So, WD40 has a contact cleaner spray.  Any experience with it?  Thanks - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: cvanc
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 04:01:13 am
content: https://www.wd40specialist.com/products/contact-cleaner/

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 04:43:51 am
content: Regular WD-40 is recommended as a contact cleaner by GenRad/General Radio for their precision decade resistance boxeshttp://www.ietlabs.com/pdf/Manuals/1433_im.pdf

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 11:09:15 am
content: Doesn't WD-40 leave an oily film (like fish oil)? Wouldn't a far better contact cleaner be Isopropyl Alcohol / Rubbing alcohol and a rubber band wrapped around one's finger?

author: joseph nicholas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 11:33:05 am
content: I've tried using WD-40 to clean mechanical parts in the past but have had bad experiences using it on electrical parts. It seems to have very little or no effect on electrical things. So I guess it a toss up. If the electrical switch is lubricated its a good thing but as a contact cleaner not so much.

author: SingedFingers
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 11:58:57 am
content: I've used WD40's specialist contact cleaner on latching changeover and rotary switches for a couple of years. Works very well and is safe to use on plastics and rubber unlike some and absolutely no residue at all. Absolutely no complaints. Good stuffDO NOT use regular WD40 for electronics. It's pretty nasty stuff. IMHO it's strictly for the bodge jobs on mechanical parts and everything needs scrubbing after application.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 12:59:44 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on March 02, 2017, 11:09:15 amAll I know is that General Radio know their stuff, and you can use it on their switch contacts.

author: frenky
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 01:30:04 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on March 02, 2017, 11:09:15 amWD-40 has a whole line of specialist products. So while regular WD-40 is not suitable for electronics their "Electrical Contact Cleaner" is probably good...Specialist line:https://www.wd40specialist.com/productsElectrical Contact Cleaner:https://www.wd40specialist.com/products/contact-cleaner/

author: fubar.gr
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 04:39:15 pm
content: In my experience regular WD40 can be a very effective contact cleaner, but it will attack certain plastics and make them brittle over time.From their FAQ:https://wd40.com/faqsQuoteSo as long as the switch doesn't have any polycarbonate or polystyrene parts, it should be safe to use regular WD40 as contact cleaner.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 05:24:28 pm
content: I once travelled with a friend of mine in his old car, and the engine stalled. It was a rainy day but apparently it was not the first time that happened and he knew what to do . He opened the hood and sprayed WD40 over the spark wires. Magically, the engine started when he keyed in. So watever WD40 flavour he used, it seems it left a non conductive film on the wires.

author: Twoflower
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 02, 2017, 06:22:49 pm
content: Quote from: Bud on March 02, 2017, 05:24:28 pmOr it just does what the acronym says Water Displacement.