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Post by naughtyfox on Oct 9, 2018 14:21:46 GMT
With our next trip coming up soon, I was thinking about our first tasks, and if I'd have time when we get to the boat to lift our three batteries out so i could vacuum underneath them, and check the electrolyte liquid level inside them (screw caps). Then I thought about smearing vaseline round the terminals, as I've sometimes heard/read this is the thing to do, to prevent corrosion and to provide a better contact. Is this what you're supposed to do, smear it round the terminals? A quick Google comes up with these:
"In the book "Electrics Afloat", the author suggests using vaseline on thru deck glands to make them them waterproof but warns against getting any vaseline on the actual connections as it would act as an electrical insulator. I have read in numerous places to protect battery terminals with vaseline. Would this not diminish the electrical connectivity between post and cable?"
"The method that I was taught as an apprentice was to keep and make a clean pillar metal to metal connection then smarm vaseline on."
"make the connection first and then apply the external moisture barrier."
"I know it's been common advice given by many for years to smear all things electrical in vaseline, but I for one have never done it, for a couple of reasons:-
1. Vaseline may be water repellant, but it's attractive to dust and dirt, which accumulate over time and may often be the cause of subsequent shorts, or at least some leakage or tracking.
2. Every time you go anywhere near the battery terminals you'll end up getting covered, somewhere, with the stuff on your clothes. Whether you notice or not at the time, either way it's a PITA.
If, because of (1) above you end up having to clean off the terminals and reapply regularly, I came to the conclusion it's not saving any great amount of time, or effort compared to just keeping the terminals completely clean and dry - which is what I do, and have done on cars and boats for 20+ years now. Cleaner, better, easier. With minimum effort - and I haven't (touch wood) had any problems AT ALL with growths of green corrosion etc.
So I begin to think this vaseline stuff is a bit of an old wives' tale."
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2018 15:31:38 GMT
Smear it on baby.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2018 15:35:25 GMT
A good clean solid connection is all that is required. I don't bother with vaseline or other moisture repellents, as all the batteries are in enclosed boxes inside the boat. I've never found it necessary. Rog PS I never thought I'd be a member of a forum where I'd be discussing the application of vaseline
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Post by JohnV on Oct 9, 2018 15:38:37 GMT
Reminds me of the joke told during the Jeremy Thorpe scandal of the 1970's It went round that Vaseline had been forced to change the labelling on the tins. Previously it had said "Apply liberally"
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2018 15:54:46 GMT
A good clean solid connection is all that is required. I don't bother with vaseline or other moisture repellents, as all the batteries are in enclosed boxes inside the boat. I've never found it necessary. Rog PS I never thought I'd be a member of a forum where I'd be discussing the application of vaseline Did you know it's a sex aid?
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Post by Telemachus on Oct 9, 2018 16:04:37 GMT
With our next trip coming up soon, I was thinking about our first tasks, and if I'd have time when we get to the boat to lift our three batteries out so i could vacuum underneath them, and check the electrolyte liquid level inside them (screw caps). Then I thought about smearing vaseline round the terminals, as I've sometimes heard/read this is the thing to do, to prevent corrosion and to provide a better contact. Is this what you're supposed to do, smear it round the terminals? A quick Google comes up with these: "In the book "Electrics Afloat", the author suggests using vaseline on thru deck glands to make them them waterproof but warns against getting any vaseline on the actual connections as it would act as an electrical insulator. I have read in numerous places to protect battery terminals with vaseline. Would this not diminish the electrical connectivity between post and cable?" "The method that I was taught as an apprentice was to keep and make a clean pillar metal to metal connection then smarm vaseline on." "make the connection first and then apply the external moisture barrier." "I know it's been common advice given by many for years to smear all things electrical in vaseline, but I for one have never done it, for a couple of reasons:- 1. Vaseline may be water repellant, but it's attractive to dust and dirt, which accumulate over time and may often be the cause of subsequent shorts, or at least some leakage or tracking. 2. Every time you go anywhere near the battery terminals you'll end up getting covered, somewhere, with the stuff on your clothes. Whether you notice or not at the time, either way it's a PITA. If, because of (1) above you end up having to clean off the terminals and reapply regularly, I came to the conclusion it's not saving any great amount of time, or effort compared to just keeping the terminals completely clean and dry - which is what I do, and have done on cars and boats for 20+ years now. Cleaner, better, easier. With minimum effort - and I haven't (touch wood) had any problems AT ALL with growths of green corrosion etc. So I begin to think this vaseline stuff is a bit of an old wives' tale." I always put Vaseline on battery connections, both externally and on the actual mating surface. Batteries can get damp with temperature change and anyway, there is always water vapour in the air. Also many leisure batteries are prone to being a bit leaky between the posts and the plastic case, resulting in acidic fumes leaching out and corroding the posts and connectors. No, the Vaseline doesn’t “insulate” the connections. Lots of it between the connecting surfaces of our batteries and no detectable voltage drop with 200A flowing.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2018 16:10:25 GMT
With our next trip coming up soon, I was thinking about our first tasks, and if I'd have time when we get to the boat to lift our three batteries out so i could vacuum underneath them, and check the electrolyte liquid level inside them (screw caps). Then I thought about smearing vaseline round the terminals, as I've sometimes heard/read this is the thing to do, to prevent corrosion and to provide a better contact. Is this what you're supposed to do, smear it round the terminals? A quick Google comes up with these: "In the book "Electrics Afloat", the author suggests using vaseline on thru deck glands to make them them waterproof but warns against getting any vaseline on the actual connections as it would act as an electrical insulator. I have read in numerous places to protect battery terminals with vaseline. Would this not diminish the electrical connectivity between post and cable?" "The method that I was taught as an apprentice was to keep and make a clean pillar metal to metal connection then smarm vaseline on." "make the connection first and then apply the external moisture barrier." "I know it's been common advice given by many for years to smear all things electrical in vaseline, but I for one have never done it, for a couple of reasons:- 1. Vaseline may be water repellant, but it's attractive to dust and dirt, which accumulate over time and may often be the cause of subsequent shorts, or at least some leakage or tracking. 2. Every time you go anywhere near the battery terminals you'll end up getting covered, somewhere, with the stuff on your clothes. Whether you notice or not at the time, either way it's a PITA. If, because of (1) above you end up having to clean off the terminals and reapply regularly, I came to the conclusion it's not saving any great amount of time, or effort compared to just keeping the terminals completely clean and dry - which is what I do, and have done on cars and boats for 20+ years now. Cleaner, better, easier. With minimum effort - and I haven't (touch wood) had any problems AT ALL with growths of green corrosion etc. So I begin to think this vaseline stuff is a bit of an old wives' tale." I always put Vaseline on battery connections, both externally and on the actual mating surface. Batteries can get damp with temperature change and anyway, there is always water vapour in the air. Also many leisure batteries are prone to being a bit leaky between the posts and the plastic case, resulting in acidic fumes leaching out and corroding the posts and connectors. No, the Vaseline doesn’t “insulate” the connections. Lots of it between the connecting surfaces of our batteries and no detectable voltage drop with 200A flowing. Nick saves a load of typing. I'm trying to work out why Foxy cuddles his batteries thus getting Vaseline on his best Fred Perry shirt. Battery terminals only need ferkling about with when the batteries are dead or you are adding equipment/upgrading cabling. In any of those instances you can wipe the terminals to prevent you getting grubby hands before work commences.
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Post by JohnV on Oct 9, 2018 16:14:24 GMT
I always put Vaseline on battery connections, both externally and on the actual mating surface. Batteries can get damp with temperature change and anyway, there is always water vapour in the air. Also many leisure batteries are prone to being a bit leaky between the posts and the plastic case, resulting in acidic fumes leaching out and corroding the posts and connectors. No, the Vaseline doesn’t “insulate” the connections. Lots of it between the connecting surfaces of our batteries and no detectable voltage drop with 200A flowing. Nick saves a load of typing. seconded
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Post by naughtyfox on Oct 9, 2018 16:30:01 GMT
A good clean solid connection is all that is required. I don't bother with vaseline or other moisture repellents, as all the batteries are in enclosed boxes inside the boat. I've never found it necessary. Rog PS I never thought I'd be a member of a forum where I'd be discussing the application of vaseline Did you know it's a sex aid? It can't compete with my charm, and I have never used it. But I did buy a small tin of vaseline today, for the batteries - just in case. I just thought I'd give 'em the 'once over' once they're out of their boxes when I vacuum underneath them.
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Post by Telemachus on Oct 9, 2018 16:31:59 GMT
Did you know it's a sex aid? It can't compete with my charm, and I have never used it. But I did buy a small tin of vaseline today, for the batteries - just in case. Liberally smear it on all over. And on the battery terminals too.
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Post by TonyDunkley on Oct 9, 2018 16:41:40 GMT
Reminds me of the joke told during the Jeremy Thorpe scandal of the 1970's It went round that Vaseline had been forced to change the labelling on the tins. Previously it had said "Apply liberally" <iframe width="21.139999999999986" height="3.6000000000000085" style="position: absolute; width: 21.139999999999986px; height: 3.6000000000000085px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none;left: 15px; top: -5px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_3944047" scrolling="no"></iframe> <iframe width="21.139999999999986" height="3.6000000000000085" style="position: absolute; width: 21.14px; height: 3.6px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 999px; top: -5px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_78790697" scrolling="no"></iframe> <iframe width="21.139999999999986" height="3.6000000000000085" style="position: absolute; width: 21.14px; height: 3.6px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 15px; top: 121px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_43097861" scrolling="no"></iframe> <iframe width="21.139999999999986" height="3.6000000000000085" style="position: absolute; width: 21.14px; height: 3.6px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 999px; top: 121px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_11463123" scrolling="no"></iframe> I recall that joke circulating at around the same time as someone - might have been from Private Eye, but I'm not sure - began referring to a shirt-lifting acquaintance of Jeremy Thorpe's, called Norman Scott, as 'Scott of the Arseantics'.
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Post by Clinton Cool on Oct 9, 2018 17:34:28 GMT
"Both externally, and on the actual mating surfaces" Yes indeed, many people follow this sound advice.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2018 20:50:20 GMT
It can't compete with my charm, and I have never used it. But I did buy a small tin of vaseline today, for the batteries - just in case. Liberally smear it on all over. And on the battery terminals too. You are both incorrect. You put it on the bedroom door knob so the kids can't get in
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2018 21:14:43 GMT
The one occasion I decide to comment on a manly engine hole type thread ... and I get it wrong doh! I still don't use it, but check the batteries regularly, topping up as and when, and have never seen any build up on the terminals. In light of the advice above, in future ... obviously ... I 'll not post on technical threads Rog
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Post by Telemachus on Oct 9, 2018 22:13:37 GMT
The one occasion I decide to comment on a manly engine hole type thread ... and I get it wrong doh! I still don't use it, but check the batteries regularly, topping up as and when, and have never seen any build up on the terminals. In light of the advice above, in future ... obviously ... I 'll not post on technical threads Rog When it comes to manly (engine) holes, clearly you are inexperienced. Or so you pretend!
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