DeoxIT® & DeoxIT® GOLD - Modern Contact Restorers
Product Review - WORLDRADIO
By BILL WELSH, W6DDB
I remember when carbon tetrachloride was the standard material I used to clean electrical contacts on switches, connectors, relays, potentiometers, air variable capacitor bearings, and roller contacts on adjustable inductors. I used carbon 'tet' because it was about all we had, but it had to be used in an area where the ventilation was very good.
When a contact had been cleaned with carbon 'tet,' its conductivity was improved for a while, but future cleanings were required. An extensive variety of cleaners were sold during the following four decades and I tried most of them while experiencing limited successful results.
The unsatisfactory situation that existed was eliminated when CAIG Laboratories began marketing its Cramolin spray several years ago. That spray did its job very well but it is no longer sold because it does not meet current environmental standards. DeoxIT® is useful in a variety of electrical and electronic applications, with most of these uses being unrelated to amateur radio. The propellant in this cleaner is not the freon which caused Cramolin to be taken off the market.
CAIG Laboratories now markets DeoxIT® D5, DeoxIT® GOLD and DeoxIT® FaderLube (for conductive plastics). They include cleaners with brush applicators, needle dispensers, pen applicators, spray cans, syringe dispensers, and wipes. They are used in a temperature range of minus 34 to plus 240 degrees Celsius.
DeoxIT® cleans contact surfaces to improve conductivity, and preserves these surfaces. It provides lubrication that minimizes abrasion and wear, and deoxidizes contact surfaces. The existence of dissimilar metals promotes corrosion and oxidation of electrical contacts, and DeoxIT® is effective in this situation.
I have experienced excellent results from using DeoxIT® on the key switches of my wife's electric typewriter, connectors on our telephones and our entertainment equipment, connectors on my amateur radio gear, and the contact surfaces of my bug, handkey, and electronic keyer paddle. Obviously, it will perform well in aircraft, boat, and motor vehicle applications, and o. One application of DeoxIT® provides a long lasting beneficial effect.
CAIG's DeoxIT® GOLD is designed to be used on plated surfaces. It penetrates the plated surface and bonds to the base material, while cleaning and removing oxidation and contamination from contact surfaces. DeoxIT® GOLD was specifically designed to clean and protect gold plated contacts, as well as copper, nickel, rhodium, silver and other metals.
Their voice telephone number is 800.224-4123 OR 858.486-8388, and their facsimile telephone number is 858.486-8398.
CAIG products are sold by many electronic parts stores throughout the country, so take a moment to go on their site, www.caig.com, and select the “Distributor” tab for one nearest you.
NOTE: DeoxIT® GOLD (formerly ProGold) DeoxIT® GOLD GxL (formerly ProGold GxL) DeoxIT® SHIELD (formerly PreservIT) DeoxIT® FaderLube (formerly CaiLube MCL) DeoxIT® FaderGrease (formerly CaiLube MCL P20 & P40)
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