Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
How to remove corrosion on electrical conector?
Old 03-26-2016, 01:42 PM   #1
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,431
How to remove corrosion on electrical conector?

This is cross-posted (and a bit amplified) from my other thread about "Dishwasher leaking: Fix or Replace?" as I"m trying to get things buttoned-up thsi afternoon.

In the process of reassembling everything, I noticed that there's a lot of corrosion on the electrical connector that was attached to the circuit board on the base of the diverter valve. This is the general area where the water was leaking, so this corrosion developed over time.

I am attaching a photo of the OLD diverter valve circuit board to give you an idea of the level of corrosion. (BTW, there is a completely new diverter valve on the assembly that I am installing, so this is just to demonstrate the level of corrosion.)

I am hoping to reuse the old electrical connector. (As it is small and convoluted, the corrosion is difficult to see....which is why I am not attaching a photo of it.)

I tried mechanically scraping the connector with a knife, hoping to expose some clean metal to make a good contact.

My concerns are twofold -- 1) will this scraping expose enough metal in the connector to make a good contact when I reassemble things? and 2) will that electrical contact remain over time, or will the remaining bits of corrosion on the connector keep corroding and eventually break the contact?

Is there some way to clean the corrosion off the CONNECTOR easily? I saw a video online where they used 2 solutions: one is a super-saturated table salt & vinegar solution to remove the oxidation/corrosion, followed by a baking soda & water solution to neutralize everything from the first solution. Does this work? or Am I better served by doing something else to get rid of the corrosion short- and long-term(and what would that be)?

Would spraying the connection with WD-40 be of any use?

(I have limited tools and supplies here, fwiw.)

omni
Attached Images
File Type: jpg diverter valve circuit board 2.jpg (129.1 KB, 15 views)
omni550 is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 03-26-2016, 01:53 PM   #2
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
JPatrick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,610
I've used the baking soda trick more times than I can remember.
It is a bit messy so you'll want to be a bit surgical about it. In other words, don't overkill on quantity and be mindful of where the excess will or may drip.
I've never used the first solution you mentioned. (salt/vinegar)
JPatrick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2016, 02:05 PM   #3
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,431
Quote:
Originally Posted by JPatrick View Post
I've used the baking soda trick more times than I can remember.
It is a bit messy so you'll want to be a bit surgical about it. In other words, don't overkill on quantity and be mindful of where the excess will or may drip.
I've never used the first solution you mentioned. (salt/vinegar)
Thanks, JPatrick.

I am now encouraged to try this 2-solution method to remove the corrosion on the connector.

omni
omni550 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2016, 02:11 PM   #4
Moderator
braumeister's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,199
You can find a good electrical contact cleaner at any auto parts store. Why not use something actually made for the job?
braumeister is offline   Reply With Quote
Looks like its working...
Old 03-26-2016, 04:20 PM   #5
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,431
Looks like its working...

I have no idea where an auto parts store is around here.

I do have all the ingredients in my kitchen to do the 2-solution process.

I have been soaking the electrical connector in solution 1 (table salt and vinegar) for about 45 minutes (brushing with an old toothbrush now and then) and it seems to be doing the trick. I'll give it a bit more time and then plunge it into solution 2.

omni
omni550 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2016, 06:14 PM   #6
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
grasshopper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,464
Low tech I use a pencil eraser.
__________________
For me experiences are not good or bad, just different
grasshopper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2016, 06:34 PM   #7
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,509
Diet Coke...works great on auto battery terminals.
The pencil eraser works well for oxides like when you have a silver plated board sit too long before processing. I don't know how it would work on a thick growth.
I'm guessing you have a galvanic difference on the two sides of the connector which will cause corrosion growth like what you see. The water with other contaminates likely made it worse. It really depends on what is on both sides of the boards and connectors as to the best approach. Is the scrapped area where the connector goes? Is there much metal left under the area where scraped??
bingybear is offline   Reply With Quote
Must've gotten rid of that corrosion as DW is now working...
Old 03-26-2016, 07:18 PM   #8
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,431
Must've gotten rid of that corrosion as DW is now working...

Quote:
Originally Posted by bingybear View Post
Diet Coke...works great on auto battery terminals.
The pencil eraser works well for oxides like when you have a silver plated board sit too long before processing. I don't know how it would work on a thick growth.
I'm guessing you have a galvanic difference on the two sides of the connector which will cause corrosion growth like what you see. The water with other contaminates likely made it worse. It really depends on what is on both sides of the boards and connectors as to the best approach. Is the scrapped area where the connector goes? Is there much metal left under the area where scraped??
Thanks, everyone, for all your great input. I learned a lot.

The corrosion issue was with the plastic (& exposed metal buried inside) connector. (I simply showed a photo of the old circuit board to give folks an idea of the level and extent of corrosion I was dealing with. I'm attaching a photo of what the corroded connector looked like, so you can see how the metal connections are internal and nearly impossible to see and reach. Bear in mind, this connector is small, about 3/8" wide.)

Fortunately, that corroded circuit board (simply posted to show the amount of corrosion) is now in the trash.

And my newly de-corrosified (is that even a word?) "clean" connector is attached to the new circuit board on the new diverter valve.

I just ran the reassembled dishwasher through a its maiden voyage (on a 1-hour cycle) and everything seemed to work OK and looks good so far! No evidence of water anywhere beneath the unit.

omni
Attached Images
File Type: jpg corroded electrical connector, pre-cleaning.jpg (104.8 KB, 7 views)
omni550 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2016, 06:28 AM   #9
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
folivier's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,986
Pick up battery terminal cleaner spray from an auto parts store, spray it and scrape off as much of the green stuff. Then use Deox-it on it. That was the best product I used when working. Amazon sells it but might find it at auto parts store or hardware store.
Deox-it cleans and also coats to protect from further corrosion.
But I see you already finished your job. This is just for future reference.
__________________
You do not have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.
folivier is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2016, 06:44 AM   #10
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
RonBoyd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Denver, Colorado
Posts: 6,256
Everyone should have Deoxit in their toolbox for just such emergencies - CAIG Laboratories - Home of DeoxIT® and Hand-E-Glove®


(This tip via "The Adventures of Tioga and George" who BTW is still posting everyday. Tioga, however, is no longer around.)
__________________
"It's tough to make predictions, especially when it involves the future." ~Attributed to many
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is." ~(perhaps by) Yogi Berra
"Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge."~ Lau tzu
RonBoyd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2016, 08:24 AM   #11
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,431
Two recommendations for DeoxIT. I've not heard of it and will definitely look into it. Thx.

------------

BTW, I learn so much on the earlyretirement.org board. I am both impressed and grateful to all here who are so knowledgeable and willing to share. Many thanks.

omni
omni550 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2016, 09:01 AM   #12
Dryer sheet aficionado
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 30
FWIW I used WD-40 once on my car battery terminal to inhibit corrosion, and maybe a year later was having starting problems because it congealed into a goo between contact surfaces.
ernow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-27-2016, 04:35 PM   #13
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Badger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,395
I was recommended CRC electrical contact cleaner by a few motorcycle and automotive friends as the best bet to spray contacts to address a starter problem. It is available at HD, Autozone, and even a few WalM. Going to get some this week and try it out.

Cheers!
Badger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2016, 09:01 PM   #14
gone traveling
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,135
Deoxit is recommended

. Good stuff

If high moisture area, coat the electrical parts in Vaseline - that keeps moisture and air from getting onto the contacts and reduces oxidation.
papadad111 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2016, 09:33 PM   #15
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
NW-Bound's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
It was (still is?) common practice to clean gold-plated edge contacts on PCBs (printed circuit board) with a pencil eraser. This of course does not work with crimp terminal connectors that have inaccessible contact points.

I have used Deoxit on sensitive electronic switches, but have not tried the vinegar method (and would not on electronics). On the Web, many guys swear by it, and it seems to make sense on cruddy and less delicate connectors in cars or appliances, or power connectors. And using baking soda afterwards to neutralize the acetic acid in vinegar is a must.

By the way, some guys pointed out that this is also an excellent method to clean stranded wire ends prior to soldering. For heavily oxidized copper wires, soldering can be tough and requires a lot of soldering flux to cut through the oxidation. I will try this next time.
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)

"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
NW-Bound is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2016, 09:48 PM   #16
Moderator Emeritus
aja8888's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Conroe, Texas
Posts: 18,645
Quote:
Originally Posted by papadad111 View Post
Deoxit is recommended

. Good stuff
I endorse it also!
__________________
*********Go Astros!*********
aja8888 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2016, 07:58 AM   #17
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Nodak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Cavalier
Posts: 2,317
Quote:
Originally Posted by grasshopper View Post
Low tech I use a pencil eraser.
+1
__________________
"Don't take life so serious, son. It ain't nohow permanent." Pogo Possum (Walt Kelly)
Nodak is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2016, 08:09 AM   #18
gone traveling
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: DFW
Posts: 7,586
Omni, Tim the Toolman would be proud of you!
eytonxav is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2016, 09:24 AM   #19
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
RonBoyd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Denver, Colorado
Posts: 6,256
The problem with Vaseline or other lubricants is it collects dust (and in open places, dirt) and that causes scratches and that causes sparking and that causes more rough surface and that causes ...


This is the same reason that a pencil eraser is not a good idea.
__________________
"It's tough to make predictions, especially when it involves the future." ~Attributed to many
"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is." ~(perhaps by) Yogi Berra
"Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge."~ Lau tzu
RonBoyd is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
DIY Lookout - Electrical Receptacle Telly Other topics 14 10-02-2010 05:20 AM
Quick Electrical Question TromboneAl Other topics 9 05-09-2008 08:50 PM
Electrical Wiring Question TromboneAl Other topics 16 06-26-2007 09:25 AM
Re: Human electrical resistance donheff Other topics 30 01-08-2007 06:40 PM
Electrical Brownout problem WanderALot Other topics 20 05-21-2006 07:23 PM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:18 PM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.