Silicone grease on your MC-4s, any mileage?

[crossy]

For those in "less than connection friendly" environments.

Is there any mileage in adding a smear of silicone grease to the O-ring and/or cable glands?

 

[Checkthisout]

For those in "less than connection friendly" environments.

Is there any mileage in adding a smear of silicone grease to the O-ring and/or cable glands?

NoAlox and yes, that nasty, sticky silicone grease.

RTV also works good just applied to the outside where the cables enter the glands.

Currently operating 200 feet off the ocean and have to seal everything up.

Also, utilize the panels themselves as shielding to keep the rain off the connectors. Zip tie or whatever up under the panels and off the roof.

 

[PVorBust]

For those in "less than connection friendly" environments.

Is there any mileage in adding a smear of silicone grease to the O-ring and/or cable glands?

This was discussed recently

147 volts dc will not pass thru breaker (yes, breaker is on)

Lubricant and rubber compatibility (something all guys should be familiar with). There are many different materials. I would be concerned WD-40 might dissolve seals. I have a particular grease for use with seals on pool pump. Silicone lubricants are also only for some seal materials. I was...

diysolarforum.com

A hostile environment certainly makes a grease attractive, but you need to know your rubber before you select your grease.

A Dialectic Grease would be a good choice

CRC Food Grade Di-Electric Grease 284g

CRC Food Grade Di-Electric Grease seals, lubricates, waterproofs and insulates electrical connections with a thin, non-curing silicone compound that helps maintain electrical performance by reducing line sag, arcing, voltage drops and problems caused by adverse weather conditions. CRC Food Grade...

crcindustries.com.au

 

[crossy]

A Dialectic Grease would be a good choice

Yeah, that's exactly the kind of stuff I was thinking of, it's supposedly pretty inert when it comes to materials compatibility.

 

[kommando]

West Coast of UK close to sea so Silicone grease on all connections and O rings. First used it on a BSA B44 in 1980 on new harness, still have the bike and never had a connection issue and the grease is still there.

 

[crossy]

West Coast of UK close to sea so Silicone grease on all connections and O rings. First used it on a BSA B44 in 1980 on new harness, still have the bike and never had a connection issue and the grease is still there.

Lovely machine, a "proper" motorcycle!

I had a Matchless 250 single in the late 70s, performance was negligible but "a power stroke every telegraph pole" sure delighted the ladies

 

[Skypower]

There’s a good chance that the O rings are silicone and perhaps even the cable seals. If that’s the case, silicone containing greases and spray lubricants could damage the silicone. So I’d use nothing. If the seals are rubber, then petroleum lubricants can cause rubber to swell and harden. So again if I don’t know, do no harm and use nothing.

On the outside, using RTV silicone sealant around any electrical unless it’s electrical grade should be avoided!
If it smells like vinegar, it’s the wrong thing around any electrical connection or components. So be careful if you want to seal the outside of where the wires enters. A quality MC-4 connector works well right out of the box as long as you don’t introduce any contamination and assemble correctly.

 

[Checkthisout]

There’s a good chance that the O rings are silicone and perhaps even the cable seals. If that’s the case, silicone containing greases and spray lubricants could damage the silicone. So I’d use nothing. If the seals are rubber, then petroleum lubricants can cause rubber to swell and harden. So again if I don’t know, do no harm and use nothing.

On the outside, using RTV silicone sealant around any electrical unless it’s electrical grade should be avoided!
If it smells like vinegar, it’s the wrong thing around any electrical connection or components. So be careful if you want to seal the outside of where the wires enters. A quality MC-4 connector works well right out of the box as long as you don’t introduce any contamination and assemble correctly.

Electrical grade rtv to seal gland nuts?

The panel side connectors with the connector molded to the wire work great but field-made ends can use a bit of extra help in certain environments.

 

[Skypower]

Electrical grade rtv to seal gland nuts?

The panel side connectors with the connector molded to the wire work great but field-made ends can use a bit of extra help in certain environments.

What ever you use, don’t use this stuff. It’s just weird to use. Strange texture and doesn’t apply smoothly. If someone finds something easy to use, please post. But not this junk;

 

[Checkthisout]

What ever you use, don’t use this stuff. It’s just weird to use. Strange texture and doesn’t apply smoothly. If someone finds something easy to use, please post. But not this;View attachment 198549

Packaging reminds me of "Beer"

 

[Vigo]

I use dielectric grease on all my MC4s and have not had any issues to date. The only trick is not to apply too much non-compressible grease and then have to work it back out because the MC4 won't seat.

 

[Checkthisout]

I use dielectric grease on all my MC4s and have not had any issues to date. The only trick is not to apply too much non-compressible grease and then have to work it back out because the MC4 won't seat.

Which proves the seal is good.

 

[Boron]

Lovely machine, a "proper" motorcycle!

I had a Matchless 250 single in the late 70s, performance was negligible but "a power stroke every telegraph pole" sure delighted the ladies

do you mean a 250? thought they only made a 350 or 500 - big thumper and an ankle breaker to kick over

 

[crossy]

do you mean a 250? thought they only made a 350 or 500 - big thumper and an ankle breaker to kick over

Yeah, it was a 1961 G2 like this one https://wesellclassicbikes.co.uk/products/matchless-g2-250cc-1961

Back then it was a throwaway machine, now ...

 

[Boron]

I had one of these, beast to start (typical poor spark from magneto). Lots of thump G3L

and one of these BSA M21 600cc sv - easy starter (geared for sidecar outfits), ride around town in 3rd gear, cr 5.5:1 meant I could run it on paraffine oil - light heating oil) which was 1/5th cost of gasoline, but I smelled like a fish fryer. Happy days

 

[wme]

Lovely machine, a "proper" motorcycle!

I had a Matchless 250 single in the late 70s, performance was negligible but "a power stroke every telegraph pole" sure delighted the ladies

Yamaha SR 500, same fun and it didn't pee oil on the garage floor.