How Best to Clean Connectors?

[cabo_sailor]

My radar/chart plotter is starting to act up and many signs point to poor connections. At the very least, it is the easiest and least expensive thing to check first. We're talking electronic multi-pin cables being plugged into the monitor and the radar antenna.

The male pins I can probably clean using a Q-tip but I haven't a clue as to how to clean the female connectors.

Any suggestions as to how to clean these lil'buggers and with what?

TIA
Rich

[btrayfors]

For a start, try De-Oxit.
http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.188/.f

Spray the pins. Spray into the connector to get the female pin sockets. Then work the plug in and out of the radar unit a number of times.

That might help. Be careful not to damage the soldered connections at the back of the connector; hold the connector ring and body only, not the wire or shrinkwrap.

Bill

[Wotname]

Just to add to Bill's advice, you can use DeoxIT sparingly, you only need to wet the contacts, not drown them. That way, a can goes a long way.

If DeoxIT doesn't help, then the contacts weren't dirty to begin with; it really does a good job at cleaning contacts.