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My (newish) 30-min dial timer for my bathroom lights keeps sticking. I've been told that some silicone based lubricant should be safe to spray into the mechanism. Am I going to burn down my house? (self.homeimprovement)

submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by MrMusAddict to c/homeimprovement

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To clarify; I have not yet sprayed anything into the dial mechanism.

This used to be a light switch, but my son kept leaving it on. So I swapped it out for one of these dials about 2 years ago. Now it seems to be getting stuck around the 10-min mark and being left on all day.

I'd prefer not to replace this dial again; the house is old and the wiring in that receptacle was already pretty hard to work with. But I mean I'm not going to burn my house down in an effort to save myself 10 minutes and $10.

Is it safe to use a silicone based spray on it?

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[–] Kraven_the_Hunter 10 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I've never done this so take what I say with a grain of salt. If you are going to try silicone spray, I would cut power to the switch first. Those cans have flammable propellants in then.

Once sprayed on it should be fine though, and since it's indoor the silicone won't gunk up much, though I personally prefer to use a dry lubricant to prevent dirt/dust from building up. The same company makes a dry lube can.

[–] lemmyman 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Some dry lubes (graphite) are electrically conductive. So are some wet ones for that matter. Something to watch out for.

[–] Kraven_the_Hunter 1 points 11 months ago

Yeah, don't use graphite. That Blaster brand ha6d a spray on dry lube that would work fine though.

[–] CM400 8 points 11 months ago

I would not use silicone spray, personally. It might be perfectly fine, but I’ve never had it recommended to me for that purpose.

What I have been told to use, and have used regularly for a few years is CRC contact cleaner. You can find it online or in stores like harbor freight or just about any hardware store. It’s supposed to clean and lubricate electrical contacts, and works really well.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Contact cleaner was my first thought too, I’ve used it successfully to unstick potentiometers like volume knobs.

In this case, depending on the source of the failure, neither that nor the silicone spray might be sufficient. There’s probably a spring in there which could be stuck or partially rusted from moisture (in which case a selective dose of WD-40 would help, followed by some form of lubrication). I’d try to take the cover off and take look at the mechanism first.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

Silicone is non-conductive and will work fine. Another name for it is dielectric grease which is literally used to insulate electrical terminals from water and debris.

Your dial is probably sticking from the humidity in the bathroom while the shower is going. Keep the bathroom fan running when the shower is going to prevent humidity buildup.

[–] FitzNuggly 2 points 11 months ago

Whatever you try, contact cleaner or silicone spray turn off power first.

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