Put a dab of dielectric grease on the bottom of light bulbs.

[2ndhalf]

Re: Put a dab of dialectric grease on the bottom of light bulbs.

petroleum oil is not conductive, It is a "dielectric".

Oils conduct electricity minimally under normal conditions, which makes them useful as insulators. The extent of electrical conductivity depends on the concentration of impurities. The presence of salts and other substances generally increases the electrical conductivity of oil. [end]

2ndhalf. I'm not sure how conductivity at the base has anything to do with filament temperature.

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The Basics of Electrical Overheating

Because of Oxidation (better word than corrosion) causes a poor connection a poor connection generates more heat at the load (Motor, light bulb, etc) It will set off the breaker if the amp draw is high enough but if the amp draw is not high enough to trip the breaker, it would probably just cause the bulb to burn out faster due to too much heat going across the filament.

Some commonly known defective wiring practices that can lead to electrical fires include:

Loose connections.

Aluminum and copper conductors spliced together with an incorrect connector. Aluminum oxide causes overheating.

Some insulation piercing connectors when applied incorrectly can make poor connections due to insufficient contact area or pressure.

 

[ovrszd]

Re: Put a dab of dialectric grease on the bottom of light bulbs.

petroleum oil is not conductive, It is a "dielectric".

The Basics of Electrical Overheating

Because of Oxidation (better word than corrosion) causes a poor connection a poor connection generates more heat at the load (Motor, light bulb, etc) It will set off the breaker if the amp draw is high enough but if the amp draw is not high enough to trip the breaker, it would probably just cause the bulb to burn out faster due to too much heat going across the filament.

Some commonly known defective wiring practices that can lead to electrical fires include:

Loose connections.

Aluminum and copper conductors spliced together with an incorrect connector. Aluminum oxide causes overheating.

Some insulation piercing connectors when applied incorrectly can make poor connections due to insufficient contact area or pressure.

All valid points!!!

Where can a guy buy butt connectors or any crimp type connector that isn't aluminum?? Thanks!!!

 

[2ndhalf]

Re: Put a dab of dialectric grease on the bottom of light bulbs.

All valid points!!!

Where can a guy buy butt connectors or any crimp type connector that isn't aluminum?? Thanks!!!

You can't and the reason I always use de-ox on those splices. Well.. you can but those little auto connectors are generally aluminum. For you house or where current is higher and wires are bigger.. they do make copper options

Short Barrel Copper Splice 1/ Awg .375" Pink | ElecDirect

 

[ovrszd]

Re: Put a dab of dialectric grease on the bottom of light bulbs.

You can't and the reason I always use de-ox on those splices.

Doesn't that suck..... Why hasn't someone came up with some good, easy to use copper connectors??

 

[2ndhalf]

Re: Put a dab of dialectric grease on the bottom of light bulbs.

Doesn't that suck..... Why hasn't someone came up with some good, easy to use copper connectors??

They may exist but I haven't seen them for cars etc. Aluminum is so much softer and crimps easier would be my guess. You have to have some serious crimping tools that most homeowners don't have for some of the heavier splice connectors.

 

[Sodo]

Re: Put a dab of dialectric grease on the bottom of light bulbs.

Where can a guy buy butt connectors or any crimp type connector that isn't aluminum?? Thanks!!!

I don't think I've ever seen an aluminum butt connector. Prob cuz I never work with Aluminum wires. What electrical item are you working on, that has Aluminum wires? Incidentally if you are working with aluminum wire you MUST use aluminum connections, butt splices for example. Or if you MUST join your aluminum wires to copper, you have to use the proper goops for dissimilar metals. It's not ideal.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Re: Put a dab of dialectric grease on the bottom of light bulbs.

There is some mention here of lubing the bulb threads to make removal or installation easier. I say don't do it. Faced with that problem I wiped little light oil on the threads and when I hit the switch the bulb shorted or whatever and either massively burned out and may have exploded. I can't remember but do remember why I steer clear of electric anything.

You probably vaporized, then ignited the oil. that's why you should use non-flamable silicone grease (a.k.a dielectric grease) which is made for this purpose, instead of petroleum based products.

Regular old thread anti-seize works just as well, but it's a lot messier.

Might be okay on light bulbs, but don't use it on multi-pin connectors of any kind. There's enough aluminum in that stuff you'd likely create some shorts.

I found that teflon grease works very well.

Not recommended for electrical connections. See here.

Why hasn't someone came up with some good, easy to use copper connectors??

Are you sure you are seeing aluminum, and not tinned copper?

 

[Inspector507]

All of the butt splice connectors I've ever used were tinned copper

 

[2ndhalf]

Re: Put a dab of dialectric grease on the bottom of light bulbs.

Actually I think TKOM is right... take a look a the connection material on these... copper. Always thought it was aluminum due to the silver. I will still use deox on them though.

3m Butt Splice Connector, 16-14 AWG, PK1 MVU14-BCX | Zoro.com

 

[CalG]

Re: Put a dab of dialectric grease on the bottom of light bulbs.

Because of Oxidation (better word than corrosion) causes a poor connection a poor connection generates more heat at the load (Motor, light bulb, etc) It will set off the breaker if the amp draw is high enough but if the amp draw is not high enough to trip the breaker, it would probably just cause the bulb to burn out faster due to too much heat going across the filament.

Heating and breaker tripping of an induction motor under load is real, but the "poor connection" causing over heating of a resistance load is flawed.
That is not how it works. In fact, the poor connection acts as an additional resistance "heater" in series with the load.
E=I^2R Tells the entire story.

And then to make a short story longer......
The Great Lightbulb Conspiracy - IEEE Spectrum