Liquid Rubber or some other coating on dc ground bus bars?

[smokey73]

Does anyone coat their bus bars with some sort of coating? I was chasing high resistance connections in my DC ground system and noted that one of my dc bus bars seemed to be coated with something similar to Liquid Rubber? Don't know if the PO put this on of if it came from the factory that way. I only noticed the apparent Liquid Rubber on one bar but all the bus bars seemed to be oxidized somewhat. Here is a picture from before and then after I cleaned them and relanded all the connections. Now I need to clean up the wire runs. They yellow wire on the one bus is a ground wire, not a hot wire

These don't have the "liquid rubber coating" I don't have a picture of the one with the coating. These just look like oxidation on the bare metal bar.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

A thin film of dielectric grease such as SuperGrease is good for stopping light corrosion on electrical terminals, bus barrs, etc.

 

[justsomeguy]

 

[dlochner]

Marine & Boat Uses | Boeshield T-9®

Boeshield T-9® is an anticorrosion spray that works in salt and freshwater, to prevent rust and provide long-lasting lubrication for sail or powerboat and PWCs.

boeshield.com

 

[smokey73]

The liquid electrical tape is probably what it was. Not sure I like that idea but the Boesield T-9 sounds like a good idea. I have some of that at home but hadn't thought about that. I do have a light coating of dielectric grease on it.

 

[capta]

Liquid electric tape would be a nightmare. You couldn't see anything under it and it wouldn't facilitate electrical connections. We use Corrosion Block on all connections. It does a fine job.

 

[thinwater]

Liquid electric tape would be a nightmare. You couldn't see anything under it and it wouldn't facilitate electrical connections. We use Corrosion Block on all connections. It does a fine job.

This^^

And when the rubber coating fails, it will make corrosion under it worse.

 

[MikeHoncho]

Corrosion X is a amazing product. I use it to waterproof my very water sensitive speed controllers in my RC float planes

 

[Scott T-Bird]

I've noticed a black coating on all of the connections & buss bars in my battery compartment on my new-to-me Catalina 320. It actually looks scorched, like flame residue. It looks alarming to me, but I have not had any bad experience with electrical connections yet. It's not tape, it looks like it could be some kind of spray application that I'm not familiar with.

 

[CarlN]

T-9 is great stuff but a grease is better for this type of connection. Get a tube of NO-OX-ID A-Special.. Used in industry and by electric linesmen for over 50 years. Practical Sailor rated it #1 against other electrical connector corrosion inhibitors - including T9. It's available on Amazon. I use it on the bus bars and all battery connections. The $15 8oz tube will last you a few decades NO-OX-ID Electrical Contact Grease- Conductive Lubricant | Sanchem, Inc.

 

[smokey73]

T-9 is great stuff but a grease is better for this type of connection. Get a tube of NO-OX-ID A-Special.. Used in industry and by electric linesmen for over 50 years. Practical Sailor rated it #1 against other electrical connector corrosion inhibitors - including T9. It's available on Amazon. I use it on the bus bars and all battery connections. The $15 8oz tube will last you a few decades NO-OX-ID Electrical Contact Grease- Conductive Lubricant | Sanchem, Inc.

NO-OX-ID A-Special is what I have and used on the cleaned up connections in the after picture as well as all crimps I do and electrical connections.

I was asking about the Liquid Electrical Tape because that is what I found on one busbar and I was surprised to see it. I guess the PO must have used it.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Liquid electric tape would be a nightmare. You couldn't see anything under it and it wouldn't facilitate electrical connections. We use Corrosion Block on all connections. It does a fine job.

I also use corrosion block. I spray it on all my buss bars, cockpit remote microphone connector, and cockpit lighter socket every fall layup. I also use it on my wind transducer when I remove and reinstall it each year. Also on flashlight contacts, and any other plug-able electrical connection points.

 

[Captain Larry-DH]

I use Corrosion-X. Great stuff.

 

[jssailem]

corrosion block

Is great stuff. I use it on mechanical metal parts exposed to marine environments. Keeps even cheap master locks from corrosion problems for about a year.

 

[CYQK]

Smokey 73 where did you purchase the grease

 

[smokey73]

Smokey 73 where did you purchase the grease

@CYQK Sorry, I don't remember. I've had it for 8 years or so and have used about a couple tablespoons full. A little goes a long way.

 

[jssailem]

@CYQK you can find Dielectric grease at most auto-parts stores, car electrical section of Walmart etc. Comes often in small tubes. In a pinch I have used Vaseline to cover electrical connections. Works pretty much the same.

 

[CYQK]

8oz. tube 8bucks on ebay free shipping.... done

 

[jssailem]

That may last a lifetime.