50 amp cords

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
While the dielectric grease may make it easier to get apart it actually hurts your electrical connection. Dielectric grease does not conduct electricity.

Fortunately this is a myth.

Prove me wrong :)

Go out to your rig yank the battery cables. Gob the grease on. Then put the cables back on, hit the starter. Again. Again. Twenty times. Then grab a brewski and wander around for the rest of the day scratching your head. A year later you'll remain wondering how and why.

Theory always takes a slapping when it faces practical experience.

It takes no effort to prove it doens't conduct electricity. Simply stick the leads of an ohm meter in it and measure.
Besides, "Dielectric" letterally means that it doesn't conduct.
I made thousands of dollars off guys that slathered that stuff on connections in avaiation. I have no doubt in my mind that it causes the problems.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
While the dielectric grease may make it easier to get apart it actually hurts your electrical connection. Dielectric grease does not conduct electricity.

Fortunately this is a myth.

Prove me wrong :)

Go out to your rig yank the battery cables. Gob the grease on. Then put the cables back on, hit the starter. Again. Again. Twenty times. Then grab a brewski and wander around for the rest of the day scratching your head. A year later you'll remain wondering how and why.

Theory always takes a slapping when it faces practical experience.

From Encyclopedia Britannica
Dielectric, insulating material or a very poor conductor of electric current. When dielectrics are placed in an electric field, practically no current flows in them because, unlike metals, they have no loosely bound, or free, electrons that may drift through the material. Instead, electric polarization occurs. The positive charges within the dielectric are displaced minutely in the direction of the electric field, and the negative charges are displaced minutely in the direction opposite to the electric field. This slight separation of charge, or polarization, reduces the electric field within the dielectric.
Yes the grease can be forced out from between tight fitting connections and electricity will still flow.

fj12ryder wrote:
Maybe some dilectric grease on the prongs, but you really want the connection tight. If it's loose you run the risk of arcing and resistance heat buildup and possible plug failure, i.e. melting.

So time to hit the gym and build up those pecs. :)

fj12ryder, I'm an old guy, more mature(73) but not weak. I have old mans' skin and it isn't pretty when wearìng a muscle shirt.:B I was still pushing weights but my shoulder screwed up and I'm awaiting an MRI. I guess a screw driver with hydro( a Canadian thing) shut off. Mex, I`m going to check on the dielectric grease when I finish up here. I don`t have handles so that's out. Thanks everybody...maybe I`ll hire a young guy to pull them apart.:R Stay safe all. Bob

I had one fellow get so upset he slapped four hundred dollar bills down on my workbench. "It --has-- to cause problems"

Worth a trip to the outfitting dock where the Kelley II was tied The Delco 50MT starters were in series on the V16 x 92 detroit engines. 680 amperes in series. I pulled 4 cables off one battery bank. Regreased the flag terminals and reconnected them. I started the starboard engine five times. Good thing Bruce Abernathy was holding the 8 hundred dollar bills -- the guy was going to mealy mouth welsch on the bet.

Looking under Lockheed and Boeing approved 'essential' products. You'll find OILY, CAIG DeOxit D100 and the blue preservative liquids. The USN specifies the Caig products for carrier combat aircraft. Radios, power circuits, whatever. So does Intel and other OEM.

Have a USB antenna amplification unit. Use CAIG plug it back in and see the dramatic signal strength improvement.

Dogma is a powerful force. But denying reality is hazardous. This question can be best settled by an individual -- try it and see for ones self. Coat the prongs on a 50 amp shore power cord or 550 amp engine starter circuit. Then years later marvel at why the contacts are not corroded but function perfectly.

The results are 'What Is' not what they're 'supposed to be'.

Neat part is the 'test' can be performed at home. This would be a B.S. exploder.
0)
On microamp circuits I heartily recommend the CAIG products. Oily as can be.

I hope this did not ruin your day :)

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:

I hope this did not ruin your day :)

Only because you are rambling on and on about something different than the actual subject.

Which is about par for the course, unfortunately.

I use the grease to repel moisture and help prevent corrosion, and it probably helps keep things a bit easier to attach and remove. After making sure that all power is OFF, I use a flat blade screwdriver. I have no problem getting the plug loose from a power post, but getting my 30-to-50 adapter off is very difficult, as my plug does not have a handle on it. If both have handles, it is much easier.

Pipeman wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
Maybe some dilectric grease on the prongs, but you really want the connection tight. If it's loose you run the risk of arcing and resistance heat buildup and possible plug failure, i.e. melting.

So time to hit the gym and build up those pecs. :)

fj12ryder, I'm an old guy, more mature(73) but not weak. I have old mans' skin and it isn't pretty when wearìng a muscle shirt.:B I was still pushing weights but my shoulder screwed up and I'm awaiting an MRI. I guess a screw driver with hydro( a Canadian thing) shut off. Mex, I`m going to check on the dielectric grease when I finish up here. I don`t have handles so that's out. Thanks everybody...maybe I`ll hire a young guy to pull them apart.:R Stay safe all. Bob

That only puts you 3 years older than me. LOL I was going to recommend the screwdriver usage too, but it's scary thinking about what can happen if you unthinkingly use the screwdriver before unplugging from power. I've used a screwdriver when my plugs semi-welded themselves together when my EMS gave up the ghost and shorted out. But the idea made me very nervous even though I knew it was unplugged at both ends.

I've always figured that dielectric grease is just that, an insulator and it gets squeezed out of the fittings when the connections are tightened and corrosion does not get in.
I use anticorrosion grease for making joints with aluminum wire.

fj12ryder wrote:
it's scary thinking about what can happen if you unthinkingly use the screwdriver before unplugging from power. I've used a screwdriver when my plugs semi-welded themselves together when my EMS gave up the ghost and shorted out. But the idea made me very nervous even though I knew it was unplugged at both ends.

Loud noise, bright flash :)

Even those thin blue mechanic's gloves insulate 120vac. The thing to be wary of is perspiration. If your arms and hands sweat forget the gloves. I have a full set of Wiha class IV insulated screwdrivers the red and yellow ones. Ha! Starting out I had to learn to keep one hand in my pocket especially around 480 and 600 volt stuff. I still have my boots, coat, and gauntlet gloves with my hot stick roll up kit. Power-off is by far the safest precaution.