Power Outlets

DMaxer · Guru

Power Outlets

Mike Harding · Guru

There are specialised lubricants which are tested and approved for electrical use but I doubt they are available in small quantities or from, say, BigW.

Personally; I'd use a "smear" (not a bucket full) of "3 in 1" machine oil on each of the pins of the plug and then do a few insertions/withdrawals into the socket ensuring the socket was first isolated ie. disconnect the van totally from 240V. iirc (and I may not) most mineral oils have a high dielectric strength and should be OK with a measly 240V, probably :)

Edit:

*DO NOT* spray anything (WD40 et al) into the socket, ever!

-- Edited by Mike Harding on Thursday 30th of September 2021 02:33:21 PM

BAZZA44 · Senior Member

WD-40 is ok, or a smear of grease and wipe off, then push plug on and off to spread inside socket. If the pins feel rough from pitting then a light sand with fine sandpaper first will help.

Barry

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

DMaxer wrote:
The power outlet on the side of my van and a couple of the ones inside are really difficult to either plug into or to remove the plug from. What is the appropriate lube to use on the pins of the plug to make it go into the outlet and also make it easier to remove from after use.
I was just a bit concerned about using the wrong type of lubricant and ending up with a Chernobyl on wheels if you get my drift. Can you a silicone or WD40 or will that lead to a disaster.

The recessed 240v outlets on the outside of the van are switched by the action of plugging in or removing the plug. Sometimes these mechanisms do become worn or tight. The most commonly used lubricant in the electrical game was Petroleum Jelly, or vaseline. Smearing some on the pins may help but probably wont get right into the mechanism. If they are old then replacement would help. The outlets inside would benefit from the same procedure.

cheers,

Chris.

Possum3 · Guru

DMaxer, I always have a carry of SCA 3waySilicon spray www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/wd-40-3-in-one-silicone-spray-300g/135463.html copy of features below;

3-IN-ONE Silicone spray lubricant is a multipurpose lubricant designed to offer lubrication and protection on most surfaces including rubber, vinyl, leather, metals and plastics. Silicone lubricants create a waterproof barrier to resist corrosion and moisture making them suitable for marine environments.
The lubricating formula is ideal for use around the home and workshop and is perfect for door and window tracks including rubbers, rubber gaskets and mouldings, chains, belts, hinges and many other applications requiring a multipurpose lubricant. 3-IN-ONE Silicone spray is easy to use, simply spray on, wipe away the excess and youre done.
Features
Water resistant formula provides a protection barrier from moisture
Silicone based lubricant is quick drying and durable without the messy residue
Specially formulated for many home, caravan, automotive & industrial uses
Includes 'Smart Straw' nozzle - flip straw up for a precision stream & flip down for a wide spray.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Good ole Vaseline. Be carful
With some electrical compounds as some are conductive as in jointing compound . Vasa is non conductive !

travelyounger · Guru

DMaxer wrote:
The power outlet on the side of my van and a couple of the ones inside are really difficult to either plug into or to remove the plug from. What is the appropriate lube to use on the pins of the plug to make it go into the outlet and also make it easier to remove from after use.
I was just a bit concerned about using the wrong type of lubricant and ending up with a Chernobyl on wheels if you get my drift. Can you a silicone or WD40 or will that lead to a disaster.

Hi DMaxer

You should never have to lubricate the plug to go into the socket. This may sound a bit strange but worn power points are hard to plug into and out of and is a warning its time to replace them before you have arking which can possibly cause a fire.

From my experience with these power points which has happened numerous times to myself the power point soon fails and forget about the RCD as this usually only works with earth leakage.I have had two meltdowns of the inlet 240 volt plug and if you find it is hard to unplug replace immediately before its too late.

Cheers

Long Weekend · Guru

Nobody has mentioned it yet, but I would check that the pins on the plug are straight. Even a pin slightly out of alignment will make it hard to insert a plug into a socket. And hard to remove once you do get the plug in.

Murray

Tony LEE · Guru

Any oil or grease is just an invitation for dust and grime to stick and eventually make the problem worse. A light spray with a non-oily silicone spray/dry lubricant should do the job. Also specialised lock lubricants would work too.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Light whatever is fine to keep contacts clean . Careful using anything with graphite as in locksmith type . It can create a track to electricity to leak, short or shock !

DMaxer · Guru

Thanks for the replies. The power points and outlet is not worn as the van was hardly used prior to me purchasing. Some of the points inside the van have never been used but all seem a bit difficult no matter what plug I am using. I checked the plugs to see if any were bent but all were, or seemed, OK.

Derek Barnes · Senior Member

I have never had any difficulty plugging into the 240V sockets in my caravan but I have always had great difficulty plugging into the 240V sockets in my house, which we have had from new. I think it might depend on the manufacturer of the socket and the tolerances they use.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Quality of sockets or lack there of is probably similar to the Infinity wire recsll where the insulation failed... Dangerous Chinese products.

Leshill · Veteran Member

I use a yellow can of electrical spray from "Jacar".

It is a cleaner and lubricant... I also spray it onto a cotton bud & wipe over my tv remote/ torch batteries also the associated terminals.

I avoid using on my camera as I dont know if it would react with the plastic body

Corndoggy · Senior Member

This is what you need.

oldbloke · Guru

What about graphite powder ? (Pencil?)

oldbloke · Guru

Ok. Had a tight one in the garage. Rubbed a HB pencil on the lead terminals. A bit of in and out. Problem solved.

Bobdown · Guru

We used to use Inox spray on Telstra equipment and wiring in the past, waterproof and not conductive.

Cheers Bob

DMaxer · Guru

Thanks for that. Funny Oldbloke, someone just told me about the pencil yesterday.

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

Its not a good idea to use anything conductive, such as Lead pencil or Graphite dust.

oldbloke · Guru

The Travelling Dillberries wrote:
Its not a good idea to use anything conductive, such as Lead pencil or Graphite dust.

Why? They after all designed to contact and conduct.

peter67 · Guru

Yup, on old distributor caps you could draw a lead pencil line between two or more spark plug leads and short them out.

ps DMaxer everyone here has missed the obvious solution!! ky jelly which I believe is an historical successor to vaseline :)

oldbloke · Guru

peter67 wrote:
Yup, on old distributor caps you could draw a lead pencil line between two or more spark plug leads and short them out.

ps DMaxer everyone here has missed the obvious solution!! ky jelly which I believe is an historical successor to vaseline :)

Yes, that would do that.

But in this case the graphite will only be transferred to the female slot.

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

Being dust it would not be restricted to anywhere, best to avoid the possibility of tracking and burning.

Long Weekend · Guru

Mention by Peter67 and Oldbloke of shorting out distributor caps reminded me that during my lifetime of driving I had two distributor caps crack, allowing the current to follow the crack into a single cylinder.

The first time it took a long time to workout what was wrong. But the second time some ten years later it occurred just as I began reversing out of our driveway. That time I knew exactly what it was - the secret being that the engine was firing on only one cylinder!

Switching to diesel means that I don't have to worry about that happening anymore.

Sorry to digress from plugs and sockets!

Murray