Electronics > Beginners

What to use for cleaning switches, pots and rotary encoders?

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SeanB:
Well, the brand name Vaseline is pretty runny at room temperature, and getting liquid at body temperature, but I bought some locally made generic that is almost a wax at room temperature, which was perfect for the use I wanted it for, as a hotfoot bird deterrent. Worked well there, and lasts a long time even in the heat.

Kjelt:
Just be sure you use acid free vaseline!

Stuggi:

--- Quote from: analogix on March 16, 2017, 08:58:16 pm ---
--- Quote from: ollihd on March 16, 2017, 04:24:44 pm ---I use Taerosol Kontakt PRF 6-68 for the same exact purpose. Works like a charm. You can probably get it in Norway also.

--- End quote ---

Yes, I can buy it here!
I checked its contents which says Naphtha and isopropyl alcohol, so this means no lubrication.
I'm confused, because alm says it's very important with lubrication for switches, but does this only apply if it has gold contacts?

The place I found the PRF 6-68 also sells other Taerosol products, but I don't know what they're suitable for:
PRF IPA Kontakt (isopropyl alcohol, non-lubricative), PRF 7-78 Kontakt (Hydrocarbons C9-16 hydro-treated dearomatized, isopropyl alcohol, lubricative) and PRF TCC contact cleaner (naphtha, non-lubricative).

I haven't had any success in finding Cramolin, KF F2 or Servisol here, and ordering from abroad is either very expensive or not possible (because of shipping restrictions for dangerous goods).

--- End quote ---

Sorry to revive an old thread, but as I saw people talking about PRF sprays here I'd add a couple of cents;

PRF sprays are quite highly regarded within the electronics industry here in Finland. PRF IPA Kontakt is just isopropyl alcohol in a spray can. PRF 6-68 is a non-lubricating contact cleaner, while 7-78 is the lubricating kind. Both are non-conductive and people generally recommend 7-78 for scratchy potentiometers. There's also TCC, which is a speciality cleaner for sensitive electronic equipment, as well as HFE, a non-flamable variant, which is 30-40% tetrafluoroethane, aka. R-134a refrigerant, but it's almost 3 times as expensive as the others. Personally I've used IPA Contact and 6-68 at work for cleaning RF connectors in the field, and both have worked well for that.

I've emailed the manufacturer, and will post back when I get their opinions for the different uses of these cleaners.

IconicPCB:
WD have a contact cleaning spary.

and NO .. dont abuse me it is different to wd40 water displacement concoction.
I am talking of fast drying contact cleaner.

Stuggi:

--- Quote from: Stuggi on October 01, 2018, 05:33:30 pm ---
--- Quote from: analogix on March 16, 2017, 08:58:16 pm ---
--- Quote from: ollihd on March 16, 2017, 04:24:44 pm ---I use Taerosol Kontakt PRF 6-68 for the same exact purpose. Works like a charm. You can probably get it in Norway also.

--- End quote ---

Yes, I can buy it here!
I checked its contents which says Naphtha and isopropyl alcohol, so this means no lubrication.
I'm confused, because alm says it's very important with lubrication for switches, but does this only apply if it has gold contacts?

The place I found the PRF 6-68 also sells other Taerosol products, but I don't know what they're suitable for:
PRF IPA Kontakt (isopropyl alcohol, non-lubricative), PRF 7-78 Kontakt (Hydrocarbons C9-16 hydro-treated dearomatized, isopropyl alcohol, lubricative) and PRF TCC contact cleaner (naphtha, non-lubricative).

I haven't had any success in finding Cramolin, KF F2 or Servisol here, and ordering from abroad is either very expensive or not possible (because of shipping restrictions for dangerous goods).

--- End quote ---

Sorry to revive an old thread, but as I saw people talking about PRF sprays here I'd add a couple of cents;

PRF sprays are quite highly regarded within the electronics industry here in Finland. PRF IPA Kontakt is just isopropyl alcohol in a spray can. PRF 6-68 is a non-lubricating contact cleaner, while 7-78 is the lubricating kind. Both are non-conductive and people generally recommend 7-78 for scratchy potentiometers. There's also TCC, which is a speciality cleaner for sensitive electronic equipment, as well as HFE, a non-flamable variant, which is 30-40% tetrafluoroethane, aka. R-134a refrigerant, but it's almost 3 times as expensive as the others. Personally I've used IPA Contact and 6-68 at work for cleaning RF connectors in the field, and both have worked well for that.

I've emailed the manufacturer, and will post back when I get their opinions for the different uses of these cleaners.

--- End quote ---

After talking to the manufacturer I got the following;

6-68 Kontakt - General "Dry" Contact Cleaner - Non-conductive
7-78 Kontakt - Lubricating Contact Cleaner - Non-conductive, specifically intended for cleaning potentiometers
TCC Contact Cleaner- Speciality Contact Cleaner - Evaporates quickly, "dry", intended for precision components and contacts
HFE Precision Cleaner - Non-flammable Speciality Contact Cleaner - Especially pure, non-flammable, evaporates completely - removes flux, light oils, fingerprints and other impurities.

My take on TCC and HFE are that they are intended for more high end applications, such as cleaning circuit boards in metrology equipment, especially HFE since the main solvent is R-134a (tetrafluoroethane) which is a bit exotic to say the least. 

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