I would like to get any feedback or experience info on whether Deoxit
would help sufficiently to improve mechanical switch contact performance
used in very low (nV) level circuits. I posted this question in the
tekscopes group a while back, but with no response. I was surprised that
there was no info from such a wide-ranging group, but maybe here in
volt-nuts, with narrow focus, it will stand a better chance. Here is
approximately what I wrote, slightly edited, for consideration.
Then:
"One of my projects involves boxing up some special transformers and a
switching system, for isolating and dividing down AC signals by large
factors (E-3 to E-6), down as far as the 1 nV RMS region. A fair number
of switching elements are needed to route and select various transformer
output taps to send to the single output connection. There are two
transformers to cover two frequency bands 10 Hz-1 kHz, and 1 kHz-100
kHz, and each has four outputs for the decade dividing. The switching
elements need to have as low an on resistance (<< 1 ohm) as possible,
and function well at extremely low levels. Since this is an AC system,
I'm not worried about Seebeck effects, just the low level contacting
ability. The primary sides of the transformers are at more normal
levels, so the switches there are not critical.
I have all sorts of nice low level regular and Hg reed relays that would
do the job, but since the output side is to be isolated, to minimize
interference, it would be much better to do all the switching passively
with mechanical switches. This would avoid needing electricity, and the
proximity problems of having relay coils and capacitance in the low
level environment, and power supply and line noise and ground loops (no
power cord), or messing with battery power. Especially, there would be
no power transformer emissions to worry about.
I have lots of mechanical switches of all sorts. I'd like to go with a
rotary wafer type to select the transformer taps and frequency ranges. I
have mostly standard Ag plated type contact ones and some Au ones. I can
usually build a switch from pieces for almost any arrangement.
Another, but quite complicated option is to use low level reeds actuated
by a mechanically driven magnet, but doing that would be a big project
in itself, so scratch that, unless a simple way pops up. Another way is
to make heavy analog switches with big MOSFETs, but that's a lot of
parts, a battery, and issues with capacitance and crosstalk. So, good
old mechanical switching seems the best way to go - if only it can
actually be done.
The big question then, is how to get a regular, environmentally exposed
contact to be usable in the nV region. Wetting the contacts with Deoxit
is the only practical thing I can picture so far. There is another class
of contact "protectors" based on synthetic oils, but I think I need
chemical action too, so these may not work - I'll have to investigate
that too.
So anyway, does anyone have experience or knowledge of how Deoxit would
behave for very low level contacts? It may boil down to a "try it and
see" scenario, but it would be nice to have some info in advance."
Now:
I have opted for the "try it and see" scenario, and have built it up so
far using mechanical rotary wafer switches. The low-level section will
use all gold plated contacts, with Deoxit G100 applied. Also to be
included, is a "contact cleaning" mode, where some higher DC (couple
volts and mA) can be temporarily applied to all contacts from a built-in
Li cell circuit. Since I don't have enough of the right kinds of Au
plated contact wafer parts available, the higher level input (primary)
side will include some regular Ag plated contact switching too. These
will be chemically cleaned first, then have Deoxit D100 applied.
I have it mostly mechanically built, almost ready to begin wiring up and
experimenting. This will be ongoing for a while, and I would appreciate
if anyone here does have experience with such low level applications
with exposed mechanical contacts. I know we usually talk about DC here,
while this is an AC application, but the same principles apply.
Ed
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