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No-ox-id alternative

ThaiTaffy

ThaiTaffy

Jack of all Trades
Joined
Jun 5, 2024
Messages
1,161
Location
Thailand
Not sure if this is the correct section but I'm trying to find an alternative to no-ox I could try pick some up next time I go back to old blighty but finding something here in Thailand would be preferable.
I've seen some carbon conductive greases available from specialists here but anything calling itself electricity conductive is just dielectric, guess the Thais and Chinese don't know the difference.
 
I don’t understand why folks want to use conductive grease. So many tests showing regular (cheap) dielectric grease does not reduce conductivity. And that is has increased conductivity over time as it excludes oxygen and prevents corrosion.

It works; it’s cheap; it’s widely available; it’s not toxic. Triple win.
 
Bluedog225 said:
I don’t understand why folks want to use conductive grease. So many tests showing regular (cheap) dielectric grease does not reduce conductivity. And that is has increased conductivity over time as it excludes oxygen and prevents corrosion.

It works; it’s cheap; it’s widely available; it’s not toxic. Triple win.
Click to expand...
Because if I want to prevent galvanic corrosion between mating surfaces dielectric would be a sure fire way to cause a hot mess it's fine for preventing corrosion around terminals but if you want to mate a tinned lug to a copper busbar or any type of current carrying surface you need it to be conductive.
 
Dielectric grease is silicone and silica both of which are insulators don't really know what else there is to say.
 
It’s been tested many times. Oxidation protection and no increase in resistance. Do as you want.
 
ThaiTaffy said:
Dielectric grease is silicone and silica both of which are insulators don't really know what else there is to say.
Click to expand...
Good reading here.

diysolarforum.com

Dielectric grease on cable lugs? Lets test!

Inspired by this thread I decided to test it myself. I happened to have this big toroidal transformer core sitting on my desk that happens to be an excellent source of 400 Amps AC as high as my clamp meter will go. So I crimped two #4 lugs on 4 AWG welding cable, looped it through the core and...
diysolarforum.com diysolarforum.com
 
Bluedog225 said:
It’s been tested many times. Oxidation protection and no increase in resistance. Do as you want.
Click to expand...
Here's an interesting read concerning the matter not sure what tests are advocating it's use on mating surfaces but as the current carrying surfaces expand and contract over time the grease will hinder operation. It's fine for things like air tight crimps but any mechanical connections I wouldn't feel comfortable using it

Appropriate use of Dielectric Greases

Q) Would you consider it an ?appropriate use?, to apply a ?Dielectric Grease? between two electrical mating surfaces? I recently read assembly instructions for a cable with a butt splice that instructed assemblers to apply a dielectric grease on each wire surface prior to crimping a butt...
forums.mikeholt.com
 
Bluedog225 said:
Good reading here.

diysolarforum.com

Dielectric grease on cable lugs? Lets test!

Inspired by this thread I decided to test it myself. I happened to have this big toroidal transformer core sitting on my desk that happens to be an excellent source of 400 Amps AC as high as my clamp meter will go. So I crimped two #4 lugs on 4 AWG welding cable, looped it through the core and...
diysolarforum.com diysolarforum.com
Click to expand...
Good info but all at short time intervals not really indicative of long term battery use
 
Long way from a ”hot mess.”

You asked for alternatives. I gave you an alternative.

Rock on.
 
ThaiTaffy said:
Cheers not available here but I might be able to find a similar zinc based compound
Click to expand...
Its a shame so many things are unavailable where you're at. Ex Pats I've met when they left the country on a trip would have a shopping list of things like you're asking for that could not be found where they were at. Google has a whole list of things that cliam to prevent Galvanic corrosion which are all probably equally unavailble where you are from.
 
chrisski said:
Its a shame so many things are unavailable where you're at. Ex Pats I've met when they left the country on a trip would have a shopping list of things like you're asking for that could not be found where they were at. Google has a whole list of things that cliam to prevent Galvanic corrosion which are all probably equally unavailble where you are from.
Click to expand...
Yep I already have a small list forming but it's all things like decent liquid PTFE and screwdriver blades I'm not really the type of expat who goes home to buy baked beans.
 
no baked beans? LOL

If there are things you want and can't get period there but they are available in the US - DM me and we can work something out.
 
chrisski said:
Wow. I would think these would be available universally.
Click to expand...
Wera ones are pretty expensive here they don't seem to have a decent trade agreement and they aren't available individually so I would have to buy a full set at twice or more the price.
chrisski said:
Does Thailand have a reliable, affordable delivery service? I am spoiled here in America.
Click to expand...
Delivery for most products I buy domestically or from china is either free or $1
 
robbob2112 said:
no baked beans? LOL

If there are things you want and can't get period there but they are available in the US - DM me and we can work something out.
Click to expand...
Import duties are crazy and a massive pita I have to fly to the UK early next year to go house hunting for my mother so I'll likely fly back with disposable clothes and return with a suitcase of tools and consumables
 
Well, in that case - I would use whatever you can find di-electric or not until you get back. The connection will squeeze 99% or more out from between the lug and mount point. The rest is going to be at a higher impedance than the actual contact. Just keep the water away from it.
 
robbob2112 said:
Well, in that case - I would use whatever you can find di-electric or not until you get back. The connection will squeeze 99% or more out from between the lug and mount point. The rest is going to be at a higher impedance than the actual contact. Just keep the water away from it.
Click to expand...
I'm using dielectric on all my current connections(humidity here is insane this time of year) but I don't have any busbars or complicated wiring on my current system.

It's more for the next project which is still a good few months away but I've learnt to look out for these seemingly meaningless items first as they tend to be the hardest things to source especially when you need them.

Any other things that seem trivial that seem to be western brands I might want to add to my list?
 
ThaiTaffy said:
Any other things that seem trivial that seem to be western brands I might want to add to my list?
Click to expand...
Based off my last build for a small 50 ah pack.

-inch pound torque wrench

-red 3m pads to clean corrosion

I liked this better than 400/800 grit sandpaper.

-Nickel for electroplating.

You may not need this unless you need to tin.

-Battery lugs for odd sizes.

I had 4 AWG wire I used for a 50 amp battery cells which I later learned had #6 studs. Never thought to check battery stud size until too late. Nobody in the world made that, but there were 4 AWG UNDRILLED LUGS.

-Kapton Tape.

I used this to secure battery temp probes to cells and to secure connectors that could come loose.

Here’s the tools it took me to build an 8s battery pack

IMG_2023.jpeg
IMG_2022.jpeg
 
chrisski said:
Based off my last build for a small 50 ah pack.

-inch pound torque wrench
Click to expand...
Have pretty big selection of torque wrenches and screwdrivers
chrisski said:
-red 3m pads to clean corrosion
Click to expand...
Available here
chrisski said:
-Nickel for electroplating.
Click to expand...
Good shout but likely available here
chrisski said:
-Battery lugs for odd sizes.
Click to expand...
Have plenty but I will likely grab some known quality ones when I'm in the UK
chrisski said:
I had 4 AWG wire I used for a 50 amp battery cells which I later learned had #6 studs. Never thought to check battery stud size until too late. Nobody in the world made that, but there were 4 AWG UNDRILLED LUGS.
Click to expand...
I'll be making my own busbars so I can select bolt sizes based on lugs
chrisski said:
-Kapton Tape.
Click to expand...
Think it's made in china I have plenty of rolls of it but I'll likely order some packing tape size rolls for any DIY batteries(will order maybe 10kwh of off the shelf batteries at first before DIY`ing anything)
chrisski said:
Here’s the tools it took me to build an 8s battery pack

View attachment 227379
View attachment 227380
Click to expand...
Have a pretty extensive tool selection I've spent years bringing over in hold luggage, I tend to take some disposable clothes and vast amounts of home grown tobacco back to the UK then return to Thailand with tools.

Thanks for the breakdown though
 
ThaiTaffy said:
I'm using dielectric on all my current connections(humidity here is insane this time of year) but I don't have any busbars or complicated wiring on my current system.

It's more for the next project which is still a good few months away but I've learnt to look out for these seemingly meaningless items first as they tend to be the hardest things to source especially when you need them.

Any other things that seem trivial that seem to be western brands I might want to add to my list?
Click to expand...

Raw copper bus bar stock...
real MC4 conectors...
a variety of lugs in different sizes, quality
Rebuild kit for your hydraulic crimper or a spare good one.
Heat shrink in different sizes
Liquid electrical tape for those things that you can't heat shrink
Pure copper washers - I use them on top of MRBF when I don't have a wide lug in the right size.
locking nut serrated
Rubber electrical tape, self bonding
Fuses - the NH type are great for Asia and cheep in place of class T
Bs88 fuses and holders

Split bolts
 
ThaiTaffy said:
Any other things that seem trivial that seem to be western brands I might want to add to my list?
Click to expand...
Anything Knipex!
Good Class T fuses and blocks.
I really like my Milwaukee strippers with the wide flat nose tips.
Nord-Lock washers in random sizes.
Good zip ties.
 
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