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Communications & Automotive Equipment
By Corydon L. Hine, N2AQS
1000 E. 14th St., Bldg. 178
Plano, TX 75074-6249
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I have "discovered" what appears to be the best contact cleaner and preservative. In over 24 years of experience, this is the best that I have found. I tried S-22 (Stabilant 22) a couple of years ago. It works, but does not provide the cleaning properties required on older equipment. The chemical I have found to be the best is DeoxIT® contact cleaner, made by CAIG Laboratories of San Diego.
This company supplies a full line of cleaners for metal to metal contact connectors, and it comes in sprays, wipes, pens, and liquids. It is extremely penetrating, and also provides lubrication in switches. I find that you can lubricate everything from bearings to telescoping antennas with it, and it is long lasting.
A friend of mind in Maryland had a piece of Collins gear he thought he would have to change the band switch on. After a couple of sprays of DeoxIT®, the problem was resolved. This is the kind of thing that happens all the time.
I have used it on automotive electronics and connectors, and radios, and have never found a problem that could not be resolved, short of something physically broken! It can be used on any electrical device, including relays. It is amazing to watch it work on a corroded connector and see the corrosion fly off, and clean down to the bare metal.
Another of their products is DeoxIT® GOLD. They claim it has better preservative qualities, and that it will seal and penetrate gold plating and protect the base metal underneath. I have tested this product, and it seems to perform as advertised.
This product is an improvement over the old R-5 and R100L products (use the new improved D5/D100L), supplied by the same company. Outfits like General Dynamics have been using this product successfully for years.
In my business, we use it for cellular mobile telephones, and it has solved some of the internal connector problems inherent in this type of product. I also use it on my own equipment, and in the reconditioning business.
If you write or phone them, they seem quite knowledgeable and helpful. Although these products seem expensive, you need a very small amount to accomplish the desired result. They can be contacted at:
CAIG Laboratories
12200 Thatcher Court
Poway, CA 92064. Their phone is 858.486-8388, FAX 858.486-8398.
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"Portions reprinted with permission from ELECTRIC RADIO Number 65 September 1994"
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)
DeoxIT® Grease Type M260 & L260 Paste (formerly CaiLube Grease)
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