Everything You Need to Know about Dielectric Grease

I used to find it difficult to keep my electric connections safe from corrosion or risk of getting dirty and occurring an accident. I tried different methods to fix the problem but found an easy solution. If you are facing problems like that and need a solution, you are in the right place. 

Here I will discuss what is dielectric grease and how this substance can solve your issue. So, the question comes – “Is dielectric grease conductive?“. Of course not! This is like a miracle fluid to stop any kind of corrosion in your electric connections.

What Is Dielectric Grease? 

Before talking about dielectric grease, you should know more about what this is and what dielectric grease is made of. 

The dielectric grease is not like regular grease, and it is a fluid-like substance but denser than fluid. It is a white, translucent substance and shows high dielectric characteristics. It can be used on most rubber or plastic compounds. It is non-curing and non-conductive, and contact resistance. The dielectric strength is pretty solid in this grease.

It is a silicon-based material that helps prevent objects from coming into contact surface with other elements like dirt, water, air, etc. and secure the lines from any accident or decaying. 

This dielectric grease is also called tune-up grease because it improves the connections by preventing cross-connection problems or stopping other materials from getting inside. It increases electrical performance.

In heat management, the grease can also be used. It transfers heat from devices and helps in cooling down.

Most importantly, dielectric grease is environment friendly, and we should always use products that are good for the environment, don’t we?

What Is Dielectric Grease Used For?

As you have come to know about dielectric grease, you may want to learn more about its usage. 

This super handy grease can be used in many different ways. You can use it in home electric works or to keep the wires safe of your car. For an automotive tune-up, the dielectric grease is useful. Even when your little children’s toys need some wiring, you can use it for safety purposes!

In serious cases, dielectric grease is used in lubricating connections in heavy machines for high energy ignition systems. It secures the metal contact. It is also used to prevent sparking or other short-circuit issues. It is also used for heat transmission. As it is not dissolving in most liquids, it can be used for marine applications. In the case of voltage drop or sudden low voltage, there can be sparking or malfunction that can cause heating or fire; the dielectric grease will help you with that.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Dielectric Grease?

Understanding where to use the dielectric grease will help many of our problems related to wires and connectors go away. However, we should know that nothing is perfect in this world. Everything has pros and cons.

Here I will share the pros and cons of dielectric grease-

👍 Pros:

👎 Cons:

You can’t use it on silicon-based rubber or plastic, or other substances because it is made of silicon itself and can cause melting after some time. 

How Do You Use Dielectric Grease?

The dielectric grease helps us in many ways while we are dealing with electric lines or wires. Thus, it’s important to know how to use this properly.

To use the grease, you should always keep the mating lines excluded. Otherwise, you will stop the flow of electricity. 

In the auto-motive tune-up of an engine, use the grease over the wires’ rubber boot and spread it to cover the area inside. This will help in controlling the electricity flow and prevent electric surges. 

You can use dielectric grease on battery terminals and battery posts. Use the grease on the rubber gaskets to seal it properly.

For preventing air from flowing in or water to get inside, use the grease on the surface of the intended object and cover it well. 

However, overusing the lubricant can cause disfunction of electric lines and voltage connections.

Related: Can You Use Dielectric Grease On Spark Plugs?

FAQs

Can Dielectric Grease Be Used On Circuit Breaker?

To keep circuit breakers operating at their best, proper lubrication such as dielectric grease can be used as part of your preventive maintenance measure. But it is recommended to be used in a corrosive atmosphere only as it helps to keep oxygen out of contact that can cause corrosion. However, dielectric grease can also be detrimental when applied incorrectly, as the grease is non-conductive; thus, it can prevent current flow when used incorrectly. The grease can also create trouble if you use too much; you could bridge a gap and create a short circuit.

What can be used instead of dielectric grease?

Vaseline sometimes can be a dielectric grease substitute but can’t be recommended as a good substitution because Vaseline degrades plastics and rubber over time. The answer to this is to avoid using anything with silicone or petroleum distillates simply.

Is Vaseline Dielectric Grease?

Vaseline is petroleum jelly and is electrically conductive grease, but dielectric is a non-conductive type of grease. So, Vaseline and dielectric grease are not the same.

Can I Use Dielectric Grease On O-Rings?

No. O-rings are made of silicon rubber, and dielectric grease will melt silicone rubber over time, and thus should not be used on connectors like that.

Can I Use Dielectric Grease On Battery Terminals?

Yes, you can. Dielectric grease is an electrical insulator like a ceramic insulator, and it’s ok on the surface of the connected terminal. But make sure the connection is working well before using dielectric grease.

Is Silicone Grease The Same As Dielectric Grease?

They are both used for lubrication purposes, and both are non-conductive—however, the main difference between dielectric grease and silicon grease is in meaning and fields of use. The dielectric grease is a shinning substance used to seal electrical connectors and protect them from dust or dirt. In contrast, silicone grease is a water resistance grease prepared by combining silicone oils with a thickener and used for lubrication and preservation of rubber parts such as O-rings.

Is Dielectric Grease Conductive?

No, it is not. Dielectric grease is a silicone-based non-conductive type of grease that protects the electrical connection from corrosion and repels moisture and dirt.

Is dielectric grease necessary for spark plugs?

It’s not a mandatory thing. But using it is a smart preventive maintenance thing to do. Using it helps in pulling the wires/ spark plug wire as well as with any water. 

Conclusion

After reading the article, I hope you have come to know about – “what is dielectric grease?” and will use it for many purposes. Many companies are offering dielectric grease, and you can find the right one by checking them out. And from now on, never get your electric lines wide open for any accidents. Use dielectric grease and keep your electric lines safe.