Jelly filled cable - cleaning solvent? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2019, 04:26:03 am
content: I've got a job on that uses a little 2 pair jelly filled cable to connect to a bunch of sensors.Anyone got experience with this stuff as to what's a good clean up solvent? Google has not been helpful.I was thinking of trying methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) or some isopropyl alcohol.Before I start out I thought I'd ask here as to what people have found works well.Cheers.

author: RobertHolcombe
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2019, 05:25:07 am
content: Dielectric grease?I'd just use some kind of mechanical removal to get rid of the bulk of it and then repeat with a clean rag + IPA

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2019, 07:10:24 am
content: Quote from: RobertHolcombe on July 29, 2019, 05:25:07 amYeah its water blocking jelly. It looks like white runny grease. It gets everywhere.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2019, 10:53:11 am
content: I hope you make a fare wage, that sounds fucking disgustingyour avatar is appropriate

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2019, 11:01:31 am
content: You need to know what it is before agreeing to work with it, in case it's hazardous. My guess is it's simply petroleum jelly, which is harmless but it's good to check first. If this is the case, a mixture of white spirit and detergent will do the job.

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2019, 11:37:47 am
content: Interestingly the data sheet says very little about the water blocking gel other than: "Filler Material:Water Resistant Flooding Compound"https://www.garlandcables.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/GARLAND_MCP2ISJFP150318.pdfI can't find anything on their site either.I've emailed asking for an MSDS on the gel.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 29, 2019, 01:12:47 pm
content: I've worked on quite a few jelly filled cables in the past and often just used the lemon citrus scented hand wipes that I carry in the truck, they do a good job, smell nice and keep the mosquitoes away.A Telstra mate once gave me a few cable cleaning satchels which were similar to the ones in the video below, these clearly show that they containAlkylate Petroleum Distillatewhich I believe is Naptha.

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2019, 08:12:35 am
content: I ended up using plain old IPA to clean the cable. Wiped it first and then wiped with a rag dipped in IPA. It worked fine - lots of worry about nothing!I was going to try the naptha but I only had a small tin of it.It is horrible stuff though because it tends to creep out from under the cable sheath after a while.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 02, 2019, 08:44:35 am
content: I had a fellow around on Tuesday from NBN Co to do a hook up and whilst he was playing in the pit I asked him what they were currently using, he said they just used rags and nothing else.I watched him trace out and confirm the pair and then he did a fresh connection were they now place the scotch locked termination in a jelly filled junction box to help keep the moisture out.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2019, 09:16:53 am
content: I always presumed cable dielectric was some form of silicone grease and the great Wiki says:Silicone grease is soluble in organic solvents such as toluene, xylene, mineral spirits, and chlorinated hydrocarbons. It is insoluble in methanol, ethanol, and water.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2019, 07:17:34 pm
content: I worked on fiber optics cables, they had a filling powder in them, if it had an water contact, it turned into a jelly, we used 3m cleaning pads to clean and dry them ...

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2019, 12:21:20 pm
content: Quote from: Muttley Snickers on August 02, 2019, 08:44:35 amI'm potting one end the cable into PU so I need to removed it unfortunately.I watched an NBN tech in a pit a few months ago doing exactly what you say. Messy stuff.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 03, 2019, 01:34:17 pm
content: I'm with Zero999 on the waterproofing compound being petroleum jelly or paraffin wax, and just to be clear the Naptha or Naphtha I made reference to is the same as Shellite which is readily available everywhere.

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2019, 01:19:03 am
content: Quote from: Muttley Snickers on August 03, 2019, 01:34:17 pmI might have to get some, its probably useful for other jobs.https://www.bunnings.com.au/search/products?q=Shellite&redirectFrom=Any