"But I'm curious about the dielectric grease idea—wouldn't that attract dust or dirt over time?"
Yeah, I had the same thought initially, but I gave dielectric grease a shot on some outdoor lighting connections about two years ago. Here's what I've noticed:
- Surprisingly, it hasn't turned into a dirt magnet like I expected. There's a thin layer of grime, sure, but nothing major or problematic.
- The grease seems to form a decent barrier against moisture and corrosion—no rust or flaky contacts yet.
- One tip though: don't go crazy with it. A thin coat does the job without making a sticky mess.
- If you're worried about dust buildup, maybe try sealing the connection afterward with heat shrink tubing or electrical tape for extra protection.
Honestly, silicone worked fine for me too, but dielectric grease has been a solid alternative. Plus, it's easy to reapply if needed down the line. Either way, beats dealing with moisture-induced lockouts and drama... been there, done that, not fun.
I've had similar experiences with dielectric grease. Used it on my outdoor gate keypad after getting locked out in the rain one too many times. Like you said, a thin coat is key—too much and it gets messy fast.
"maybe try sealing the connection afterward with heat shrink tubing or electrical tape for extra protection."
Good call on the heat shrink tubing, hadn't thought of that. Has anyone tried using dielectric grease on garage door openers or remote entry pads? Curious if it holds up as well there...
I've used dielectric grease on my garage keypad for about two years now, and it's held up surprisingly well. The trick is definitely moderation—too much and you'll attract dust and grime, making things worse. Personally, I'd skip electrical tape outdoors; it tends to peel and get gummy over time. Heat shrink tubing is a better bet if you can manage it neatly. Also, consider a small silicone gasket or weatherproof cover if your keypad doesn't already have one... extra protection never hurts.
Totally agree on moderation with dielectric grease—learned that the hard way after turning my keypad into a dust magnet, lol. Silicone gasket sounds smart, but honestly, I've had decent luck just rigging up a little DIY plastic cover...cheap and cheerful fix that's lasted through some nasty weather.
Good call on the DIY plastic cover—sometimes simple solutions just work best. I've done something similar with scrap acrylic sheets from another project, and it's held up surprisingly well through heavy rain and snow. Plus, repurposing materials is always a win for sustainability.
