Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Do not grease them before - that is silly. Grease them afterwards.
Why introduce an insulator into an electrical connection?
Just because the car may still run is not a reason to use inferior procedure.
Because that is the best and correct way to keep a connection sealed.
It's not inferior -- dielectric greases are routinely used in this fashion in telecommunications and electrical connections exposed to the elements. RF signal transfer is a lot more sensitive than a starting battery primary connection, and that's the best way to weather-proof an RF connection (both for transmitters and receivers).
You'll find the same practice routinely in mains service panel components and connections that move a lot more juice than a car battery.
It's also used in quite a few automotive harness connections.
We've also used this method in boating for decades, where salt water would otherwise eat the whole connection up in no time.
Maximum metal to metal conduction still occurs in the connection, and the dielectric fills the voids (that don't complete a circuit anyway) and surrounds the connection from the inside out, fully protecting it from moisture intrusion.
Just slapping greases and caulks on the outside of a connection is no better than wrapping it with electrical tape. That does a better job at keeping trapped moisture in a connection than keeping it out -- a decidedly inferior method.
Do not grease them before - that is silly. Grease them afterwards.
Why introduce an insulator into an electrical connection?
Just because the car may still run is not a reason to use inferior procedure.
Because that is the best and correct way to keep a connection sealed.
It's not inferior -- dielectric greases are routinely used in this fashion in telecommunications and electrical connections exposed to the elements. RF signal transfer is a lot more sensitive than a starting battery primary connection, and that's the best way to weather-proof an RF connection (both for transmitters and receivers).
You'll find the same practice routinely in mains service panel components and connections that move a lot more juice than a car battery.
It's also used in quite a few automotive harness connections.
We've also used this method in boating for decades, where salt water would otherwise eat the whole connection up in no time.
Maximum metal to metal conduction still occurs in the connection, and the dielectric fills the voids (that don't complete a circuit anyway) and surrounds the connection from the inside out, fully protecting it from moisture intrusion.
Just slapping greases and caulks on the outside of a connection is no better than wrapping it with electrical tape. That does a better job at keeping trapped moisture in a connection than keeping it out -- a decidedly inferior method.
