Someone asked if they had too much grease on thier cop boots and even had a picture with a big gob of grease. Everyone including me said no don't worry but I have been thinking about it. All you need is a little grease of any kind (not necessarily dielectric) on the end of the spring so it makes a good connection to the plug and therefore won't oxidize right there. Any grease on the rubber part there will only bridge a closer gap to the head and the plug base, especially when it eventually picks up some dirt and then that will attract moisture. Some heavy grease (could be the same grease) liberally covering the upper end before you install it will help keep dirt and water out.

 

the grease is used as an insulator....... it's not conductive in any way, so it shouldn't have any effect as long as the terminals are connected.

i've talked to some people that thing dielectric grease is "conductive", this is not the case. if that were true, you'd be getting all sorts of shorts when you used it, the current flow would follow the path of the grease......

i've used synthetic grease, marine grease, and wheel bearing grease on different occasions when dielectric wasn't on hand. i don't make a habit of it though. i try not to use regular grease on rubber connectors. in some cases a "regular" type grease can cause deterioration over time of rubber plugs, connectors, or coatings. dielectric grease "supposedly" does not contain those properties.

i have used regular grease on 4" tractor trailer lights (you know the kind that has the rubber grommet that the light slides into). we used to put regular axle grease on the grommet so the light would fit easier. well after a few months if the bulb would blow, you'd take the light out and the rubber would be real flimsy, kind of a squishy feel. it wouldn't be cracked or torn just flimsy, and then the new light wouldn't stay, so you had to replace the grommet too. after we started putting dielectric grease on them, we started to use less grommets because the grease wasn't making the light grommet flimsy.

i'd try and stay with dielectric if at all possible dealing with electrical connection / plugs and wires.

 

Delecrtic grease is a non-conductive silicone based grease. It is very useful for sealing out moisture if too much is used it can insulate conductors. Most rubber grommets are made of EPDM this type of rubber is damaged by standard grease or oil it causes the material to break down and get soft. I have learned this the hard way "just put some oil on it and it will go right together". A year later and I had to make the same repairs again.
As and electrician I use dielectric grease on most all connections with dissimilar metals for example aluminum terminal with copper wiring. This helps with corrosion and heat transferal.

 

I would use the Dieletric when at all possible. Thats what it's made for as you guys know. I dont think it matters how much you use, its just a matter of cleaning up the mess next time you do the cop's. I guess I would use a light grease other than Dieltric If thats all I had. I tend to use more than nescesarry thinking I might come close to making it a weather proof connection. This is just how I do it ,and my rigs always run just fine.

 

Dam, I knew I would be wrong sooner or later. Thanks for setting me straight about the conductivity though. What Is Dielectric Grease?