Date: Thu, 05 Feb 1998 10:21:52 -0800
From: Matthew Park <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [TN] (Fwd) Gold Plated Edge Connectors -Reply
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John,

I presume Circuit Graphics typically uses 1um hard gold
(99.5% pure Au) over 5um nickel for board edge connectors.
Hard gold provides excellent wear and corrosion resistance.   It
provides ten to hundred thousands of cycles for rotary and relay
switches as such.  Hardness is twice better than soft gold (99.9
pure Au).   The guy working in the sawmill don't need to worry
about wearing out boards.  Likely boards might fail before
wearing out board edge connectors.  Taking out boards and
cleaning gold connectors is redundant preventive
maintenance once a year.

It is more important to remove dust accumulation on electronic
boards on a regular basis as dust tends to collect moisture and
causes electrical shorts.

regards
Matthew Park
NII Norsat International Inc.

>>> John Parsons <[log in to unmask]> February 5,
1998  12:48 am >>>
Good Morning,

The following query was received this morning.  While I can
provide some real life experiences for
this gentleman, I thought that this group could provide some
more concrete information.

Thanks

John Parsons
Circuit Graphics Ltd.

Hi!
 I am curious about corrosion and gold plated connectors.
 I work in a sawmill - dusty enviroment.
 There are PM's which call for unplugging boards and cleaning
 these connectors, once a year.

 My experience is Gold doesn't corrode.
 Leave the boards for a longer time. Unplugging these boards,
 in my opinion, would create more of a problem then cleaning
 would prevent. (unplugging/plugging - starts to scrape off
 the Gold plating.

 What do you suggest.
   Steve Redly,
    Weyerhaeuser, Lumby.

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