cleaning 7-pin receiver connector on truck
I keep getting "Trailer Connected" message in my truck, I was guessing the pins were somewhat corroded. I have sprayed dielectric spray and I do not want to short out anything by using a metal brush. ...
Forum Discussion
agesilaus wrote:
Hmmm...that is new info for me, I saw one of the electrical guru's advocating it's use on these connectors and just assumed (yes I know) that he knew what he was talking about. A tiny amount on the end of the truck end connector certainly abolished the lost connection messages for the next couple hookups.
Not all electrical gurus understand what "dielectric" means.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition Link
"
dielectric noun
di·?elec·?tric? di-?-'lek-trik
: a nonconductor of direct electric current"
Now, ask a Electronics Tech (like myself) that is familiar with the way capacitors are made and they (like myself) will tell you that a dielectric (electrical insulating) material is placed between two conductive plates which forms a capacitor...
Electrical leakage through the capacitor's dielectric insulation means that cap is shot and needs replaced..
Rather than depending on a grease or spray to fix intermittent electrical connections, it is best to simply scrape or sand all tarnish from the contact surface.. Small pocket knife blade, small flat blade screw driver, sandpaper folded over a few times or even a Emery board cut to fit in the contacts.
If it is shiny, it will work, anything else less than shiny and all bets are off.
I run my trailer connections 100% dry, no grease, no sprays. I take a piece of sandpaper folded over a few times and burnish the contacts till shiny.
Then insert plug into socket and I wiggle the socket a few times, any grit from the sandpaper leftover from the will help clean the socket contacts..
