Is brake clean a good electronic cleaner?

Is brake clean a good electronic cleaner?

I use Contact Cleaner

Yeah... I had both CRC electronic contact cleaner, and one from RadioShack (about 5x more expensive but it comes with a brush ) but I am out of both, and don't feel like going out.

Poppy said:

Yeah... I had both CRC electronic contact cleaner, and one from RadioShack (about 5x more expensive but it comes with a brush ) but I am out of both, and don't feel like going out.

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Poppy,

CRC sells lectra-motive cleaner. Safe for shellac on motor windings and safe for most plastics.

http://www.crcindustries.com/ei/product_detail.aspx?id=05018

http://www.autozone.com/miscellaneo...ctric-parts-cleaner/119711_0_0/?checkfit=true

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...cleIdSearch=21992&searchTerm=05018&showTitle=

I am guessing that brake cleaning fluid would brake down the silicon in the wires? Anyone??

Str8stroke said:

I am guessing that brake fluid would brake down the silicon in the wires? Anyone??

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Brake fluid will breakdown silicone jacketed wires quickly.

Brake parts cleaner leaves a residue behind. It does dissolve some plastics. Brake parts cleaner contains Perchloroethylene which can be corrosive to aluminum.

Here's the MSDS for the CRC product which is typical for most brake parts cleaners.

http://www.crcindustries.com/faxdocs/msds/5089.pdf

Not to mention turn stuff white and etch plastics.

Once again, I am impressed by the collective knowledge of the people here.

thanks NoNotAgain, for your efforts in particular.

Last year the train tracks got moved, and the locomotive got thrown from the track. After that the transformer started tripping its breaker, and the engine hardly moved. So for a couple of weeks, it just sat there sitting around the tree.

Today I took the engine to a hardware store/hobby train shop, and had the engine tested. It was fine, so now I need to deal with the tracks. It is likely that one of them are shorting, it should be easy to find out which. On the way home, I hit home depot and picked up a spray can of CRC QD Contact Cleaner. That is the only one that they carried. I guess the lectra-motive one would have been better all around, but I am not going out again probably until tomorrow. HERE is a pdf of selection chart for the CRC products. At least the one I have is plastic safe.

The best electrical contact cleaner I've ever used is Caig DeoxIT...it was highly recommended to me by other amateur radio enthusiasts that are a lot more experienced (older ha!) than I.

http://www.caig.com/

Jumpmaster said:

The best electrical contact cleaner I've ever used is Caig DeoxIT...it was highly recommended to me by other amateur radio enthusiasts that are a lot more experienced (older ha!) than I.

http://www.caig.com/

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I use DeoxIT and stay away from Brake Fluid and Brake Clean unless they are used for automotive needs.

sidecross said:

I use DeoxIT and stay away from Brake Fluid and Brake Clean unless they are used for automotive needs.

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IIRC DeoxIT was also recommended as one of those products that "JUST WORK!" in the Around the campfire section.

Honestly, I don't know how well the CRC stuff worked, but I used it with some pipe cleaners, and soldered at least half of the connections. The train runs beautifully, and it was a little joint project with one of my grandsons. That was the best part!

I agree with Jump, detox it makes the best products. Go to their Web site, and there are all kinds of cleanser and protectants.

Brake cleaner is way too harsh. If it was all you has and you put a small amount on a Qtip and applied it on the direct contact a, no plastic or wires, it could work but, that would be an emergency use of brake cleaner.

Deoxit makes very good products and I have some as well. You might be surprised at just how well pharmacy grade 90% iso propanol works. (rite aid / target / walmart). I use it on everything. The hardware stuff for paint clean up is very different and leaves behind an oily residue.