreme amount of grease was used, and that is never how an electrical connector is set up. It is always made to produce metal to metal contact without a gap, unless it is a terminal meant to be soldered on and even then, the least gap acceptable from an assembly time perspective, should be the target.
Basically it means it doesnt conduct electricity. Therefor it's great to insulate electrical connections with it. Because it protects from the elements and acts as a sleeve just like the rest of the wire. Satisfied?
@@stinkycheese804 No matter how tight the metal-to-metal connection is, remember that the grease is a chemical compound and can penetrate microscopic gaps over time. The dude later says at 4:04 that he hasn't had a lot of problems with dielectric grease other than they get runny because they can't take much heat. When the grease penetrates the connection it introduces resistance. And the resistance makes the connection to heat up. Basically dude was ranting and later unknowingly proved himself wrong.
@@mraaaaaaa Not really true, the spring tension on the connection causes it to retain good electrical contact. Consider for example, vehicle spark plug wires, many of which the manufacturer puts a blob of silicone dielectric grease in from the factory, because the friction of the boot contact has no problem overcoming this even with the tip of the plug covered with it. Grease that seeps in, also seeps out under pressure. Dielectric only means the grease will not conduct from one terminal to another if there is a continuous amount of it between the two, it does not mean it necessarily causes any problems if applied directly to two mating connectors that have a wipe/pressure contact point, which is how practically any are designed. Keeping oxygen and water out, makes them more beneficial at this than suffering oxidation instead (air can creep anywhere that grease can), without having to use an expensive gold plating.
In my experience new college graduates automatically know more than those have experience. A supervisor told me about a skilled trade person tell him that he was ok because he knew how dumb he was. was mad then thought about it then starting it was meant as a compliment. He would listen and ask questions.
As a marine electrician I carry both Dielectric and the other type that conducts electricity. The nylox? brand slips my mind, but is available at Home Depot
Motor cycle had gobs of white grease Which seemed to dry up Royal Enfield had a complaint about the bikes quitting running until these areas were cleaned out
My problem with Lithium Grease: after cleaning the exposed door-latching mechanism on my 30 year old motor home I covered all exposed metal parts with Lithium Grease to prevent future rusting but within a few months noticed that rusting was accelerated instead of prevented. The thicker the grease, the greater the rusting.
So... In conclusion, dielectric grease is not used on the electrical mating surfaces. It is applied to prevent voltage leaks by insulating the surrounding surfaces which is also why white lithium works just as well??? So which products would aid conductivity? Perhaps the same ones that prevent electrolysis between disimilar metals?
@@MKasap-te8vm idk either it has been so long... only know that 30 years ago the auto industry had you put it on and in your dist. cap as well as in the plug boots. If it "insulates" would that not mean it would necessarily be inhibitory in those applications?
Dielectric means to be an insulator. Per all the dictionaries and electric sites I looked up. I have a controls and electric licenced & certified lifetime background. Silicone grease and dielectric grease are not the same. th-cam.com/video/zzQn3L6LB_4/w-d-xo.html
Yep. If Nate thinks dielectric grease is a conductor, he should maybe squeeze out a glob, set his multimeter to ohms and see if a current can pass through it. The fact that dielectric grease is an insulator allows its use as a moisture barrier in multi-pin connectors. If it was a conductor it would only cause shorts.
In 2008, i removed a relay from the engine bay of my 1990 Corolla. The terminals were coated in a mysterious grayish substance. I did not know what it was at the time but intuition told me it was to aid in corrosion resistance. I remember how beautiful the connections were, assuming that relay had been sitting there for 18 years exposed to the elements. White lithium grease is good stuff.
hahahaha yesssss. When I see that whitish gooey on an old car I know the old owner knew what he was doing. I use it on every hinges and connectors now. I didn't even knew it was just as good as dielectric grease for connectors. Just a superb grease under the elements and extreme temperature changes, it will just stay there and never gets hard. Amazing stuff for moving car parts. Hell, another trick I used and was also approved by my mechanic, is when I do my seasonal wheel change, I coat all the brake parts (other than pads and disc) with a thin later of anti-seize silver that I brush off with a microfiber. By the end of the winter on the salt belt I have 0 buildup and the stuff barely washes off.Never had a problem from it. It never touches the friction parts its also highly metallic and conductive so it doesn't insulate the brakes that much. Good grease knowledge can help you keep a car a long long time.
A dielectric IS an insulator, but only for direct current. So that guy who you called an "idiot who doesn't know what dielectric means" wasn't necessarily wrong
He doesn't know what he's talking about either way. Dielectric grease serves its insulating function only when it fills in an air gap that could otherwise get filled with water or debris. Otherwise, these are connectors with one form or another of clamping, screwing, etc, friction which displaces the lubricant from the electrical contact point to settle around it. It is not a parallel plate situation where a dielectric is meant to establish a field between the plates - context matters. What is relevant is the idiots out there try to claim it interferes with the electrical connection obviously having no experience whatsoever so they don't realize that it is, and has been, used successfully millions of times over the last several decades.
Has anyone EVER used a battery pole wire brush set...removes lead oxide...for good contact...metal to metal...you assemble the clean halves...and PLACE grease..vasoline..DIELECTRIC Grease...WHATEVER...on top and all around... to prevent water and or moisture from getting to the clean metal. You could use silicon caulking if you had to...metal to metal is the goal....if that's not to mental...!I Good GRIEF !
In the 70s my brother had a Oldsmobile beater car and when it snowed or slush rain the car would not run or start. His friend sprayed white lithium grease on the wiring harness plug at the firewall.. This immediately stopped the harness from shorting out and the car ran like a top ...
dielectric is used in small amounts on cars electrical parts. white lithium is usually sprayed to resist moisture and corrosion and for hinges. am i right?? lucas is good. crc is too.
This guy proves doing something for a long time doesn’t mean anything. Calling the guy that says dielectric is an insulator an idiot. Ha look up the definition of dielectric.
In this context, yes the guy is an idiot. What that idiot and you both don't understand is what the purpose is and when it becomes an insulator to the extent that it matters. It is not an insulator of the electrical connection which is one form or another of a friction contact that displaces the grease at the point of contact, which is exactly what you want in addition to sealing off the region around the fixture or bulb too. You have proven that you have not done it at all and don't know WTF the significance is in this context of electrical connections.
A dielectric (or dielectric material) is an electrical insulator that can be polarized by an applied electric field. When a dielectric is placed in an electric field, electric charges do not flow through the material as they do in an electrical conductor but only slightly shift from their average equilibrium positions causing dielectric polarization. Because of dielectric polarization, positive charges are displaced in the direction of the field and negative charges shift in the opposite direction. This creates an internal electric field that reduces the overall field within the dielectric itself. If a dielectric is composed of weakly bonded molecules, those molecules not only become polarized, but also reorient so that their symmetry axes align to the field. Dielectric materials can be solids, liquids, or gases. In addition, a high vacuum can also be a useful, nearly lossless dielectric even though its relative dielectric constant is only unity. Solid dielectrics are perhaps the most commonly used dielectrics in electrical engineering, and many solids are very good insulators. Some examples include porcelain, glass, and most plastics. Air, nitrogen and sulfur hexafluoride are the three most commonly used gaseous dielectrics.
They’re idiots because people never explain to them, dielectric grease is an insulator, but it also improves the connection when on two metal surfaces because little protected, free from corrosion divots form within the grease that conduct electricity much better than an oxidized or otherwise unprotected connection surface. Dielectric means it can be polarized by electricity, which basically means it doesn’t conduct electricity but moves out of the way on a molecular level when electricity passes through it. If your contacts would conduct electricity as they are, dielectric grease can only improve that connection, and more importantly protect it from naturally degrading from use. When someone says “dielectric grease is an insulator” in the context of using it on connectors, they don’t know what they’re talking about, it would be like saying “wire shielding is an insulator so you shouldn’t use it to cover wires” ya it is an insulator, but to use that fact to claim you shouldn’t cover wires with it shows you don’t grasp how electricity works, not that anyone really does, we just know the effects.
Dielectric grease is an insulating product. It doesn't conduct. So this man is incorrect about those products. Vaseline does the same. However, it works because the connectors scrape off the grease to allow conduction. At the same time these products do keep air and water out. There are youtube videos to illustrate how these product do not conduct.
Make the electrical connection first then grease it to water proof it... dont grease pins or connections just clean them... The idea is the grease stops water and air from entering the connection so you apply grease to seals rings and the back of connectors where the wires enter
"Ideal" has had a product that is a dark grease they call "joint compound". It seems similar to Oxgard or NoOx, not sure but it may have some zinc in it.
Thanks for sharing sir. Been wondering if the spray white lithium grease would work, but the CRC is pretty thin stuff. I'll keep my eyes open for the thick stuff like yers. Take care from Tn.
This is one of the funnest videos I have seen! It must be a joke - cocky arrogant grandpa with no university degree doing things wrong for 30+ years must be a joke, right?
Now I'm even more confused. I watched a vid earlier that said Dielectric Grease was an insulator and should be applied the rubber boots of spark plug leads and the ceramic sleeves of the plugs themselves to do two things; insulate to prevent over sparking to the body and as a grease to make taking the leads off easier. I've been told bulb grease is dielectric ~ meaning it does not conduct electricity, so it can be liberally applied to both the indicator bulb and the indicator bulb holder ~ to prevent corrosion [mine have corroded badly]. Are you saying that I can use white lithium grease as dielectric or bulb grease. ? I also ask because a tube in Amazon dot com is some $7 but in Amazon Co UK it's suddenly £70 Seventy Pounds ??????
I've used dielectric grease on the female 4 pin trailer connector on the back of my car including placing the cap over it and it still corroded in about a year's time. Ruined it. Got a new connector and I found this video trying to search for a different way. Why it corroded even with the grease on is beyond me.
I know you have to watch that some dielectric sealants do not contain acid. Not sure about grease though. Maybe it is because the connections were already dirty and corroding before hand?
Hi there.. I wonder if you could give me the benefit of your wealth of experience.. I have a pool light, and the cable enters the bottom of the light and connects directly to the 12Volt halogen bulb..The connections would be in water if it were not for a grease like substance packed around the connections and contained within a small plastic cover.. The 'grease' does not smell or look like auto grease..I have a clear close up photo if it's of benefit.. My question is, do you have any idea what that substance might be, or what could be used in its place?.. Thank you, and thank you for a great video.. John, Western Australia.
Can I use White Lithium Grease on my motorcycle headlight Kit which is an aftermarket consisting of a fan to cool the bulb and is partially exposed behind the headlight fairing?
What DOES dielectric mean? Insulator That is not from an auto mechanic with experience, it is from a BS degree in Electronics Engineering Technology, experience with electronics from circa 1970 to present, many years working on manufacturing process data acquisition, control, computers, autos, radio, alarm systems, digital and analog, communications and networking. Believe me, many, many connectors.
I however was looking for good materials to use and do not doubt your experience with white lithium grease and will likely keep some on hand. I realize we want to seal connection surfaces from moisture and air and what we want is something that will remain in its functional form as opposed to drying, cracking, powdering or whatever. Thank you for your post because it is insightful and has great experience behind it. I would warn against using a conductive substance that might eventually make a film between poles of electricity and cause "parasitic bleeding" that permits current to flow from the battery that is not used for practical work.
The problem with many dielectric greases is they are too low a viscosity, are meant for a light surface coating rather than void filling. Their lower solids to base silicone oil means that they do separate more easily than a more viscous silicone grease would. The problem with lithium grease is that it is not as temperature stable, will tend to melt and flow out of the area it is applied to if the connection creates a significant amount of heat. Granted, if you put these on a NEW installation and do it right, you aren't starting with heavily oxidized metal so there should not be much heat created, but the point is that the petroleum based lithium grease is not as good to use on already aged connections, unless you have the means to completely strip them down to a clean state again, which can be done with copper or brass but not with something nickle plated., then it is time to get a new connector if you want longest service life and grease performance.
dielectric grease question , car mechanics say only put dielectric grease on the inner boot of the spark plug wire so it can insulate the porcelain part of the spark plug so no current can leak out and arc onto the metal areas surrounding the spark plug, also so that the spark plug wire boot wont stick to the spark plug and be near imposible to remove when doing a tune up , now my question is they also say not to apply any to the metal tip of the spark plug and the metal locking ring of the spark plug wire inside the boot because the dielectric grease wont allow the current to go from the wire to the spark plug ...is this true or false ..noone has ever answered me that question
Dielectric grease can be applied on the metal cap ( i.e. connection tip of the spark plug that will be making contact with the metal spring inside the rubber boot of the coil-on-plug). Dielectric grease can also be applied and fill some space in the middle of the rubber boot of the COP. When the COP is then installed into the its place, the internal spring and the spark plug metal cap will make electrical contact. The dielectric grease will be pushed around and so automatically position themselves to be around and cover up and bury the spark plug metal cap and part of the ceramic shaft beneath the metal cap. This dielectric grease around the spark plug metal cap will form a insulation barrier to prevent arcing between the spring/ cap and the grounded metal parts beneath them.
I use conductive grease on the contact areas and di electric grease or silicone grease all around it, never have electrical issues and things seem to last way longer, even with the harsh winters we get here in canada.
There IS an electrical connector grease made by Caig Labs in Poway, CA that comes embedded with copper. It is made with lithium as the base grease as well, but the real point here is, am i watching a comedy sketch? There is so much more to be said about specific greases and their applications...
Huh? It's not any better than the other brands, just overpriced. Granted that container with the squeeze top can be worth a little extra money as smearing dielectric grease can get to be a mess since it doesn't wipe off as cleanly and takes a lot of hot detergent solution to wash off hands, fixtures, bulbs, etc.
Overpriced is a application-driven matter of opinion. In my case, I don't use a ton, and when I do, it's typically semi-precise applications where that nozzle is very useful.
I wonder why you sir have not responded to any comments, have you figured it out yet that Dielectric Grease is not a conductor nor is it an insulator the only purpose for it is to coat the metal so that it does not corrode either by water, air or to keep it from electrolysis with dissimilar metals to keep them from fusing together. That about covers it.
I am lost. Is White Lithium Grease conductive or not? I think I messed up using it on my motorcycle key and the immobilizer fuse burned. Please someone answer if you know!
Right on. Be careful of the info of what you read/believe on blogs. If the advice could possibly cause harm, don't take a chance. use products as directed by their manufactures.
What do I do if if i have a socket with oxidized connectors and i need the electricity to flow again in them? Can i just use any white lithium grease to get it working again? I can just use a paint brush and carefully coat the metal?
I would probably use a battery terminal cleaner first to get rid of the corrosion - then a dielectric grease or battery terminal grease to prevent corrosion in the future.
Been using white lithium as my go-to metal to metal grease on my cars. For over 10 years. The first drip I ever put on a door jam is still there today. Still lubing that area and keeping rust away. Never ever had to retouch it. I swear by this stuff now. It seems eternal. All the pro's Ive seen installing huge metal arms and cranes in highly humid environments all seemed to use red lithium grease as well. You just can't go wrong with it and I think im going to restock for life (1 big tube lol) before the prices go way up. Apparentely even the car industry is about to go haywire because of the lack of microchips. I think maintenance will become a big thing in the next few years. We've done overproducing now its the big recession.
All dielectric materials can be insulators but become conductive when an electrical field is applied, not all insulators can be dielectric material however as electrons in dielectric materials are bound to the nucleus and thus possess very little movement. When external voltage is applied, the nucleus and the atoms get attracted to negative and positive sides respectively. Some insulators do not have this property to a meaningful degree which is why rubber and certain plastics are used as insulators only, capacitors have dielectric between the plates, coaxial cable depends on the dielectric properties between the conductor and the shield and thus have an impedance value that is designed into it by just this method. Jet fuel is used for it's dielectric qualities In the fuel quantity system on Jet aircraft, the fuel level probes of which there can be many throughout the fuel tanks, are just two plates (a small cylinder within a slightly larger cylinder with wires going to both plates just as any capacitor would have, with them fully submerged in jet fuel, the capacitance roughly doubles compared to the entire plates being dry (at least on some I have worked on in my Avionics career), this is purely because Jet Fuel is a much better dielectric than air. Xc (capacitive reactance) is used to take full advantage of this by applying a small amount of current to the probes (never enough to be an explosion hazard) making them act and measure like resistors. Xc is measured in ohms not farads obviously. Earlier systems used this capacitive reactance as a variable resistor leg in a bridge circuit and a servo motor driving an actual variable resistor to null the bridge and in doing so, moves the needle, calibration was needed periodically and mandatory when any part is changed, many a good tech was scared off when they heard of measuring in micro micro farads dubbed mickey mikes (non official term) and did not see the fact that they were merely dealing with a bridge circuit, a Wheatstone bridge to be exact. Modern jets have a computer that reads the change in Xc due to changes in dielectric as the fuel quality changes and then that gets sent to the displays via Graphics Generators where they are supposed to be seen. The moral of the story is that all dielectrics are insulators when not externally charged but not all insulators are dielectrics.
Thanks for the video. Just wanted to say dielectric grease IS an insulator. In fact all the greases (is that plural for grease?) mentioned here are insulators. It's purpose is to prevent oxidation of the electrical components but applying the grease directly to the electrical contacts is, in fact, creating an insulator between the components. With this said, I have incorrectly applied dielectric grease directly to my terminals for years without any problems.
In many cases it is not incorrect to apply it directly to the contacts. It is the friction force of connecting them that makes the metal to metal contact with the excess forming a boundary layer at the edges, and the slight bit of lubrication helps extend the life of contacts that need to make and break by rubbing against each other.
no, its metallic. For plastic use silicone. But silicone is petroleum based and will hurt plastics in the long run. You need a water based silicone grease. You're welcome.
You start off slamming the internet posts for anecdotal opinions (which is fair) then jump immediately to putting forward your own anecdotal opinion asking the viewers, to take your word for it. Next time state your opinion, do a reasonable test to prove it then present the results instead of spending our time trying to justify how your experience trumps any actual test results.
Actually, dielectric is an insulator. Look up the definition....
But di-electric grease IS an insulator....
It only works good because putting plugs or lights back in pushes out the di-electric grease in between the contacts so electricity can flow but the rest of the contact is still protected from air and moisture by the grease.
Dielectric grease does not conduct electricity. It seals surfaces against corrosion and prevents bonding between parts. The pressure of metal-to-metal connections is sufficient to push the grease out of the way to make contact and electric flow resulting in the connection being encased in grease, keeping water and corrosive elements away.
Thank you. When electricians can be so confident that "dielectric grease is a conductor" it gets a guy feeling kinda down about his prospects for getting the right answer on anything just about anything.
Do you know what dielectric means??
Maybe you misspoke? Dielectric does in fact mean "resistant to" electrical conductivity. Which is the same thing as saying insulator. I'm not saying it will prevent contact. I'm not even saying don't use it. I'm just pointing out that it is an insulator.
Where's the actual comparison between the two greases? He just said he's used both. That's it.
First half was the man ranting about how much experience he has and calling a man an idiot because he said dielectric grease is an insulator which IT IS (3:00).
And the second half was basically again ramblings of whatever how many jobs he's done plus an infomercial of his own product.
What's the purpose of this video?
Probably a task for Project Farm!
You read my mind
mine as well. . .
I love that CRC bottle of dielectric grease on all my electrical contacts. I’ve redone a lot of fittings in my furnace. I used a light coat on all the contacts. I especially use this stuff on any dc connection in my truck. Works perfect and waterproofs.
Your rationalization on lighting jobs and having someone tell you how to do your jobs reminds me of the public telling a cop how to do his job. I was an electrician for 8 years and now a cop. Great video!!
According to the dictionary: dielectric = a medium or substance that transmits electric force without conduction; an insulator. In electromagnetism, a dielectric (or dielectric material or dielectric medium) is an electrical insulator that can be polarized by an applied electric field. When a dielectric material is placed in an electric field, electric charges do not flow through the material as they do in an electrical conductor.
@3:05 Dielectric actually means having properties of an insulator. Who is the idiot there? He-he-he.
Pretty much all grease has low conductance so technically, they can be used to stop moisture ingress. The reason they say to use silicone/dielectric grease is because unlike petroleum grease products, it won't eat away at plastic insulation. I have seen petroleum products like wd40 melt plastic over time. Silicone is also very good with heat so it makes the perfect grease for use with electrical connections.
Thank you! I’m convinced that I got exactly what I hoped to get, which was confirmation that I can use white lithium inside an auto electric switch in the absence of dielectric grease.
You not only can, but some automotive manufacturers did this, which is often why you end up needing to redo their work. Frankly over the long term, you should just invest the $5 to use the best product. It is not like a manufacturer trying to shave off 2 cents in 10,000 different areas to save millions of dollars over the production life of a vehicle. Rather, your time saved in not having to do a job again and the peace of mind is worth the few extra pennies per application.
PLUS, not all switches are created equal. Take a simple headlight dimmer switch for example, many use conductive traces to bias a transistor to vary the output and this heats up and will make standard (petroleum based) lithium grease thin, separate, and run out of the area of application.
The stuff in the green metal tube (DC-111) is one of the best silicon based compounds for electrical connections I have used. We bought it by the case in grease gun sized tubes for use in the oilfield on downhole 5/16 electric wireline operations. it held up in 150*C temperatures and to hydrostatic pressure rated from 10,000 - 15.000 psi.
Its also an amazing ring sealant/lube.
Dielectric grease is an insulator. This means Non-conductive... That's the definition of dielectric. It is great to prevent sticking in high heat or corrosive environments. Who am I... just a guy who took Automotive Electrical Repair at the Bill Shaw Vocational Technical School. That doesn't mean I know it all, but this is a common misconception that has plagued many people when the fill their plugs full of grease and can't figure out why they have intermittent electrical current or reduced current flow (HIGH Resistance) due to the grease preventing a good connection. It's meant to go on spark plug boots, and connector seals, not on the contacts directly... Hope This helps.
Alright I got one for you, I already got all the greases and lubes out there, lithium, sili, multi, dry, name it. I'm changing a car battery today, do I need to go buy some dielectric grease too or I can just smudge a little white lithium topped with a spray on the connectors once im done? I use the stuff on all my metal moving parts exposed to rust and its doing amazing at it, whats the only downside other than its messy? All greases are I'd rather see the white stuff than smudge my hand in some vaseline lol. Basically im asking why go for dielectric if I got white lithium around?
@@PatTheRiot Use the White lithium for sure if your just trying to prevent air and corrosion. Dielectric on the post or inside the clamp ( or side bolt, etc.) will reduce current and cause possible issues so I'd do just like you suggested.
The term dielectric was coined by William Whewell (from dia- + electric) in response to a request from Michael Faraday.[5][6] A perfect dielectric is a material with zero electrical conductivity (cf. perfect conductor),[7] thus exhibiting only a displacement current; therefore it stores and returns electrical energy as if it were an ideal capacitor.
1982 automotive school graduate here. I've witnessed that White lithium grease does turn to a hard dried mud after many many years making it difficult to remove old bulbs on old cars. Also, dielectric grease, or tune-up grease, is a silicone-based grease that repels moisture and protects electrical connections against corrosion. ... The grease does not conduct electricity, so it shouldn't be applied directly to the mating surfaces (pins and sockets) of an electrical connection. Only apply around the connection not where the metal connects to weather proof and to make easier dismantling in the future.
Open any car ignition switch and the contact surfaces are coated with dielectric grease because it keeps atmospheric reactants away from these surfaces. As another poster said, the grease somehow, amazingly, squeezes out at metal-to-metal pressure points allowing conduction. At the same time, it reduces the groove-forming wear of metal sliding on metal. You really can't put on too much, just like you can't put too much water in a nuclear reactor.
dielectric, insulating material or a very poor conductor of electric current just saying , now that does not mean that dielectric grease will hurt the connection in any way.
Usually in a terminal connection metal to metal contact between asperities penetrates the "insulating material" ? The purpose of the insulating grease,oil or dielectric is to prevent air and moisture corrosion/oxidation of the metal contacts?
I've used Vaseline or a clear or translucent lithium grease on battery terminals since the 50's. In more recent years I've switched over to a silicon dielectric. I tend to avoid greases which contain a collodial dry lubricant such as graphite.MoS2, teflon, or talc as on the case of white lithium grease. The small particles of powder in suspension could create a resistance.
The NEC does not require Nolaox unless the manufacturer calls for it as part of the instructions. See 110.3b. 110.3b could also prohibit certain chemicals. For example, an anti-oxidant containing grit used on a conductor cannot be on the lug threads, since that prevents getting a reliable torque value.
What I learnt in this 10 & a half minute video - the dude has done 40 to 50 thousand lights and doesn't like other people's opinions.
That's it - you could have said that in half a minute and save me the other 10 for learning elsewhere.
You're a straight shooter, thank you! I've used White Lithium for decades too, mostly for machine electrical applications. Thanks again, Alex C. (FAA licenced aircraft mechanic (A&P), and Industrial Engineer.
I disagree with the argument from authority. I know its annoying, but its a logical fallacy. Expertise should make it easier for you to explain things, it is not some sort of permit to refuse questions.
Dielectric grease can be used sparingly on connectors. Microscopically, the metals have pitting. The grease fills in those small valleys and the metal to metal contact will push the remaining grease away. Using large globs of it can possibly create resistance which stresses the power source. That's my understanding.
it would have helped had you shown how you apply the dielectric grease to your fixture...
Had vehicles that came with white lithium grease and the bulbs seemed to last forever and have used dielectric grease for years with great success.
I love that quick orchestra music at the beginning!
There are two important things when hiring someone for a job.
1) Experience (number of years and how many jobs done).
2) Willingness to do the job YOU want, not to do the job HE/SHE wants to do.
ahh,not for nothing,but you never touched upon the title of your video,which was about the differences between the 2 types of grease,which is why i watched the video,the on;y thing we learned is you seem to have done many lighting jobs and are fond of lawn lights,lol
And that he don't know much about "the websites".
How often do you think this guy actually went back to check his old work years later? It's kind of a weird concept for empirical testing, I did something but didn't check the results 90% of the time.
I think we need to get project farm installed.
3:00 but I looked up "dielectric" and the definition is "a nonconducting substance; insulator", so... You tell me what it means.
It means that the grease itself does not conduct, not that it is a problem to use in a circuit where you have a mechanical/friction method where the metal contacts the mating piece and the grease is just there to seal out contamination by debris, moisture, oxygen, UV (sunlight), etc. The problem is that the guys who mention what a dielectric is, are suggesting that it interferes with a good connection when it does not unless you have some kinda of captive cavity where an extreme amount of grease was used, and that is never how an electrical connector is set up. It is always made to produce metal to metal contact without a gap, unless it is a terminal meant to be soldered on and even then, the least gap acceptable from an assembly time perspective, should be the target.
@@stinkycheese804 He said that some idiot thought a dielectric was an insulator. It is an insulator. He's the idiot.
Basically it means it doesnt conduct electricity. Therefor it's great to insulate electrical connections with it. Because it protects from the elements and acts as a sleeve just like the rest of the wire. Satisfied?
@@stinkycheese804 No matter how tight the metal-to-metal connection is, remember that the grease is a chemical compound and can penetrate microscopic gaps over time. The dude later says at 4:04 that he hasn't had a lot of problems with dielectric grease other than they get runny because they can't take much heat. When the grease penetrates the connection it introduces resistance. And the resistance makes the connection to heat up. Basically dude was ranting and later unknowingly proved himself wrong.
@@mraaaaaaa Not really true, the spring tension on the connection causes it to retain good electrical contact. Consider for example, vehicle spark plug wires, many of which the manufacturer puts a blob of silicone dielectric grease in from the factory, because the friction of the boot contact has no problem overcoming this even with the tip of the plug covered with it. Grease that seeps in, also seeps out under pressure. Dielectric only means the grease will not conduct from one terminal to another if there is a continuous amount of it between the two, it does not mean it necessarily causes any problems if applied directly to two mating connectors that have a wipe/pressure contact point, which is how practically any are designed. Keeping oxygen and water out, makes them more beneficial at this than suffering oxidation instead (air can creep anywhere that grease can), without having to use an expensive gold plating.
In my experience new college graduates automatically know more than those have experience. A supervisor told me about a skilled trade person tell him that he was ok because he knew how dumb he was. was mad then thought about it then starting it was meant as a compliment. He would listen and ask questions.
I just tried to measure the resistance of some dielectric grease and it did not conduct.
As a marine electrician I carry both Dielectric and the other type that conducts electricity. The nylox? brand slips my mind, but is available at Home Depot
What's the other conductive grease?
Motor cycle had gobs of white grease Which seemed to dry up Royal Enfield had a complaint about the bikes quitting running until these areas were cleaned out
This proves that experience does not equal technical knowledge.
My problem with Lithium Grease: after cleaning the exposed door-latching mechanism on my 30 year old motor home I covered all exposed metal parts with Lithium Grease to prevent future rusting but within a few months noticed that rusting was accelerated instead of prevented. The thicker the grease, the greater the rusting.
I think so too i sprayed on my car door hinge for greater good and it squeaks now
Nothing beats experience. Thumbs up.
So... In conclusion, dielectric grease is not used on the electrical mating surfaces. It is applied to prevent voltage leaks by insulating the surrounding surfaces which is also why white lithium works just as well??? So which products would aid conductivity? Perhaps the same ones that prevent electrolysis between disimilar metals?
maybe copper grease? I am not sure.
@@MKasap-te8vm idk either it has been so long... only know that 30 years ago the auto industry had you put it on and in your dist. cap as well as in the plug boots. If it "insulates" would that not mean it would necessarily be inhibitory in those applications?
Bla bla bla. Went from a tech tip to a ramble and sales pitch. Can’t believe I listened this full video
I am connecting batteries for solar and looking for longevity. Which grease should I use?
Dielectric means to be an insulator. Per all the dictionaries and electric sites I looked up. I have a controls and electric licenced & certified lifetime background.
Silicone grease and dielectric grease are not the same.
th-cam.com/video/zzQn3L6LB_4/w-d-xo.html
Yep. If Nate thinks dielectric grease is a conductor, he should maybe squeeze out a glob, set his multimeter to ohms and see if a current can pass through it.
The fact that dielectric grease is an insulator allows its use as a moisture barrier in multi-pin connectors. If it was a conductor it would only cause shorts.
In 2008, i removed a relay from the engine bay of my 1990 Corolla. The terminals were coated in a mysterious grayish substance. I did not know what it was at the time but intuition told me it was to aid in corrosion resistance. I remember how beautiful the connections were, assuming that relay had been sitting there for 18 years exposed to the elements. White lithium grease is good stuff.
hahahaha yesssss. When I see that whitish gooey on an old car I know the old owner knew what he was doing. I use it on every hinges and connectors now. I didn't even knew it was just as good as dielectric grease for connectors. Just a superb grease under the elements and extreme temperature changes, it will just stay there and never gets hard. Amazing stuff for moving car parts. Hell, another trick I used and was also approved by my mechanic, is when I do my seasonal wheel change, I coat all the brake parts (other than pads and disc) with a thin later of anti-seize silver that I brush off with a microfiber. By the end of the winter on the salt belt I have 0 buildup and the stuff barely washes off.Never had a problem from it. It never touches the friction parts its also highly metallic and conductive so it doesn't insulate the brakes that much. Good grease knowledge can help you keep a car a long long time.
A dielectric IS an insulator, but only for direct current. So that guy who you called an "idiot who doesn't know what dielectric means" wasn't necessarily wrong
He doesn't know what he's talking about either way. Dielectric grease serves its insulating function only when it fills in an air gap that could otherwise get filled with water or debris. Otherwise, these are connectors with one form or another of clamping, screwing, etc, friction which displaces the lubricant from the electrical contact point to settle around it. It is not a parallel plate situation where a dielectric is meant to establish a field between the plates - context matters.
What is relevant is the idiots out there try to claim it interferes with the electrical connection obviously having no experience whatsoever so they don't realize that it is, and has been, used successfully millions of times over the last several decades.
How would the grease pass alternating current?
Has anyone EVER used a battery pole wire brush set...removes lead oxide...for good contact...metal to metal...you assemble the clean halves...and PLACE grease..vasoline..DIELECTRIC Grease...WHATEVER...on top and all around... to prevent water and or moisture from getting to the clean metal.
You could use silicon caulking if you had to...metal to metal is the goal....if that's not to mental...!I
Good GRIEF !
@@cannabruh3396 AC is just alternating DC so it won't.
Which is the point of it.
In the 70s my brother had a Oldsmobile beater car and when it snowed or slush rain the car would not run or start. His friend sprayed white lithium grease on the wiring harness plug at the firewall.. This immediately stopped the harness from shorting out and the car ran like a top ...
Field serviceable is also beneficial to the environment.
dielectric is used in small amounts on cars electrical parts. white lithium is usually sprayed to resist moisture and corrosion and for hinges. am i right?? lucas is good. crc is too.
The guy you called an idiot was correct. The very definition of dielectric is it does NOT conduct electricity. 30 years wasted.
This guy proves doing something for a long time doesn’t mean anything. Calling the guy that says dielectric is an insulator an idiot. Ha look up the definition of dielectric.
In this context, yes the guy is an idiot. What that idiot and you both don't understand is what the purpose is and when it becomes an insulator to the extent that it matters.
It is not an insulator of the electrical connection which is one form or another of a friction contact that displaces the grease at the point of contact, which is exactly what you want in addition to sealing off the region around the fixture or bulb too.
You have proven that you have not done it at all and don't know WTF the significance is in this context of electrical connections.
A dielectric (or dielectric material) is an electrical insulator that can be polarized by an applied electric field. When a dielectric is placed in an electric field, electric charges do not flow through the material as they do in an electrical conductor but only slightly shift from their average equilibrium positions causing dielectric polarization. Because of dielectric polarization, positive charges are displaced in the direction of the field and negative charges shift in the opposite direction. This creates an internal electric field that reduces the overall field within the dielectric itself.
If a dielectric is composed of weakly bonded molecules, those molecules not only become polarized, but also reorient so that their symmetry axes align to the field.
Dielectric materials can be solids, liquids, or gases. In addition, a high vacuum can also be a useful, nearly lossless dielectric even though its relative dielectric constant is only unity.
Solid dielectrics are perhaps the most commonly used dielectrics in electrical engineering, and many solids are very good insulators. Some examples include porcelain, glass, and most plastics. Air, nitrogen and sulfur hexafluoride are the three most commonly used gaseous dielectrics.
They’re idiots because people never explain to them, dielectric grease is an insulator, but it also improves the connection when on two metal surfaces because little protected, free from corrosion divots form within the grease that conduct electricity much better than an oxidized or otherwise unprotected connection surface. Dielectric means it can be polarized by electricity, which basically means it doesn’t conduct electricity but moves out of the way on a molecular level when electricity passes through it. If your contacts would conduct electricity as they are, dielectric grease can only improve that connection, and more importantly protect it from naturally degrading from use. When someone says “dielectric grease is an insulator” in the context of using it on connectors, they don’t know what they’re talking about, it would be like saying “wire shielding is an insulator so you shouldn’t use it to cover wires” ya it is an insulator, but to use that fact to claim you shouldn’t cover wires with it shows you don’t grasp how electricity works, not that anyone really does, we just know the effects.
g7schaff ii
Stinky Cheese 🧀
Use a toothbrush to apply this stuff & keep the brush nearby. The toothbrush will get saturated, & sometimes you don't need much anyway. Yes sir.
I like using Burndy Penetrox Grease P8A Little expensive but good stuff.
My one takeaway from this video was to never use your business. Misinformation, ignorance and arrogance. No thanks.
mine too
For sure. He's like the charmless Scotty Kilmer of lighting.
@@philjohnson796 That's an insult to Scotty. This guy is a know it all jerk.
Dielectric grease is an insulating product. It doesn't conduct. So this man is incorrect about those products. Vaseline does the same. However, it works because the connectors scrape off the grease to allow conduction. At the same time these products do keep air and water out. There are youtube videos to illustrate how these product do not conduct.
What parts do u recommend putting the dielectric grease on? Only the wires? Or also on the o-rings, any screws/threaded connections? Thanks!
Make the electrical connection first then grease it to water proof it... dont grease pins or connections just clean them... The idea is the grease stops water and air from entering the connection so you apply grease to seals rings and the back of connectors where the wires enter
"Ideal" has had a product that is a dark grease they call "joint compound". It seems similar to Oxgard or NoOx, not sure but it may have some zinc in it.
Thanks for sharing sir. Been wondering if the spray white lithium grease would work, but the CRC is pretty thin stuff. I'll keep my eyes open for the thick stuff like yers. Take care from Tn.
I was looking for specific grease that use on steering column boots and rubber bushings. Lithium vs dielectric grease really confuse me.
Hello.. so instead of use dielectric grease in the ignition coils cars can I use white lithium grease in spray or have to be the gel one. If yes!?.
Why am I watching this video, 😒
To make your flashlight circuits waterproof.
Because you may need it someday. This works for vehicle applications too so...
This is one of the funnest videos I have seen!
It must be a joke - cocky arrogant grandpa with no university degree doing things wrong for 30+ years must be a joke, right?
@@ripkingpin You watched it and did not gain a hair of knowledge!!! The joke is on you!!!
As Wikipedia: Dielectric is an electrical insulator.
Now I'm even more confused. I watched a vid earlier that said Dielectric Grease was an insulator and should be applied the rubber boots of spark plug leads and the ceramic sleeves of the plugs themselves to do two things; insulate to prevent over sparking to the body and as a grease to make taking the leads off easier.
I've been told bulb grease is dielectric ~ meaning it does not conduct electricity, so it can be liberally applied to both the indicator bulb and the indicator bulb holder ~ to prevent corrosion [mine have corroded badly].
Are you saying that I can use white lithium grease as dielectric or bulb grease. ? I also ask because a tube in Amazon dot com is some $7 but in Amazon Co UK it's suddenly £70 Seventy Pounds ??????
I've used dielectric grease on the female 4 pin trailer connector on the back of my car including placing the cap over it and it still corroded in about a year's time. Ruined it. Got a new connector and I found this video trying to search for a different way. Why it corroded even with the grease on is beyond me.
I know you have to watch that some dielectric sealants do not contain acid. Not sure about grease though. Maybe it is because the connections were already dirty and corroding before hand?
You summed it all up when you said ... to "Prevent Moisture Migration"👍
Hi there.. I wonder if you could give me the benefit of your wealth of experience..
I have a pool light, and the cable enters the bottom of the light and connects directly to the 12Volt halogen bulb..The connections would be in water if it were not for a grease like substance packed around the connections and contained within a small plastic cover..
The 'grease' does not smell or look like auto grease..I have a clear close up photo if it's of benefit..
My question is, do you have any idea what that substance might be, or what could be used in its place?..
Thank you, and thank you for a great video.. John, Western Australia.
Can I use White Lithium Grease on my motorcycle headlight Kit which is an aftermarket consisting of a fan to cool the bulb and is partially exposed behind the headlight fairing?
You are arguing about White Lithium Grease and the title says White Silicone grease.
DiElectric grease is insulating from what I've learned.
Sadly you don't understand why it doesn't matter that it has insulative properties because in this context it doesn't where conduction is needed.
Thanks for the video and the info.
What DOES dielectric mean? Insulator
That is not from an auto mechanic with experience, it is from a BS degree in Electronics Engineering Technology, experience with electronics from circa 1970 to present, many years working on manufacturing process data acquisition, control, computers, autos, radio, alarm systems, digital and analog, communications and networking. Believe me, many, many
connectors.
I however was looking for good materials to use and do not doubt your experience with white lithium grease and will likely keep some on hand.
I realize we want to seal connection surfaces from moisture and air and what we want is something that will remain in its functional form as opposed to drying, cracking, powdering or whatever.
Thank you for your post because it is insightful and has great experience behind it.
I would warn against using a conductive substance that might eventually make a film between poles of electricity and cause "parasitic bleeding" that permits current to flow from the battery that is not used for practical work.
Could I use copper grease, and fuck everything up?
What’s the difference between white lithium grease and other colored grease that says it’s lithium based?
The problem with many dielectric greases is they are too low a viscosity, are meant for a light surface coating rather than void filling. Their lower solids to base silicone oil means that they do separate more easily than a more viscous silicone grease would.
The problem with lithium grease is that it is not as temperature stable, will tend to melt and flow out of the area it is applied to if the connection creates a significant amount of heat. Granted, if you put these on a NEW installation and do it right, you aren't starting with heavily oxidized metal so there should not be much heat created, but the point is that the petroleum based lithium grease is not as good to use on already aged connections, unless you have the means to completely strip them down to a clean state again, which can be done with copper or brass but not with something nickle plated., then it is time to get a new connector if you want longest service life and grease performance.
Dielectric means nonconductive bud. Might want to get your 15 years back
Correct. :)
dielectric grease question , car mechanics say only put dielectric grease on the inner boot of the spark plug wire so it can insulate the porcelain part of the spark plug so no current can leak out and arc onto the metal areas surrounding the spark plug, also so that the spark plug wire boot wont stick to the spark plug and be near imposible to remove when doing a tune up , now my question is they also say not to apply any to the metal tip of the spark plug and the metal locking ring of the spark plug wire inside the boot because the dielectric grease wont allow the current to go from the wire to the spark plug ...is this true or false ..noone has ever answered me that question
Dielectric grease can be applied on the metal cap ( i.e. connection tip of the spark plug that will be making contact with the metal spring inside the rubber boot of the coil-on-plug). Dielectric grease can also be applied and fill some space in the middle of the rubber boot of the COP.
When the COP is then installed into the its place, the internal spring and the spark plug metal cap will make electrical contact. The dielectric grease will be pushed around and so automatically position themselves to be around and cover up and bury the spark plug metal cap and part of the ceramic shaft beneath the metal cap. This dielectric grease around the spark plug metal cap will form a insulation barrier to prevent arcing between the spring/ cap and the grounded metal parts beneath them.
Dielectric means it’s a insulator , you like it or not that’s a fact (if you were careful on physics class you would know it )
How do you know if it's night?
I use conductive grease on the contact areas and di electric grease or silicone grease all around it, never have electrical issues and things seem to last way longer, even with the harsh winters we get here in canada.
My thoughts exactly. Take care from Tn.
your answer is the best.. french people and Canadian people know what they are talking about.. :-)
I used a spray in lithium grease on my motorcycle parts. That should work right?
I have issues with hvac condenser disconnects (the stab in kind) do you think white lithium grease work on this?
There IS an electrical connector grease made by Caig Labs in Poway, CA that comes embedded with copper. It is made with lithium as the base grease as well, but the real point here is, am i watching a comedy sketch? There is so much more to be said about specific greases and their applications...
With you on the CRC grease! Have the same can siting on my desk as I watch this video.
Huh? It's not any better than the other brands, just overpriced. Granted that container with the squeeze top can be worth a little extra money as smearing dielectric grease can get to be a mess since it doesn't wipe off as cleanly and takes a lot of hot detergent solution to wash off hands, fixtures, bulbs, etc.
Overpriced is a application-driven matter of opinion. In my case, I don't use a ton, and when I do, it's typically semi-precise applications where that nozzle is very useful.
Any desent wheel bearing grease will do
I wonder why you sir have not responded to any comments, have you figured it out yet that Dielectric Grease is not a conductor nor is it an insulator the only purpose for it is to coat the metal so that it does not corrode either by water, air or to keep it from electrolysis with dissimilar metals to keep them from fusing together. That about covers it.
Thanks
You should link the items in the description
I am lost. Is White Lithium Grease conductive or not? I think I messed up using it on my motorcycle key and the immobilizer fuse burned. Please someone answer if you know!
Lithium is a metal, don't use it where it can potentially short two wires.
Could this be used on a electric battery charger port for a bike?
I have corrosion I'm trying to get rid of . It is a lithium ion battery though .
great and expensive grease
Right on. Be careful of the info of what you read/believe on blogs. If the advice could possibly cause harm, don't take a chance. use products as directed by their manufactures.
Can you use plain old lithium grease or does it have to be white lithium grease
What do I do if if i have a socket with oxidized connectors and i need the electricity to flow again in them? Can i just use any white lithium grease to get it working again? I can just use a paint brush and carefully coat the metal?
I would probably use a battery terminal cleaner first to get rid of the corrosion - then a dielectric grease or battery terminal grease to prevent corrosion in the future.
Clean it first. Buy and use a wire brush to grind the rust out. Then use the grease to further prevent rusting
Thanks to the Internet, everyone with an opinion claims to be an expert. I'm using white Lithium from now on
Vaseline
Been using white lithium as my go-to metal to metal grease on my cars. For over 10 years. The first drip I ever put on a door jam is still there today. Still lubing that area and keeping rust away. Never ever had to retouch it. I swear by this stuff now. It seems eternal. All the pro's Ive seen installing huge metal arms and cranes in highly humid environments all seemed to use red lithium grease as well. You just can't go wrong with it and I think im going to restock for life (1 big tube lol) before the prices go way up. Apparentely even the car industry is about to go haywire because of the lack of microchips. I think maintenance will become a big thing in the next few years. We've done overproducing now its the big recession.
With a to-do list like Ray's, I'm guessing he must be the new guy
I've used CRC dialectic greas on Auto and Household. Never had a problem. 😒
All dielectric materials can be insulators but become conductive when an electrical field is applied, not all insulators can be dielectric material however as electrons in dielectric materials are bound to the nucleus and thus possess very little movement. When external voltage is applied, the nucleus and the atoms get attracted to negative and positive sides respectively. Some insulators do not have this property to a meaningful degree which is why rubber and certain plastics are used as insulators only, capacitors have dielectric between the plates, coaxial cable depends on the dielectric properties between the conductor and the shield and thus have an impedance value that is designed into it by just this method.
Jet fuel is used for it's dielectric qualities In the fuel quantity system on Jet aircraft, the fuel level probes of which there can be many throughout the fuel tanks, are just two plates (a small cylinder within a slightly larger cylinder with wires going to both plates just as any capacitor would have, with them fully submerged in jet fuel, the capacitance roughly doubles compared to the entire plates being dry (at least on some I have worked on in my Avionics career), this is purely because Jet Fuel is a much better dielectric than air. Xc (capacitive reactance) is used to take full advantage of this by applying a small amount of current to the probes (never enough to be an explosion hazard) making them act and measure like resistors. Xc is measured in ohms not farads obviously. Earlier systems used this capacitive reactance as a variable resistor leg in a bridge circuit and a servo motor driving an actual variable resistor to null the bridge and in doing so, moves the needle, calibration was needed periodically and mandatory when any part is changed, many a good tech was scared off when they heard of measuring in micro micro farads dubbed mickey mikes (non official term) and did not see the fact that they were merely dealing with a bridge circuit, a Wheatstone bridge to be exact. Modern jets have a computer that reads the change in Xc due to changes in dielectric as the fuel quality changes and then that gets sent to the displays via Graphics Generators where they are supposed to be seen.
The moral of the story is that all dielectrics are insulators when not externally charged but not all insulators are dielectrics.
Vaseline is petroleum based and, over time, and constant replacement, can damage plastic and rubber parts.
White grease for car battery post?? Thanks
Use what ya got. Retired IBEW 292.
Thanks for the video. Just wanted to say dielectric grease IS an insulator. In fact all the greases (is that plural for grease?) mentioned here are insulators. It's purpose is to prevent oxidation of the electrical components but applying the grease directly to the electrical contacts is, in fact, creating an insulator between the components. With this said, I have incorrectly applied dielectric grease directly to my terminals for years without any problems.
In many cases it is not incorrect to apply it directly to the contacts. It is the friction force of connecting them that makes the metal to metal contact with the excess forming a boundary layer at the edges, and the slight bit of lubrication helps extend the life of contacts that need to make and break by rubbing against each other.
It's actually an insulator... put a digital multimeter up to a dab on Ohms and see for yourself
Is it white Lithium White Grease can be use for plastic gears ?
no, its metallic. For plastic use silicone. But silicone is petroleum based and will hurt plastics in the long run. You need a water based silicone grease. You're welcome.
You start off slamming the internet posts for anecdotal opinions (which is fair) then jump immediately to putting forward your own anecdotal opinion asking the viewers, to take your word for it. Next time state your opinion, do a reasonable test to prove it then present the results instead of spending our time trying to justify how your experience trumps any actual test results.