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Dielectric grease by definition is grease that is also an insulator. An insulator is a non conductor.
Grease: lubricates, keeps oxygen away and is messy.
An insulator insulates or is non-conducting at various voltages, but at the common voltage range of 10-15 VDC most grease is an insulator.
Manufacturers use dielectric grease because the machine is new and generally has a warranty time limit and this warranty fits nicely into the time limit of grease and things electrical. It is doubtful that warranty work will be done to electrical things for the first 3-5 years. But after that time period electrical devices, wires, contacts and contactors, motors, relays can break down.
When the warranty time is gone you as the customer pay. Work on electrical things can take a lot of time to repair, but it is all chargeable hours. So manufacturers really don’t want to see your machine during warranty.
Time passes and electrical things can wear and break down. So most people via misrepresentation, lack of knowledge and lack of skill choose to grease up connections to “Save” time repairs and make them water tight.
But the use of these greases when used wrongly can make a mess out of the job especially when troubleshooting because too many people actually smear this grease on the components before they are attached. Remember that this grease is a non conductor and when placed between conducting members this non conductor can make a wire connection stop the movement of electrons. It may even cause the conductor to act like a semi-conductor. Now you have to troubleshoot the problem.
During any diagnoses the dielectric grease must be wiped off the components and the component device made clean. I strongly suggest if you are not an expert dielectric grease applicator…do not use it. If you have older bikes make the electrical system a part of your routine maintenance. That means every other year you’re going to have to spend a day or two cleaning, tightening and verifying all electrical devices. With no grease your next maintenance check will be easy, since you don’t need to wipe things clean of grease.
But if you have a bad location that should be protected by dielectric grease use it with caution and expertise. Make up the joint, that is clean and tight and then verify that this joint works. Once tested and found OK, then wipe dielectric grease over it in a complete sealed cocoon. If it is a bad location use shrink wrap that is filled with dielectric grease but be careful not to get any grease on the areas that conduct electricity.
An insulator will increase the resistance and cause electron flow problems. DC flow is at a somewhat constant single direction and has a tendency to crowd the center of a conductor. A 12 V DC circuit is easily interrupted by dielectric grease. Do not grease up the battery connections. You are better off maintaining the battery and the cables and keeping then clean and tight every 3-4 months. You do battery checks…don’t you.
It's your choice, use it with caution or don't use it and do maintenance.
The bike has wearing parts, you use oil and grease to help slow down the wear. If you use dielectric grease at least learn why and how.
Dielectric grease by definition is grease that is also an insulator. An insulator is a non conductor.
Grease: lubricates, keeps oxygen away and is messy.
An insulator insulates or is non-conducting at various voltages, but at the common voltage range of 10-15 VDC most grease is an insulator.
Manufacturers use dielectric grease because the machine is new and generally has a warranty time limit and this warranty fits nicely into the time limit of grease and things electrical. It is doubtful that warranty work will be done to electrical things for the first 3-5 years. But after that time period electrical devices, wires, contacts and contactors, motors, relays can break down.
When the warranty time is gone you as the customer pay. Work on electrical things can take a lot of time to repair, but it is all chargeable hours. So manufacturers really don’t want to see your machine during warranty.
Time passes and electrical things can wear and break down. So most people via misrepresentation, lack of knowledge and lack of skill choose to grease up connections to “Save” time repairs and make them water tight.
But the use of these greases when used wrongly can make a mess out of the job especially when troubleshooting because too many people actually smear this grease on the components before they are attached. Remember that this grease is a non conductor and when placed between conducting members this non conductor can make a wire connection stop the movement of electrons. It may even cause the conductor to act like a semi-conductor. Now you have to troubleshoot the problem.
During any diagnoses the dielectric grease must be wiped off the components and the component device made clean. I strongly suggest if you are not an expert dielectric grease applicator…do not use it. If you have older bikes make the electrical system a part of your routine maintenance. That means every other year you’re going to have to spend a day or two cleaning, tightening and verifying all electrical devices. With no grease your next maintenance check will be easy, since you don’t need to wipe things clean of grease.
But if you have a bad location that should be protected by dielectric grease use it with caution and expertise. Make up the joint, that is clean and tight and then verify that this joint works. Once tested and found OK, then wipe dielectric grease over it in a complete sealed cocoon. If it is a bad location use shrink wrap that is filled with dielectric grease but be careful not to get any grease on the areas that conduct electricity.
An insulator will increase the resistance and cause electron flow problems. DC flow is at a somewhat constant single direction and has a tendency to crowd the center of a conductor. A 12 V DC circuit is easily interrupted by dielectric grease. Do not grease up the battery connections. You are better off maintaining the battery and the cables and keeping then clean and tight every 3-4 months. You do battery checks…don’t you.
It's your choice, use it with caution or don't use it and do maintenance.
The bike has wearing parts, you use oil and grease to help slow down the wear. If you use dielectric grease at least learn why and how.
