Cleaning? How Do You Do?

[SnesGuy]

You know I've been wondering something. I don't think I've ever heard anyone mention using something like Di-Electric Grease on cart contacts. Is that doable? Think it would help in the long run? (preventing oxidation, repelling moisture, etc)

Might grab some to screw with. Was just wondering if anyone else had any thoughts on it

[Dr.Agon]

never heard of it, what is it used for normally?

[Dravenae]

You know I've been wondering something. I don't think I've ever heard anyone mention using something like Di-Electric Grease on cart contacts. Is that doable? Think it would help in the long run? (preventing oxidation, repelling moisture, etc)

Might grab some to screw with. Was just wondering if anyone else had any thoughts on it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicone_grease#Dielectric_grease

It doesn't sound like a great idea. Why not try WD40, if your looking for something to displacement/repel water? By reading that wiki page, it sounds like your talking about a paste, rather than a solvent?

[Dr.Agon]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphenyl_Ether#Electronic_connector_lubricants

this sounds more like what your thinking of, how well it would work with cart connectors i dont know

[Dravenae]

As a sealant around electrical contacts[edit source | editbeta]

Dielectric grease[edit source | editbeta]
Dielectric grease is electrically insulating and does not break down when high voltage is applied. It is often applied to electrical connectors, particularly those containing rubber gaskets, as a means of lubricating and sealing rubber portions of the connector without arcing.
A common use of dielectric grease is in high-voltage connections associated with gasoline engine spark plugs. The grease is applied to the rubber boot of the plug wire. This helps the rubber boot slide onto the ceramic insulator of the plug. The grease also acts to seal the rubber boot, while at the same time preventing the rubber from becoming stuck to the ceramic. Generally spark plugs are located in areas of high temperature, and the grease is formulated to withstand the temperature range expected. It can be applied to the actual contact as well, because the contact pressure is sufficient to penetrate the grease. Doing so on such high pressure contact surfaces between different metals has the advantage of sealing the contact area against electrolytes that might cause rapid galvanic corrosion.
Another common use of dielectric grease is on the rubber mating surfaces or gaskets of multi-pin electrical connectors used in automotive and marine engines. The grease again acts as a lubricant and a sealant on the nonconductive mating surfaces of the connector. It is not recommended to be applied to the actual electrical conductive contacts of the connector because it could interfere with the electrical signals passing through the connector in cases where the contact pressure is very low. Products designed as electronic connector lubricants, on the other hand, should be applied to such connector contacts and can dramatically extend their useful life. Polyphenyl Ether, rather than silicone grease, is the active ingredient in some such connector lubricants.
Silicone grease should not be applied to (or next to) any switch contact that might experience arcing, as silicone can convert to silicon-carbide under arcing conditions, and accumulation of the silicon-carbide can cause the contacts to prematurely fail. (British Telecom had this problem in the 1970s when silicone Symel® sleeving was used in telephone exchanges. Vapour from the sleeving migrated to relay contacts and the resultant silicon-carbide caused intermittent connection.)

That's from the wiki page I linked. Is that the same stuff your on about?

[SnesGuy]

There's a wide range of different products I looked at online.
 Everyone talks about best ways to clean carts but not how to preserve the contacts over a long period of time.
 I also wonder if an effective product was found if it wouldn't also help make a good connection when playing
 
like some rough carts I've owned, no matter how polished those contacts are, the game wont work unless you blow on it.
 When we were kids people would also lick the contacts. I assume the moisture was helping to make a better connection

I've worked with di-electric grease before, I worked in a factory assembling truck cargo bodies (wiring lights, back up cameras, etc)
So the idea has popped into my head a few times.

[Polygon]

never heard of it, what is it used for normally?

It's used for electrical connections under the hood of cars. It's designed to keep out water while being conductive.

[wiggy]

Don't use it.  You're more likely to cause a short than anything.  It's quite viscous and would be really hard to keep it only on the pins so as to not create an electrical bridge between pads. 

[Spoonman]

I know I'm digging up a super old thread here. But so much of the information on this post is helpful.

I couldn't find if there was a thread more specific to label cleaning. For NES and SNES I'll often use a tiny dab of goo gone on a q-tip to get any grime or sticker residue off - and it also shines up the whole label.

My question is if anyone has any tips on N64 label cleaning. Those labels do not have the same strong laminate as the NES and SNES and I have definitely rubbed color off of Mario's nose in the past. So I want to be careful before cleaning some recent pickups. Any tips or advice would be much appreciated!

[wiggy]

I know I'm digging up a super old thread here. But so much of the information on this post is helpful.

I couldn't find if there was a thread more specific to label cleaning. For NES and SNES I'll often use a tiny dab of goo gone on a q-tip to get any grime or sticker residue off - and it also shines up the whole label.

My question is if anyone has any tips on N64 label cleaning. Those labels do not have the same strong laminate as the NES and SNES and I have definitely rubbed color off of Mario's nose in the past. So I want to be careful before cleaning some recent pickups. Any tips or advice would be much appreciated!

Bestine/Heptane, period.

[Tech13]

I know I'm digging up a super old thread here. But so much of the information on this post is helpful.

I couldn't find if there was a thread more specific to label cleaning. For NES and SNES I'll often use a tiny dab of goo gone on a q-tip to get any grime or sticker residue off - and it also shines up the whole label.

My question is if anyone has any tips on N64 label cleaning. Those labels do not have the same strong laminate as the NES and SNES and I have definitely rubbed color off of Mario's nose in the past. So I want to be careful before cleaning some recent pickups. Any tips or advice would be much appreciated!

Bestine/Heptane, period.

OK so I definitely trust Wiggy without question, but can we get a tutorial from you on this please?

When I start to get chemical near n64 labels, I get scared.

[SegaNomadman]

You know I've been wondering something. I don't think I've ever heard anyone mention using something like Di-Electric Grease on cart contacts. Is that doable? Think it would help in the long run? (preventing oxidation, repelling moisture, etc)

Might grab some to screw with. Was just wondering if anyone else had any thoughts on it

Apparently, applying this to the cart slots on the Retron 5 help with the death grip it has on carts.

https://www.reddit.com/r/retron5/comments/6vyqco/retron_5_survival_guide/

[wiggy]

I know I'm digging up a super old thread here. But so much of the information on this post is helpful.

I couldn't find if there was a thread more specific to label cleaning. For NES and SNES I'll often use a tiny dab of goo gone on a q-tip to get any grime or sticker residue off - and it also shines up the whole label.

My question is if anyone has any tips on N64 label cleaning. Those labels do not have the same strong laminate as the NES and SNES and I have definitely rubbed color off of Mario's nose in the past. So I want to be careful before cleaning some recent pickups. Any tips or advice would be much appreciated!

Bestine/Heptane, period.

OK so I definitely trust Wiggy without question, but can we get a tutorial from you on this please?

When I start to get chemical near n64 labels, I get scared.

Apply it to a q-tip, wipe on, wipe off.

Somewhere on YouTube I have a video that shows bedtime versus isopropyl on an N64 label...


Found it

https://youtu.be/IGE0Vb8IFuQ

[Tech13]

I know I'm digging up a super old thread here. But so much of the information on this post is helpful.

I couldn't find if there was a thread more specific to label cleaning. For NES and SNES I'll often use a tiny dab of goo gone on a q-tip to get any grime or sticker residue off - and it also shines up the whole label.

My question is if anyone has any tips on N64 label cleaning. Those labels do not have the same strong laminate as the NES and SNES and I have definitely rubbed color off of Mario's nose in the past. So I want to be careful before cleaning some recent pickups. Any tips or advice would be much appreciated!

Bestine/Heptane, period.

OK so I definitely trust Wiggy without question, but can we get a tutorial from you on this please?

When I start to get chemical near n64 labels, I get scared.

Apply it to a q-tip, wipe on, wipe off.

Somewhere on YouTube I have a video that shows bedtime versus isopropyl on an N64 label...


Found it

https://youtu.be/IGE0Vb8IFuQ

Thanks Wiggy