 | Home > Technical > Ctek - plug 12S and ACF50 problem |
 
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816   
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With the SVX being used sparingly, this morning plugged my Ctek mxs-5 charger via Martin's adapter into the 12S plug to top up the battery. Standard procedure for many years now and never had a problem. This morning however I had at the same time a volt meter plugged into the aux power socket in the rear, so could see how the charger performed. Normally it charges for a while at a steady 14.3V and then tapers off until all yellow lights plus the green light on the Ctek indicate that battery is full. This time however the charging voltage erratically moved from 9 to about 12.5V, and within minutes the yellow charging lights would light up from 2 to 3,4,5, but then the green light would not come on but all yellow would go off and the red light would come on indicating a problem.
Tried this several times, and each time same story. The red light does not say what the problem is of course, so seemed three possibilities. 1. something went wrong withe the 12S plug or its wiring, 2. something wrong inside Martin's adapter, or 3. something wrong with the Ctek itself. To eliminate these possibilities first put my other Ctek charger (smaller 0.8Ah version for the garden tractor) onto Martin's adapter, and while that one is know to work on the Defender it now immedicately started to buzz and showing the red light. So my mxs-5 was not faulty, as both chargers were showing a fault. I have a spare adapter from Martin just in case, so digged that one out of storage and connected it. Same erratic voltage and then red light coming on within minutes. So nothing wrong with Martin's adapter either as it is unlikely both could be faulty. Could not believe that something went astray with the 12S wiring itself, but suddenly thought of another thing. For many years I always have used WD-40 to spray into both 12S and 12N plugs to keep them lubricated and keep water out. I once have read on here that some also use ACF50 for that same purpose, and not so long ago I just had tried that, spraying ACF50 instead of WD-40 into both plugs to keep them lubricated. Now WD-40 is not really a greasy lubricant, it is more a moisture dispeller, while ACF50 is more of a greasy lubricant to keep rust at bay. Wondering if the recently used ACF50 inside the plug and all over the contacts could be the problem I took my WD-40 spray and generously sprayed it into the 12S plug to hopefully wash away the ACF50. Afterward replugged the Ctek with Martin's adapter, and bingo, all back to normal. Charging steadily at 14.3V, no erratic voltage anymore, with the yellow lights and ultimately after several hours also the green light coming on. Lesson learned, greasy ACF50 seems not the right product for lubricating these electric plugs, possibly even causing some bridging between the 7 contacts or even a short. I'm reverting back to WD-40 only for the purpose of keeping the 12S and 12N plugs in good condition. Eric You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation. http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I https://vimeo.com/201482507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw |
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9th Feb 2018 3:32pm |
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| rallysteve Member Since: 10 Feb 2014 Location: Cumbria Posts: 2201  
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Would advise the use of contralube on electrical connectors.
Steve 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread 84' 90 3.9 V8 Caged Pickup Build Thread - Now For Sale |
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9th Feb 2018 3:42pm |
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816
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Steve, quickly googled that. Guess you mean Contralube 770. Not really available here in Switzerland I believe. Surely seems the right product for maintenance of electric contacts, but I must say that my use of WD-40 every month or so for the last 8 years has resulted in both my 12N and 12S plug interiors staying like brand new too. So guess will continue to do that, but ACF50 never again.
Eric You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation. http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I https://vimeo.com/201482507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw |
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9th Feb 2018 3:52pm |
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| Balvaig Member Since: 19 Feb 2016 Location: Fife Posts: 721  
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Interesting finding. Shouldn't happen according to the lab test on ACF50.
• Effect on electric connectors No significant change in capacitance, dissipation factor and conductance of coil forms and capacitors in the Q and amount of capacitance to resonate the coil. No significant change in the resistance of resistors. A change greater than 1⁄2 the allowed tolerance of the component shall be considered as significant No significant increase in resistance between connected pins or decrease in resistance between adjacent pins Full report:https://www.corrosionblock.com/userfiles/Product%20Lab%20Performance.pdf Clearly some problem occurring though. Glad a clean out with WD40 sorted it. |
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9th Feb 2018 4:12pm |
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| UtilityTruck Member Since: 09 Jan 2014 Location: Oxford Posts: 463
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ACF50 is brilliant stuff, but it definitely degrades natural rubber items it comes into contact with. I heard this from someone else and have confirmed it myself- it caused the boots on my wiper arms to perish- strangely I can find no mention of this in the acf50 literature.. 2014 Keswick Utility 2.2
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9th Feb 2018 4:21pm |
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| VeeTee Member Since: 06 Mar 2011 Location: Somewhere Posts: 1512 
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I always - for 10 years now - use acid-free vaseline in copious amounts in the connectors at the exterior of the vehicle, i.e. the 12n/12S plugs, the 230V connector at the back, and the winch connector on the front bumper. Never had any issues with corroded contacts or bad electrical connections. Note that my Defender lives outside 24/7 on the street in all (bad) weather conditions...
The use of acid-free vaseline was recommended by my - very highly valued - garage. Cheers, Vincent 1959 Polynorm 1/4 Ton Trailer, Olive Drab Green (sold) 1970 M416 Military Trailer (Camping Trailer Conversion), Epsom Green (sold) 1975 Series III 88 V6, Light Green (sadly sold) 1996 Defender 110 CSW 300 Tdi, Epsom Green (sold) 2000 Freelander 1 TD4 3-drs, Silver (sold) 2006 Freelander 1 TD4 5-drs Facelift Automatic, Tonga Green (sold) MySite |
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9th Feb 2018 8:32pm |
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