Can we talk about using dielectric grease on avionics connectors

I always thought dielectric grease was a must-have on every connector until a senior tech at my Kansas City base told me it can actually trap moisture in certain pins. He showed me corrosion under a greased D-sub on a King Radio that looked worse than any dry connector I'd seen. Has anyone else run into this problem with specific aircraft or connector types?

2 comments

2 Comments

kim.zara7d ago

Actually, dielectric grease isn't meant to conduct electricity - it's designed to seal out moisture and air, which can stop corrosion. I'd bet that King Radio example had the grease applied too thick or before the connector was fully dried out, which trapped moisture instead of blocking it.

jesse_williams627d ago

Yeah I was the same way, I used to put that stuff on everything like it was a magic fix. But then I saw a Garmin GPS antenna connector on a Cessna 172 that was totally greased up and still had green crust all inside the pins. It made me wonder if maybe the grease just holds the moisture right up against the metal if you don't get every little bit of water out first. Idk, maybe I was just slathering it on way too thick back then.