Switchgear help

[Nick Atkinson]

Hi all, as it’s freezing in the garage I’ve brought the (non-working) switchgear into the house to strip. I’ve separated and cleaned the contacts etc, which were very mucky with a thin black grease material covering everything. I’ve cleaned that off and lightly sanded the contacts, which appear ok. I suspect that the black stuff may have been a light oil that has protected the contacts but then ground accumulated dirt into a paste, until the contacts were insulated and stopped the switch from working.
So my question is, what type of oil or grease (if any) should I use on reassembly?
Thanks.

[Anonymous]

I used Vaseline it is still working ok George 31

[John Latuskie]

Waxoyl
JFL

[Alan Jarman]

Hi Nick,
A 368g container of Petroleum Jelly from the Pound shop, keeps the wife happy from nicking her Vaseline.

[Nick Atkinson]

Cheers guys. I’ve put a little silicon grease on the non electrical parts that move. Do you use the Waxoyl or Vaseline on the actual brass contacts to keep them clean? I’d have thought they’d both act as insulators?

[Alan Jarman]

Morning Nick,
One of the places that you put Petroleum Jelly, Vaseline (same thing) is on the posts of a battery so you can obviously do the same with static electrical contacts ie wire connections, I actually use a cocktail stick to apply the Vaseline. It helps to stop oxides or verdigris on brass from forming

[Author]

Posts