I -mailed Litchfield station about a power pickup problem. He suggested a little "conductive oil" would help. I've never heard of conductive oil. Who makes it and here can I get it?
Thanks
CRC 2-26. Just a dab is all that is needed
Springfield PA
Atlas makes something called Conductalube. Having worked in the electrical field my entire life, there is nothing better for electrical conductivity than clean and dry. Make sure all contact surfaces are clean, dry (no oil) and the contacts are exerting the proper pressure. An oily residue will cause arcing, even at the low voltages used in model railroading, and will lead to carbon buildup faster.
The crc product is made for electrical contacts. It stops carbon build up from arcing and prevents oxidation. That's why litchfield station suggested that type of product.
Thanks a lot. Now where can I get this stuff?
I have used CRC products 2-26, 3-36 and 5-56 on lever contacts in signal interlocking machines, switch machines and automatic train stop equipment. It caused more problems with oily residue and carbon buildup that had to be cleaned more often than the required 30 day maintenance cycle. Using a TV tuner type cleaner with a lint free chamois cloth cut down on the problem.
One place I liked CRC was when my spark plug wires and distributor cap in my vehicles would have moisture on them on a humid day and cause the spark to leak to ground. A spray of CRC would last for a couple of weeks until I could replace them. In this case using CRC repelled the moisture and improved the insulation of the wires
CRC can be found at home depot.
Our club and others put a small amount down and let the trains distribute it throughout the layout. As a result we only clean the track a couple of times a year.