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Old 08-13-2019, 12:15 PM   #1
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cleaning contacts on 7-pin plug on trailer and 7-pin receiver connector on truck

I know that you spray contact cleaner in it. but what do you use the clean the contacts deep inside the plug and plug receiver?


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Old 08-13-2019, 12:19 PM   #2
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pipe cleaner soaked in contact cleaner.
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Old 08-13-2019, 12:25 PM   #3
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pipe cleaner soaked in contact cleaner.
X2
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Old 08-13-2019, 12:26 PM   #4
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On the trailer end, I have used contact cleaner with a small knife blade or a small flat screwdriver.

Car end would be contact cleaner with a .22 brass bore brush. I pull the battery charge fuse and also make sure all lights are off in TV.

If no tools, contact cleaner with a few plug/unplugs of the connector.
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Old 08-14-2019, 01:26 PM   #5
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Nail file or emory paper, then coat with Burndy a-13 penetrox.
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Old 08-14-2019, 01:33 PM   #6
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I use Brass Wire Tube Brush Cleaning Tool. You can buy at Amazon, Harbor Freight, etc. I use a barrel cleaning brush from gun cleaning kit... same thing. This cleans out and scuffs up the contacts. You can then spray some electric contact cleaner and lubricant in there.
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Old 08-14-2019, 03:27 PM   #7
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Cleaning contacts

If I clean the contacts, will that keep the notice "Trailer Disconnected" from coming up even when trailer is connected? Thanks
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Old 08-14-2019, 03:29 PM   #8
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Q tip swabs
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Old 08-14-2019, 04:08 PM   #9
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If I clean the contacts, will that keep the notice "Trailer Disconnected" from coming up even when trailer is connected? Thanks

It did on mine... Now I regularly spray with contact cleaner. Haven't had an issue for a while...


I also got a cheap hanger gizmo to keep the end clean and dry while not in use. Attaches to the tongue jack.
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Old 08-14-2019, 04:26 PM   #10
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If I clean the contacts, will that keep the notice "Trailer Disconnected" from coming up even when trailer is connected? Thanks
Have you perused the other threads on this same "Trailer Disconnected" issue?
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Old 08-14-2019, 04:39 PM   #11
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I have had good luck with toilet bowl cleaner. It is quite acidic, and cleans very well. Spray in the connectors, let sit 5 to 10 minutes, then flush completely with a garden hose. I finish with a light coat of WD-40
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Old 08-14-2019, 05:15 PM   #12
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Dielectric grease, plug and play, never had an instance where things didn't work


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Old 08-14-2019, 06:10 PM   #13
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Good old WD-40 works too. It and duck tape are indispensable aids to have on board.
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Old 08-14-2019, 06:14 PM   #14
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Dielectric grease, plug and play, never had an instance where things didn't work


.
X2. If you do want to clean with contact cleaner, use dielectric grease when you're done.
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Old 08-14-2019, 06:32 PM   #15
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I bought a cleaner tool kit and plug with LEDs for testing connector. Tool(s) clean both the plug with a flat spade like "scraper" and outside of terminals in socket. Also has a round male/female tool for the center connector which is round.

Rather than relying on chemicals, this tool set a totally scrapes resistive coating off terminals a d THEN you use the terminal cleaner. After a few years just hanging off the end of a cord you'd be Amazed at how much corrosion can build up.

This kit was among several designed for truck fleet maintenance and drivers to be a leading to gets lights working on trailers that had been neglected for years as they were just rentals.

I pay close attention to me + and ground terminals as I rely heavily on them now to charge my Lithium batteries while on the move.
Btw, kit is available on Amazon for either spade type, round terminals, or a "fleet" kit for just about all types of trailer connectors.
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Old 08-14-2019, 07:09 PM   #16
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Oh my.................Well I guess I'm bad I have never in 40 years of owning trailers with 7 pin plugs cleaned a plug with anything................. I currently own three trailers with 7 pin plugs............. never had an issue with a plug because of it either ................


Dang something else I should have been doing
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Old 08-14-2019, 07:33 PM   #17
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I use a Velvac 593121 and matching plug for battery charging, those little pins on 7 wire units are too small and the small wire they accept has too much loss.
When I owned big rigs I had little round brushes as all the pins are round, but when I used the No-ox-id or the Burndy a-13 cleaning was a thing of the past.
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Old 08-14-2019, 09:13 PM   #18
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X2!! I do use dielectric grease occasionally, probably bi-annually.
If a contact is being ornery, I scrape it with a pocket knife, does that count as cleaning?
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Originally Posted by Oaklevel View Post
Oh my.................Well I guess I'm bad I have never in 40 years of owning trailers with 7 pin plugs cleaned a plug with anything................. I currently own three trailers with 7 pin plugs............. never had an issue with a plug because of it either ................


Dang something else I should have been doing
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Old 08-14-2019, 09:47 PM   #19
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It doesn’t have to be di-electric grease as that is non conductive grease as the name implies. However it keeps moisture out as any grease would, some dry up faster than others. Moisture is the cause of corrosion. The ones I specified are used by power companies to prevent corrosion and not dry out so quickly.
Di-electric grease is good for things like spark plug boots so they won’t get stuck from heat but needs to be non conductive, so the high voltage won’t try to penetrate the boot.
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Old 08-24-2019, 10:25 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oaklevel View Post
Oh my.................Well I guess I'm bad I have never in 40 years of owning trailers with 7 pin plugs cleaned a plug with anything................. I currently own three trailers with 7 pin plugs............. never had an issue with a plug because of it either ................


Dang something else I should have been doing
I’m betting that if you lived further north, where road salt eats/ corrodes everything, you might have had to do this once or twice.

And yes, “dielectric” grease causes the electricity to “die,” as it’s non-conductive (that’s just how I remember it.) What you want to be using is contact grease.
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