Best terminal & terminal block cleaning practices

[akopac]

Going to clean up my main terminal block connections and breaker connections. Wouldn’t want to reinvent the wheel. What’s you best practices and treatments for connection cleanup in the tropics?

[goboatingnow]

Beoshield if you can get it

[akopac]

Got it. How about cleaning

[GreenWave]

Battery terminal cleaner. Of course there are many things you could use but this should be inexpensive and readily available. Lacking that you can make a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.

[Rumrace]

Baking soda a little water a copper wool pad. Then a blob of delectric grease.

[Rumrace]

I came across the copper wool pieces at creatronics. Picking up a circuit board and soldering bits. I’ve always used a wet sponge to clean my pencil. He turned me on the pricey spun copper and liquid flux.
Cleans terminals so well. The flux off topic for any electronics or tinning is a must have.

[akopac]

Originally Posted by Rumrace

I came across the copper wool pieces at creatronics. Picking up a circuit board and soldering bits. I’ve always used a wet sponge to clean my pencil. He turned me on the pricey spun copper and liquid flux.

Cleans terminals so well. The flux off topic for any electronics or tinning is a must have.

Got the flux. I’m in Mazatlan. Wonder if homedepot, Styron, or Amazon .Mx has the spun copper wool

[Rumrace]

Mazatlan Mexico !? I hate you. Kidding.
Yes Home Depot have it on line at least.
The pad from an electronics store is pricy.
The phone companies use a copper mesh around lines running in drains to defend from rats. It’s used in baseboards to stop house mice.
Like regular steel wool it comes in grades. It’s tougher than steel scrubbing.
Tinning a wire then crimping it in a connector is touch n go. So I Tin afterwards. The liquid flux comes with a little brush. Works so slick.

[Manateeman]

Not sure what you want to clean...raw copper buss bar, tinned crimp on fittings or the surfaces under bolts? You can use wire brushes...both flat and round, or use chemicals or acid or green scrubby pads. Lots of choices that work. We use Boeshield T9 on electronics and Tef-Gel on the heavy wires. A hydraulic crimper..USA not China..and heavy lugs . We tried another spray but Boeshield is the best stuff. I think it came out of the aircraft industry.
Tef-Gel is expensive but worth the cost. Simply better than any other product we have tried. Two different, slightly expensive products for different applications but you will find they work exceptionally well.
Happy trails to you.
Mark and the manatees

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by akopac

Going to clean up my main terminal block connections and breaker connections. Wouldn’t want to reinvent the wheel. What’s you best practices and treatments for connection cleanup in the tropics?

What do you see that needs cleaning? Do you have corrosion? If it's just dirt or grease, then a bit of varsol on a rag or brush should work.

The copper wool mentioned earlier is a good choice for removing oxidation and insoluble dirt. I've also used emery paper. But lightly, so you don't remove any plating. Green scrubby pads as mentioned (aka ScotchBrite) are also good.

[akopac]

Thanks guys. It’s mostly green corrosion on copper bus bar. I’ll give the wool a shot