Used dieelectric grease on power adapter connector

My Resmed S9 power adapter was tough to plug in and I worried the pins might break. After I put some dielectric grease on the connector it was very easy to plug and unplug. The grease is sold in small packets at the checkouts at auto stores and is used for electrical connections like light bulbs.
I don't know if the manufacturer endorses this or it will work on your machine without causing problems.

freetimecreations wrote:My Resmed S9 power adapter was tough to plug in and I worried the pins might break. After I put some dielectric grease on the connector it was very easy to plug and unplug. The grease is sold in small packets at the checkouts at auto stores and is used for electrical connections like light bulbs.
I don't know if the manufacturer endorses this or it will work on your machine without causing problems.

Just a little late to worry about it now, but if you plan on setting your S9 by the curb in the winter, in the road salted road, as long as no-one runs over it, it might be useful. Jim

Now you can get a roll of duck tape to hold it plugged in when it falls out.

freetimecreations wrote:I don't know if the manufacturer endorses this .

I'd be willing to bet that they don't.

Though I can't see a dab doing any harm.

freetimecreations wrote:My Resmed S9 power adapter was tough to plug in and I worried the pins might break. After I put some dielectric grease on the connector it was very easy to plug and unplug. The grease is sold in small packets at the checkouts at auto stores and is used for electrical connections like light bulbs.
I don't know if the manufacturer endorses this or it will work on your machine without causing problems.

It would have been nice to tell us if your pump still worked!

In my experience dielectric grease is fine in low voltage multipin connections, though I usually don't bother.

I suppose that polishing the corroded contacts would have been too difficult.

freetimecreations wrote:My Resmed S9 power adapter was tough to plug in and I worried the pins might break.
After I put some dielectric grease on the connector it was very easy to plug and unplug.
The grease is sold in small packets at the checkouts at auto stores and is used for electrical connections like light bulbs.
I don't know if the manufacturer endorses this or it will work on your machine without causing problems.

I noticed the same thing and did the same thing as you, quite a few months ago, with no problems.
I used a toothpick to put a tiny dab of grease in each of the 3 pin sockets.
The plug works nice and smooth now, and I no longer worry about breaking off that tiny 3rd pin that people keep posting about.

I’m homeless and my CPAP gets exposed to salt from the snowplows. Out here, we learn to improvise, like tapping into a street light to power our devices.
Duct tape is very common out here so if for some unexplained phenomenon the dielectric grease causes the 24V plug to jump out I’ll use some to attach it. Thank you kind sir.
I doubt the manufacturers recommend this but since they designed a plug that occasionally breaks I said what the heck, rummaged through the trash at the auto store and found an open packet of the stuff. Put it on last nite and it the machine works. Should anyone try this your results may differ.
Thanks dcheddar, we think alike.
Though, when I did own a house, car and a boat, I used the stuff on my outdoor and indoor low voltage light bulbs, spark plug wires and trailer wire harness plug.
I don’t miss those complicated days, now its just me, CPAP and my cat.

I don't believe it's a good idea to use dielectric grease on small pins because it can migrate outward and across receptacles and pins....hard short, and "poof", you'll see the magic smoke come out of your CPAP. I could be wrong, but I would not chance it...personally.

Instead, if you can acquire it relatively easily, use spray silicone lube, the kind you're advised to use on garage door opener springs and cables, and under the moving treads of treadmills for walking and running indoors.

At least as good would be Dextron III Mercon automatic transmission fluid. WAIT!!! Before you close this post thinking I'm pulling your left or just daft, I am a model train nut. I have 30 HO scale locomotives with tiny metal parts that need lubing, steam locomotives with all their valve gear pins, levers, and side rods. Some of their boiler shells are plastic, some are brass, and all are hand-painted and decaled. A chemist on my model trains forum explained that ATF of the Dextron III Mercon type is both paints and plastics safe, and neutral electrically. This type was blended because some transmissions have plastic-cased sending units in them.

Apply either substance with a blunted toothpick dipped in the liquid (spray some silicone directly into a cup of some kind). In my model trains' case, I use a sewing needle with the eye clipped in half so that it now shows two tines that I can dip into a couple of drops of the ATF. The close-set tines do a good job of retaining the fluid.

Good luck, whichever way this goes for you.

mesenteria wrote:I don't believe it's a good idea to use dielectric grease on small pins because it can migrate outward and across receptacles and pins....hard short, and "poof", you'll see the magic smoke come out of your CPAP. I could be wrong, but I would not chance it...personally.

Instead, if you can acquire it relatively easily, use spray silicone lube, the kind you're advised to use on garage door opener springs and cables, and under the moving treads of treadmills for walking and running indoors.

At least as good would be Dextron III Mercon automatic transmission fluid. WAIT!!! Before you close this post thinking I'm pulling your left or just daft, I am a model train nut. I have 30 HO scale locomotives with tiny metal parts that need lubing, steam locomotives with all their valve gear pins, levers, and side rods. Some of their boiler shells are plastic, some are brass, and all are hand-painted and decaled. A chemist on my model trains forum explained that ATF of the Dextron III Mercon type is both paints and plastics safe, and neutral electrically. This type was blended because some transmissions have plastic-cased sending units in them.

Apply either substance with a blunted toothpick dipped in the liquid (spray some silicone directly into a cup of some kind). In my model trains' case, I use a sewing needle with the eye clipped in half so that it now shows two tines that I can dip into a couple of drops of the ATF. The close-set tines do a good job of retaining the fluid.
Good luck, whichever way this goes for you.

Dielectric grease is non conductive.
I don't endorse the Locktite company for the link below. It's for reference only
https://www.nkbaxter.com/data-sheets/Lo ... se-TDS.pdf

CapnLoki wrote:

freetimecreations wrote:My Resmed S9 power adapter was tough to plug in and I worried the pins might break. After I put some dielectric grease on the connector it was very easy to plug and unplug. The grease is sold in small packets at the checkouts at auto stores and is used for electrical connections like light bulbs.
I don't know if the manufacturer endorses this or it will work on your machine without causing problems.

It would have been nice to tell us if your pump still worked!

In my experience dielectric grease is fine in low voltage multipin connections, though I usually don't bother.

It's main use is to displace moisture in connectors that promotes corrosion, If the pins break off, buy a better brand of XPAP. I don't know it;s voltage limits, but I think it's a silicone base. Jim

It plays well with hard plastic, hopefully it's inert.

Just for info about ATF, as a mechanic I know it's slick and ends up everywhere, however don't do as I did. My chainsaw ran out of chain oil, I had some ATF so I used it in the chain oiler, what could it hurt is slick as the devil. In a matter of hours it wore the bar out, making the saw cut in a bend instead of straight cut. I would never had thought it wouldn't be ok. Live and learn! Jim

I've worked with dielectric paste/grease for over 50 years. Few things I know is dielectric is not only conductive, but HIGHLY conductive! Additionally its one of the most inert substances on earth given its over 99% pure silicone. Personally I see no negatives using it in this situation and lots of positives given its applied sparingly/judiciously. I'd use it in a heartbeat for same/similar reasons but keep it far away from automotive exhaust O2 sensors!

salinas212 wrote:I've worked with dielectric paste/grease for over 50 years. Few things I know is dielectric is not only conductive, but HIGHLY conductive! ...

No, the word "dielectric" means NON conductive. It is used on seals to keep water, dirt, etc out of the connectors. It really shouldn't go on the contacts, but if there is good metal to metal contact the grease will be pushed aside and won't interfere with conduction. Conductive grease would be bad to use in a multi-pin connector because it could short out the pins!

Dielectric grease got its start (for most people) with spark plug wiring and boots, since you want to make sure there isn't a hint of a conductive path when you're dealing with 20,000 volts. It got picked up in the marine and telco business because you could protect connections from weather without worrying about shorting contacts.

Below is a link to very long article (longer than this thread) about dielectric grease. The author uses an OHM meter for proof. I also learned how to spell dielectric.

https://www.w8ji.com/dielectric_grease_ ... grease.htm

In short, ha ha, it is just fine for my Resmed S9's 24V multi-pin connection.

As always, should you try it I can't say something will not go wrong with your machine.

For single-point terminals and connections, such a spark plugs (where one plug and one wire are involved, plus the ground to the block), dielectric makes perfect sense. For multiple pin connectors in close proximity, such as those on our CPAP hoses with heaters, etc......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

I really don't think it's a good idea.