PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-701

PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly

ISSUE 701

APRIL 2011
PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-701 - Page 25 of 33
46
PS 701
APR 11
Fighting Cable
Corrosion
T
housands of electrical cables are used on Army equipment, ranging from the most
basic radio systems to complex missile systems and aircraft. All of these cables can
be knocked out by corrosion in their connectors. And once the cables are gone, so is
the equipment they’re powering. That’s why you need to do everything possible to
fght cable corrosion.
Corrosion takes many different forms, depending on what the cable connector is
made of. Corrosion on
aluminum
can be white, gray or black and look like a paste
when wet or a hard flm or crumbly deposit when dry. On
steel
, corrosion is red,
brown or black and looks crusty. On
copper
, it’s green or blue and looks like paste
when wet. Pitting is also a form of corrosion.
The best way to combat cable corrosion is to apply corrosion preventive compounds
(CPCs) to both the inside and outside of connectors on a regular basis.
On the inside oF connectors,
spray a light coat of MIL-
PRF-81309 Type III CPC, NSN
8030-00-546-8637, on the pins
and plugs. Do this in a well-
ventilated area. That’s a light
coat! Don’t soak the connectors.
MIL-PRF-81309
Type
III
is
the only authorized CPC for
connector pins and plugs.
On
connector
shells
and
mounting plates, apply a light
flm oF MIL-DT±-85054S Type
II
CPC,
NSN
8030-00-938-
1947. Again, just a light coat.
This CPC is also good for lubing
moving parts like hinges.
Then, during your weekly
PMCS,
check
for
corrosion
on connector mating surfaces,
threads, shells and mounting
plates. Treat them again with
CPCs if necessary. Be sure to
remove the old CPC residue
before applying a new coat.
Other CPCs
MIL-DTL-85054S, NSN 8030-01-347-0979, is good for protecting non-moving
metal parts, such as skin seams, fastener heads where paint has cracked, access
panel edges, and areas with damaged paint.
Use MIL-L-23398 (solid flm lube), NSN 9150-01-260-2534, or MIL-PR±-81302
Type II, NSN 8030-00-938-1947, on sliding components like hinges, turnbuckles,
latches, and ²ap tracks. Solid flm lube is also good For protecting areas where paint
or protective fnish has worn oFF.
Corrosion POCs
if you have corrosion
questions, contact amcom’s
corrosion program office’s
robert herron at
dsn
7
46-84
7
0, (256) 8
7
6-
84
7
0, or email:
robert.a.herron@us.army.mil
or email:
steve.carr@
us.army.mil
Spray MIL-PRF-81309 on connector pins and plugs
On connector threads, and mounting
plates, spray MIL-DTF 85054S
this
mlrs
needs
me!
let me
at those
corroded
cables!!!
701.46-47.indd
1-2
3/1/11
11:49 AM
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