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Warning: That cheap contact cleaner wrecked my panel
Honestly, I gotta disagree with everyone who swears by that generic CRC electrical contact cleaner for everything. Last month I used it on a DSC panel in an older house over in Glenwood Springs, and it totally gummed up the keypad ribbon connector. The panel started throwing random false alarms every night for a week before I figured it out. Had to go back, cut out the residue with isopropyl alcohol, and replace the whole keypad anyway. Cost me an extra $85 in parts and pissed off a client who was already on edge about a recent break-in. Tbh, I think the cheap stuff leaves a film that traps dust and moisture in low-voltage gear. Has anyone else had a similar issue with contact sprays causing more harm than good?
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gonzalez.phoenix1mo ago
Yeah that CRC in the green can left a sticky mess on a Vista 20P keypad connector for me too, had to scrub it with 91% iso and a toothbrush to get it working again. Stick to the CRC QD Contact Cleaner in the red can, it actually flashes off completely.
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robinmason1mo ago
Man that's brutal, "had to scrub it with 91% iso and a toothbrush" is exactly what I went through last month on a DSC panel. I figured the green can would be fine since it says "electronics cleaner" right on the front, but nope, left this weird gummy film all over the pins. Ended up having to pull the whole keypad off the wall and soak the connector in alcohol for a while before it finally cleaned up. Definitely learned my lesson the hard way, I only buy the red can stuff now too.
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tara3457d ago
Oh man, why does it ALWAYS have to be a DSC panel that teaches us the lesson the hard way? @robinmason, I feel your pain SO much. I swear, after I spent an hour picking that gummy green can residue off a keypad with a toothpick, I was ready to just throw the whole thing in the trash. My wife walked in and asked if I was doing arts and crafts or fixing the alarm. At least we all agree that the red can CRC is basically a miracle worker, even if my pride still hurts from that first disaster.
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