[RE-wrenches] Quick Cote troubles

Tue Feb 22 17:28:43 PST 2011

We have used several products over the years and Vaseline has worked as well
as any other product. Probably slightly less toxic than other options though
not by much. I have seen it affected by a 'hot ' battery bank and seen it
run to a thinner coating. 

Normally a bank should not get this hot but with the old relay style charge
controllers stuff used to happen.

Dana Orzel

Great Solar works, Inc.

E - dana at solarwork.com

V - 970.626.5253

F - 970.626.414

C - 970.209.4076

"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Dave Palumbo
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 6:16 PM
To: 'RE-wrenches'
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Quick Cote troubles

Years ago on this list we had a good discussion on the subject of battery
terminal protection. The favorite at that time (by a geographically diverse
group of installers) was to use a light coating of petroleum jelly (Vaseline
or generic versions). We continue to use it after 25 years of good results.
We use an old toothbrush to apply it.

I did try Quick Cote about 12 years ago and was not impressed. 

David Palumbo

Independent Power LLC 

462 Solar Way Drive

Hyde Park, VT 05655

www.independentpowerllc.com 

NABCEP Certified PV Installer

Vermont Solar Partner

23 Years Experience, (802) 888-7194 

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Roy Butler
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 7:29 PM
To: Allan at positiveenergysolar.com; RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Quick Cote troubles

Allan,

I used Quick Cote for years until my local supplier had problems getting it
in a timely manner.
I never had a problem with it but then again, I never put it on the lug/
terminal mating surfaces
prior to making the connections. Then I carefully coated the terminals,
making sure to not
miss any spots.

I've had several opportunities to have a look at the mating surfaces years
later and never found
any corrosion. I would imagine that grit would indeed create a connection
problem. But you say
you've never seen this yourself?

I wonder if the formulation has been changed recently?

Roy Butler
NABCEP Certified Solar PV InstallerR
NYSERDA eligible PV & wind installer
PA Sunshine Program Approved PV Installer
Four Winds Renewable Energy, LLC
8902 Route 46
Arkport, NY 14807
607-324-9747

www.four-winds-energy.com

Although no trees were killed in the sending of this message, 
a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

On 2/22/2011 7:12 PM, Allan Sindelar wrote: 

Wrenches,
Russ in our Taos office sent me the following query. I haven't seen this
problem before and told him so, but others among you may know more. 

What problems if any have you had with Quick-Cote battery terminal coating?
What else works really well and lasts the life of the batteries?

>From Russ:
We just had a situation involving Quick Cote on battery terminals that has
made us question its use for coating battery terminals and cable lugs.  We
just installed a bank of HUPs on Monday using Quick Cote.  First we lost
power with just the Trimetric and MX60 powered up -- using an ohmmeter I
found the problem to be a single jumper -- I got 7 megohms across two
battery terminals connected by a jumper -- so I replaced the jumper and got
the Trimet and MX60 powered up again.  Then, when I powered up the OutBack
inverters, there were sparks on the battery terminals, and the power cut out
again.  At that point I guessed that the problem must lie with the Quick
Cote, since ours has tiny crystals in it (it feels gritty), and I thought
those crystals must be holding the cable lugs off the battery terminals a
tiny bit.  Sure enough, Mark and I took the cables off, wiped off the Quick
Cote from the contact surfaces and applied vaseline, and when we powered up
the system, no sparks.  (So, the jumper I removed probably wasn't to blame
for the first loss of power.)

Our container of Quick Cote stayed on the truck (which stays parked outside)
during the seriously cold weather we got this winter, so it probably froze.
I'm guessing that's when the crystals formed.  Nowhere on the Quick Cote
label does it say to keep it from freezing though.

We're going to go back out to another job to wipe off the Quick Cote from
the contact surfaces of the battery terminals and cable lugs, since we just
installed four new batteries there and used Quick Cote, and I remember it
being gritty at that time as well.

Is your Quick Cote gritty?

Russ

I told Russ that it always has been gritty. When it's dried out in the can
(they often leak), I have added an oil-based carrier to thin it - usually
WD40, as it's on the truck - and it's always mixed easily. So it's
definitely solvent-based and shouldn't be affected by freezing.

I haven't had this problem before. I have found terminal bolts too loose and
that has caused failures, but never the coating.

Thank you,
Allan

Allan Sindelar
 <mailto:Allan at positiveenergysolar.com> Allan at positiveenergysolar.com
NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer
EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Positive Energy, Inc.
3201 Calle Marie
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
505 424-1112
www.positiveenergysolar.com <http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/> 

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