Cleaning Shore Power Cables
 

I have a set of grungy looking yellow 50 amp cables that I'd like to
clean up.

Does anyone know of a good cleaning product and/or technique short of
going out and buying new ones?

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
I have a set of grungy looking yellow 50 amp cables that I'd like to
clean up.

Does anyone know of a good cleaning product and/or technique short of
going out and buying new ones?

Acetone works pretty good.

Wayne.B wrote:
I have a set of grungy looking yellow 50 amp cables that I'd like to
clean up.

Does anyone know of a good cleaning product and/or technique short of
going out and buying new ones?

Try Oxi-Clean. We use it on a lot of stuff around the boat and had no
trouble with any kind of plastic. Don't get it on varnish or natural
wood, though.

Fair Skies
Doug King

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
I have a set of grungy looking yellow 50 amp cables that I'd like to
clean up.

Does anyone know of a good cleaning product and/or technique short of
going out and buying new ones?

I wonder if soaking them overnight
in a bucket of any of the solutions
already mentioned might help loosen
up the grunge so you have less work.

I realize it might need to be a big bucket -
or a couple of them...

"Gary Warner" wrote in message
...

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
I have a set of grungy looking yellow 50 amp cables that I'd like to
clean up.

Does anyone know of a good cleaning product and/or technique short of
going out and buying new ones?

I wonder if soaking them overnight
in a bucket of any of the solutions
already mentioned might help loosen
up the grunge so you have less work.

I realize it might need to be a big bucket -
or a couple of them...



You could not do it with the acetone. Acetone causes the surface to become
sticky when just rubbing it on lightly with a rag. Soaking the cable in
acetone might cause some serious damage to the insulation.

"JimH" writes:

Acetone works pretty good.

It is self defeating to use acetone since it also removes the plasticizer
and with in a very short time, you have an even bigger mess on your hands.

Never found a solution I liked, just learned to live with it.

Lew

I have used 3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover on paper towels, but it
takes a fair amount of work. It did last for a year or two before needing it
again.

Tsailor

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
I have a set of grungy looking yellow 50 amp cables that I'd like to
clean up.

Does anyone know of a good cleaning product and/or technique short of
going out and buying new ones?

Subject: Cleaning Shore Power Cables
From: Wayne.B

I have a set of grungy looking yellow 50 amp cables that I'd like to
clean up.

Does anyone know of a good cleaning product and/or technique short of
going out and buying new ones?


Acetone will work, just use 303 afterwards so the cord doesn't get sticky. The
cord cleaners you find in marine stores work. But again follow with 303.
And citrus based hand cleaner with grit in it used with a scuffy pad works
well also. Follow with 303.

Capt. Bill

A friend of mine uses carburetor cleaning fluid and it really works without
making the cord sticky!

"Listen to the live broadcast of 'Nautical Talk Radio' with Captain Lou every
Sunday afternoon from 4 - 5 (Eastern Standard Time) on the web at
www.959watd.com or if you are in Boston or Cape Cod set your radio dial to
95.9FM.

Starbrite sells a product specifically for cleaning shorepower
cables. It is called "Power Cable Cleaner/Protector". I have
no idea if it works. Keeping shorepower cables clean is
not at the top of my list :)

Doug
s/v Callista

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
I have a set of grungy looking yellow 50 amp cables that I'd like to
clean up.

Does anyone know of a good cleaning product and/or technique short of
going out and buying new ones?

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
I have a set of grungy looking yellow 50 amp cables that I'd like to
clean up.

Does anyone know of a good cleaning product and/or technique short of
going out and buying new ones?

You need something that works fast on grease, but won't mess with the
plastic. Put on some gloves and use a very concentrated solution of Dawn
dish liquid applied with the rough side of a two-sided dish sponge. Whatever
doesn't come off with that doesn't matter unless you're anal about seeing
perfect yellow.

After the cord dries, apply a light coating of ArmorAll or Son of a Gun to
help maintain flexibility.

Its not great. Made the mistake of wasting money on it once.

--
--
Karl Denninger ) Internet Consultant & Kids Rights Activist
http://www.denninger.net My home on the net - links to everything I do!
http://scubaforum.org Your UNCENSORED place to talk about DIVING!
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http://genesis3.blogspot.com Musings Of A Sentient Mind

In article ,
Doug Dotson wrote:


Starbrite sells a product specifically for cleaning shorepower
cables. It is called "Power Cable Cleaner/Protector". I have
no idea if it works. Keeping shorepower cables clean is
not at the top of my list :)

Doug
s/v Callista

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
.. .
I have a set of grungy looking yellow 50 amp cables that I'd like to
clean up.

Does anyone know of a good cleaning product and/or technique short of
going out and buying new ones?

In article ,
Doug Dotson wrote:

Starbrite sells a product specifically for cleaning shorepower
cables. It is called "Power Cable Cleaner/Protector". I have
no idea if it works. Keeping shorepower cables clean is
not at the top of my list :)

Doug
s/v Callista
==================================================
On Sun, 14 Nov 2004 16:39:50 GMT, (Karl
Denninger) wrote:

Its not great. Made the mistake of wasting money on it once.

==================================================

I agree. I was having better luck with Simple Green and a 3M scrubbing
pad. I've been reluctant to try anything more agressive out of
concern for ending up with sticky cables. Once that happens, the
rubber breaks down and sheds on to everything.

Glad I never tried anything to clean them. Just not worth it to
impress the neighbors.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Doug Dotson wrote:

Starbrite sells a product specifically for cleaning shorepower
cables. It is called "Power Cable Cleaner/Protector". I have
no idea if it works. Keeping shorepower cables clean is
not at the top of my list :)

Doug
s/v Callista
==================================================
On Sun, 14 Nov 2004 16:39:50 GMT, (Karl
Denninger) wrote:

Its not great. Made the mistake of wasting money on it once.

==================================================

I agree. I was having better luck with Simple Green and a 3M scrubbing
pad. I've been reluctant to try anything more agressive out of
concern for ending up with sticky cables. Once that happens, the
rubber breaks down and sheds on to everything.

On Sun, 14 Nov 2004 17:07:22 -0500, "Doug Dotson"
wrote:

Glad I never tried anything to clean them. Just not worth it to
impress the neighbors.

=====================================

It was more a matter of trying not to depress them. :-)

Also the contrast of my nice new dock with grungy cables was a
fearsome sight.

I don't know how long it will last, but the Starbrite cleaner removed the
sticky film from the cable that had been getting on the deck. Didn't take
too long --my cable is only 25 ft.
It was either clean the cable or the deck, or get a new cable.

On Sun, 14 Nov 2004 22:03:55 -0500, "Garland Gray II"
wrote:
I don't know how long it will last, but the Starbrite cleaner removed the
sticky film from the cable that had been getting on the deck. Didn't take
too long --my cable is only 25 ft.
It was either clean the cable or the deck, or get a new cable.

===================================

Interesting, I'll have to try it on an old fender that has gotten to
the sticky film stage. With fenders I usually just toss them out and
buy new but these 50 amp shore power cables are 50 feet each and have
the look of big replacement $$$s about them.

I think a 50' 50A cable is just under $600. OUCH!

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 14 Nov 2004 22:03:55 -0500, "Garland Gray II"
wrote:
I don't know how long it will last, but the Starbrite cleaner removed the
sticky film from the cable that had been getting on the deck. Didn't take
too long --my cable is only 25 ft.
It was either clean the cable or the deck, or get a new cable.

===================================

Interesting, I'll have to try it on an old fender that has gotten to
the sticky film stage. With fenders I usually just toss them out and
buy new but these 50 amp shore power cables are 50 feet each and have
the look of big replacement $$$s about them.

On Sun, 14 Nov 2004 23:14:09 -0500, "Doug Dotson"
wrote:

I think a 50' 50A cable is just under $600. OUCH!

========================================

I haven't priced them but wouldn't be surprised. Each one is about an
inch in diameter.

Starbrite actually makes a pretty effective shore power cable cleaner. Use
it with Scotchbrite pads, and it'll work better than most anything I've
found. You can also try Simple Green with Barkeeper's Friend scrubbing
powder. Don't use any solvents, or you will certainly ruin them.

--


Keith
__
No husband has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
I have a set of grungy looking yellow 50 amp cables that I'd like to
clean up.

Does anyone know of a good cleaning product and/or technique short of
going out and buying new ones?

"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
I think a 50' 50A cable is just under $600. OUCH!

OUCH is right! Mine is 25 ft/30 A.

17 years in the boat buisness says "easy off oven cleaner".
you will probably lose the cables gloss however if your not careful,
but glossy cables are only important to dock sailors anyway.

Subject: Cleaning Shore Power Cables
From: "Doug Dotson"

Glad I never tried anything to clean them. Just not worth it to
impress the neighbors.

I don't care about my neighbors, but I do care about my hands and anything
around the cords after you stow them.

Capt. Bill

Subject: Cleaning Shore Power Cables
From: Wayne.B

I think a 50' 50A cable is just under $600. OUCH!

========================================

I haven't priced them but wouldn't be surprised. Each one is about an
inch in diameter.

Check the marine salvage places. I just picked up a brand new 50 amp 4 wire
white one 70' long with one plug on it for $235.

Capt. Bill

soak them overnight in a bleach solution. Mine get a little mildew on them
once in a while and that cleans them well.

On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 00:07:13 GMT, "Phil" wrote:

soak them overnight in a bleach solution.

===================================

Good suggestion but I'd need 50 gallon barrels for that. These are
BIG cables, otherwise I'd just replace them.

Get some hand cleaner from an automotive parts supply place. It's typically
a gel that dissolves grease. Apply it to a dry cable and work it into the
grime. The resulting residue is water soluable, so just rinse it off.

Some of the brands I've seen are GO-JO and Fast Orange. These cleaners may
or may not have an abrasive grit mixed into them. I don't find the grit
necessary, but others must. It's not a bad thing to have around a boat
anyway.

Bob


"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
I have a set of grungy looking yellow 50 amp cables that I'd like to
clean up.

Does anyone know of a good cleaning product and/or technique short of
going out and buying new ones?