How to clean electrical connections and contacts

Summary: Do you have a dirty electrical connection causing bad contact and the unit not working? Read how to properly clean them. This works for any electrical connection whether it be an electrical component, circuit card or auto.

If you have a component or electrical item that is not working properly, then sometimes the answer may be that you have a dirty connection.

First off let's explain what a "dirty connection" is exactly. A dirty connection is when two or more electrical wires or contacts are not making the proper connection, making it impossible for electricity to flow across them.

Electricity requires a good solid connections for current to flow, so if you suspect you have a dirty connection, read on to find out how to clean it. The cleaning process is fairly easy. Let me list the two most popular options for cleaning:

Cleaning connector

Option 1- Go to an auto part or electronics store and look for a good contact cleaner aerosol. Do not get this confused with brake contact cleaner, as it is not the same and will probably damage your electronics. Directions: Always wear protective gloves and goggles when spraying chemical solutions. Disconnect the electrical connection and spray a moderate amount of cleaner directly onto the metal pins, bare wires, or into the connector itself. Spray enough onto the connection that you can no longer see any dirt in the solution that drips away. Some times you can use an acid brush to brush away the dirt while spraying. Always allow sufficient time for the cleaner to evaporate completely before hooking back up the connector. This usually only takes about 10 to 15 minutes of air dry time.

Option 2- Get a small to medium size liquid spray bottle and fill it with some isopropyl alcohol. Do not mix water into the solution, as water tends to rust most metals. Use the directions from option 1 here as well, but with alcohol, it may take just a little bit longer to evaporate off the contacts.

Once you are done cleaning the connection, re-connect it and try it out to see if that fixed your problem. If it did not fix the problem and you can clearly see that the pins are dirty looking, then the contacts may be burnt or corroded. This usually indicates that you have a bigger problem with electrical shorting or perhaps water is leaking into the connector. Either way, first you need to find the problem, fix it, and then you will need to replace the pins or contacts. This should bring you back to operation.

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