Re: dielectric grease (was-Re: horn ring lube)

["Christopher P. Locke" <d.locke@snet.net>]

Jim wrote
>   >>
> I'm not an electrical engineer, or even an electrican, for that matter.  Here
> is what I know.  Webster's New Twentieth Century Unabridged does indeed
> define dielectric as an insulator or nonconductor.  But, the FIRST definition
> is: from dia -, through, across, and electric : so called because it permits
> the passage of the lines of force of an electrostatic field, but does not
> conduct the current.  

Websters new collegiate dictionary (my copy here) only has one:  "dia- +
electric":  a nonconductor of direct electric current"

I don't want to get into a war, passing of electric fields will not
reduce "resistance", but will increase a property called permitivity
(sp?).  If you put your meter leads across a capacitor, you'll read some
amazing numbers that make the capacitor look like a pretty darn good
connection.  I've used a similar "grease" designed for the prevention of
corosion, and will readily attest to the benefits of a non corroded
connector.  However, I can't see any logical reason as to why a
dielectric grease would improve a connection.  I would guess just the
seperation of the 2 pieces of the connector would clean up the contact
surfaces enough to make a measureable difference with a DVM.

chris locke 86 4kcstq