[TowerTalk] Connector Protection Grease

[Roger (K8RI) on TT]

As long as the connector is making a good connection  (no arcing)I see 
no problem with far more than the legal limit from the connectors. The 
FCC is another matter.

73

Roger (K8RI)

On 5/11/2016 Wednesday 7:24 PM, Bob K6UJ wrote:
> Roger,
>
> I was going to ask you if it is OK to flood a UHF connector with 
> silicone grease if I am
> running 1500 watts thru it but then I reread your first sentence about 
> first being used
> in the spark plug boots on B-17's.  So should be no problemo.......
>
>
> Bob
> K6UJ
>
>
>
>
>
> On 5/11/16 1:19 PM, Roger (K8RI) on TT wrote:
>> I would not hesitate to use a silicone dielectric grease in a UHF 
>> connector.  Its first use was as a sealing grease in the spark plug 
>> boots on B-17s in WWII for which it was developed.
>>
>> I think the silica in silicone greases confusion comes from the fact 
>> that all silicones are essentially made from silica (powdered quartz) 
>> which is highly abrasive, BUT the silica does not exist in 
>> silicones.  There is nothing abrasive in silicones unless its been 
>> added somewhere along the line.  Silicone greases and silicone RTV 
>> are all derived from Silicon dioxide (Quartz, or silica).  Quartz 
>> (Silicon Dioxide) is turned into metallic silicon. That is treated 
>> with chemicals producing a liquid.  That liquid is treated, or 
>> processed in many ways to get the silicon used in semiconductors, 
>> greases, water proofing, RTVs, to "non stick" treatments.
>>
>> That said, a high voltage arc, or any arc in silicones such as 
>> dielectric greases will break the silicone down into silica which is 
>> highly abrasive.
>> Silicone grease as we think of it is NOT a lubricant, EXCEPT for slow 
>> speeds like door hinges and latches, or the old TV tuners.. Used in 
>> high speed applications, it will break down into silica.
>>
>> I base my statements on having worked many years for the company that 
>> developed these compounds.
>> I retired from them as a corporate level project manager.
>>
>> 73
>>
>> Roger  (K8RI)
>>
>>
>>
>> On 5/11/2016 Wednesday 3:14 PM, Bob K6UJ wrote:
>>> Riki,
>>>
>>> I am planning to use a dielectric grease as you for the same purpose.
>>> I haven't decided yet which one to use.
>>> Here is an interesting write up about selecting a grease from W8JI's 
>>> website.
>>>
>>> http://www.w8ji.com/dielectric_grease_vs_conductive_grease.htm
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Bob
>>> K6UJ
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On 5/11/16 9:01 AM, Riki, K7NJ wrote:
>>>> I am considering applying Loctite Dielectric Tune-up Grease  to the 
>>>> mating
>>>> surfaces of connectors that are difficult to access at the top of a 
>>>> tower. I
>>>> would appreciate comments about this - especially from anyone who 
>>>> has used
>>>> this product for this purpose.
>>>>
>>>> 73, Riki, K7NJ
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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-- 

73

Roger (K8RI)


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