Cleaning Electric Pins

DMaxer · Guru

Cleaning Electric Pins

Clarky 1 · Senior Member

I have not used white vinegar as such but it s a mild acid and if the pins are brass or copper then it would clean them. Most I have seen are brass.
I wouldnt pour it on but more just use an artists brush and apply a small amount to the pin area of both plugs.

We used to use a spray product in an aerosol tin that cleaned the pins. I think it was a CRC product.

Dont use anything like circuit board cleaners as some actually will dissolve the plastic on the plug.

After you clean them apply a small amount of Vaseline or if travelling mainly on dirt then clip them back together dry.
The grease will attract dirt in most cases.

If you are using the plugs with the brass pins on the trailer plug that have a slot down the middle of them you cant get a small screwdriver and very carefully pry the gap slightly wider which will then cause a better and tighter interference fit between the male pin and the female receiver.

Some of those modern type flat plugs look a bit flimsy to me. I would just clean them and push them back together.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Chrome brass plated floor drain grills come up really well if left in vinegar overnight.

Possum3 · Guru

Cleaning trailer plug connectors? The best way to clean corrosion on electric wires is mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda into 240ml of water. Then either brush on or soak for 2 hours. Then clean and shine with steel wool or emery paper.

oldbloke · Guru

Mmm, interesting.
I would try hot soapy water first to remove any dirt or oils. And perhaps the steel wool. Rinse well and dry.
Then if needed try thr Vinegar using a small brush as mentioned earlier. But ensure you rinse it all off later. Hot water breferably with a little baking Soda to neutral like the acid.

DMaxer · Guru

Thanks for the replies. They are not corroded just getting a bit dirty.

Clarky 1 · Senior Member

Here is an option.

It is from SCA

White vinegar would be cheaper.

The CRC option is nearly three times the price.

Many trailer boat owners use this or similar to remove the affects of being near salt water on their trailer plugs and then spray with Inox or similar.

https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/sca-sca-electrical-contact-parts-cleaner-350g/347119.html

https://www.automegastore.com.au/inox-mx3-super-lubricant-100g-original-formula

DMaxer · Guru

Thanks for that.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

A lot depends on material they are made from ? If tinned etc . Often just a spray of kero / WD40 push - pull plug a few times is enough .. if sealed is another with electro type greases in small amounts ? Whatever to get it working in the first place . Some times the pins need a little correction ? Even though some say not to do that ! If its NOT working !! It fixes it !! I cant see anything wrong ? Try explaining why you didnt to copper Id pulled up ? Or accident ! Tinned type generally just need a little use . If its silver looking ?

oldbloke · Guru

oldbloke wrote:
Mmm, interesting.
I would try hot soapy water first to remove any dirt or oils. And perhaps the steel wool. Rinse well and dry.
Then if needed try the Vinegar using a small brush as mentioned earlier. But ensure you rinse it all off later. Hot water preferably with a little baking Soda to neutral like the acid.

Its just dirty. Soapy water and an old tooth brush

Rob Driver · Guru

I worked with an old bloke (not the one on here) and we were both stopped banging the dust out of wheels before travelling onto the bitumen and he noticed his rear trailer lights were not working.

He fixed it very quickly, he disconnected them, climbed up onto the dolly and pissed into both fittings.
Was it acid in the urine or was it the water that washed the dust out?
I dont know, I didnt ask. When he roared off into the distance his lights were working.

Mike Harding · Guru

Rob Driver wrote:
He fixed it very quickly, he disconnected them, climbed up onto the dolly and pissed into both fittings.

Just a word to the wise:

Do not try this on 240V systems :)

Many years past I was doing some electrical work for the American Army Corps of Engineers in the middle east deserts and they insisted upon using the USA NEMA code which required a maximum earth resistance for electrical installations, this low level of resistance was usually impossible to obtain in the desert sand so just before the officer came to measure things it was useful to urinate on the earth stake which tended to help matters.

It also use to be a trick of apprentices, at tea break, to attach one probe of the Megger to the urinal wall and the other to earth :)

dorian · Guru

Possum3 wrote:
Then clean and shine with steel wool or emery paper.

I would be very hesitant to do this. Some terminals are plated.

https://www.12volt.com.au/redirect.html?a=/General%20Htmls/webcat2003/TrailerPlugs.html

"Narvas range of Small Round Trailer Connectors comply with AS2513-1982 and are available with Metal or ABS housings, featuring Nickel Plated Brakk terminals for improved conductivity."

-- Edited by dorian on Saturday 22nd of January 2022 04:36:57 PM

patrol03 · Senior Member

WD 40 should be avoided on electrical equipment as it is fish oil based which will form a non conductive film on contacts. It does repel water well. There are several spray products on the market that are designed to increase connectivity. They should be preferred if you really need them.

86GTS · Guru

Clarky 1 wrote:
Here is an option.
It is from SCA

White vinegar would be cheaper.

The CRC option is nearly three times the price.

Many trailer boat owners use this or similar to remove the affects of being near salt water on their trailer plugs and then spray with Inox or similar.

https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/sca-sca-electrical-contact-parts-cleaner-350g/347119.html
https://www.automegastore.com.au/inox-mx3-super-lubricant-100g-original-formula

Another vote for INOX. Been using it for 20 years on our boat/trailer & caravan, great stuff. Fairly cheap at Bunnings.

dorian · Guru

patrol03 wrote:
WD 40 should be avoided on electrical equipment as it is fish oil based . . .

What's Inside WD-40? Superlube's Secret Sauce:

https://web.archive.org/web/20140119014037/http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/magazine/17-05/st_whatsinside

patrol03 · Senior Member

Thank you for your correction Dorian. I reiterate there are more suitable products for electrical purposes.

valiant81 · Guru

Hi all; Coming from a electronics background and i also have had problems a couple of time with my own trailer plug connections and hard to connect and /or remove. With several types of cleaners at my disposal ( crc 2-26, WD 40, and crc contact cleaner ) I have found that the the crc contact cleaner worked the best as it drys with no desidude. In a pinch and depending on what was to hand at the time crc 2-26 and wd 40 worked just as well. I have been using crc 2-26 since the good old days of B/W television and valves, nowadays not so much and preferred to use crc contact cleaner.

Ivan 01 · Guru

86GTS wrote:
Clarky 1 wrote:
Here is an option.
It is from SCA

White vinegar would be cheaper.

The CRC option is nearly three times the price.

Many trailer boat owners use this or similar to remove the affects of being near salt water on their trailer plugs and then spray with Inox or similar.

https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/sca-sca-electrical-contact-parts-cleaner-350g/347119.html
https://www.automegastore.com.au/inox-mx3-super-lubricant-100g-original-formula
Another vote for INOX. Been using it for 20 years on our boat/trailer & caravan, great stuff. Fairly cheap at Bunnings.

A plus 1 for Inox from me. Well worth using in most things. Great on fishing gear and most electrical connections and even battery terminals at a pinch.

It is not a cleaner though, so clean it first.

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

Ivan 01 wrote:
86GTS wrote:
Clarky 1 wrote:
Here is an option.
It is from SCA

White vinegar would be cheaper.

The CRC option is nearly three times the price.

Many trailer boat owners use this or similar to remove the affects of being near salt water on their trailer plugs and then spray with Inox or similar.

https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/sca-sca-electrical-contact-parts-cleaner-350g/347119.html
https://www.automegastore.com.au/inox-mx3-super-lubricant-100g-original-formula
Another vote for INOX. Been using it for 20 years on our boat/trailer & caravan, great stuff. Fairly cheap at Bunnings.
A plus 1 for Inox from me. Well worth using in most things. Great on fishing gear and most electrical connections and even battery terminals at a pinch.
It is not a cleaner though, so clean it first.

+1 for INOX. It's really good stuff but I've never used it on electricals.

Rob Driver · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
Rob Driver wrote:
He fixed it very quickly, he disconnected them, climbed up onto the dolly and pissed into both fittings.
Just a word to the wise:
Do not try this on 240V systems :)
Many years past I was doing some electrical work for the American Army Corps of Engineers in the middle east deserts and they insisted upon using the USA NEMA code which required a maximum earth resistance for electrical installations, this low level of resistance was usually impossible to obtain in the desert sand so just before the officer came to measure things it was useful to urinate on the earth stake which tended to help matters.
It also use to be a trick of apprentices, at tea break, to attach one probe of the Megger to the urinal wall and the other to earth :)

Ouch! and Ouch!!

Point noted Mike. biggrin biggrin