geoff s Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 Anybody got any tips for cleaning contacts on lithium batteries ? Something a bit better than scraping them with a small screwdriver ? thanks Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Clemson Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 I have no expertise in this, but I noticed that James May in 'The Reassembler' used a fibreglass pencil to clean the copper contacts on the armature of the electric motor of his model Flying Scotsman'. Maplin and Hobbycraft sell them. Maplin has a warning not to let the fibreglass dust get on your fingers, so it may be worth researching further to see if there is any implication of risk for sensitive equipment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecadet Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 I've never had to, but I have some emery sponge pads. I'd snip a bit off one of those. Failing that one of OH's emery boards for nail filing. No need to buy anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin P Wilson Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 An eraser, especially harder one one intended for ink rather than pencil, used to be recommended for cleaning electrical contacts. Be careful to clean off the debris but is probably less damaging than fibreglass or especially emery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CM photo Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 An eraser, especially one intended for ink rather than pencil, used to be recommended for cleaning electrical contacts. Be careful to clean off the debris but is probably less damaging than fibreglass or especially emery. This works for me, too; even the rubber on the end of a pencil will often do the trick. I always keep one in my camera bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecadet Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 Sony is rather good at hiding its battery contacts. They seem to be self-wiping though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeeCee Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 Alcohol works for me. Good on battery contacts too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nacke Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 Since the dawn of time, before DSLR's..... a clean pencil eraser and some compressed air is what I used.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff s Posted January 21, 2017 Author Share Posted January 21, 2017 an eraser it is then thanks one and all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Buzzard Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 Get some automotive electrical contact cleaner and stray it on the end of a Q-tip, then wipe the contacts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted February 1, 2017 Share Posted February 1, 2017 Extending this to include lens contacts, where debris has to be avoided, and plastic parts may be soluble in strong cleaning solution, what has been found to be effective. I currently use dry cotton buds, they do work, but I would like to find a better solution. Maybe some solvent that won't attack plastic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_Buzzard Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 See if you can find some (film) negative cleaner. Just dip the Q-tip in that and clean the camera contacts with that. I do it about once a month, and the Q-tips ends up almost black. You can also use those little sealed packets you get for cleaning eye glasses. I always carry a bunch of those in my camera back for cleaning cameras in the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Bell Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Thanks for all the suggestions. Strange thing is that I have NEVER had to clean battery or camera/lens contacts. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecadet Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I wonder if a lot of the time it's just the jiggling around rather than actually removing oxidation that does the job. Or perhaps batteries just appreciate the attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 Thanks for all the suggestions. Strange thing is that I have NEVER had to clean battery or camera/lens contacts. Allan Welcome to the world of the Sony CSC Allan. I never had to with my Canon gear, but, with my admittedly hard pressed and much abused NEX, I find that the lens contacts need the occasional scrub. The auto focus lenses just cease to work, you fear the worst, but, to date, cleaning the contacts has provided a cure. In fairness I use mainly prime lenses so am continually changing glass, which can't help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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