On Wed, 13 May 2009 15:19:01 -0400, Scott Dorsey wrote:

> jim evans > wrote:
>>For years I've heard the advice to coat battery posts & terminals with
>>Vaseline to prevent corrosion. I've never done it because it seems
>>like the grease would act like an insulator and impede electrical
>>conduction between the posts and terminals.
>
> It's good advice. The thing is, the grease is an insulator, but it's
> squeezed out by the contacts being forced together. Because the contacts
> are both soft lead, this is fairly easy.
>
> And vaseline is a very good insulator.

Water is, too...actually, water is an EXCELLENT insulator!

It's the impurities, such as metals and salts that are conductive in
water. If you could get pure, clean water with no minerals, etc you could
cool your computer with it like this:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...fans,1203.html


>
>>Do others who use it have any problems with conduction? If not, why
>>do you think that's so?
>
> No, it's fine. It's not as effective as a grease that has an actively
> reducing compound in it to prevent corrosion, but it's cheap and better
> than nothing.
> --scott