Is Houehold Goop conductive or corrosive?

[chi_boy]

I've had a series of boxes that I recently put together have the LED fail before first use.  The boxes all had the LED glued in using Amazing Goop.





I noticed the problem with the first 2 after getting everything wired up and then the LED just wouldn't light.  New LED from the same bag and all is well.  Actually used the Goop on those two too.  I figured I soldered too close without a heatsink and caused it myself.

But now I found a box that has a dead LED that has never been soldered, but was gooped in place.  I tested with a resistor, clips and a battery just to be sure it was ok, but it wasn't.

There were two 5mm, and two 3mm LED's, so a bad batch doesn't explain it.  Would be hard to believe anyway.

I'm not sure now if it's something I did or not.  I was just curious if anyone else had had any similar experiences.

Thanks,
George

[R.G.]

Goop two the ends of two wires into a glob of goop, separated by about 2.5mm/0.1". Let it cure, then get out the multimeter.

I'm not familiar with that stuff, but if it smells of vinegar like some RTV preparations, it has - yep! acetic acid in it. And it will corrode some metals and possibly attract water (from humidity).

[chi_boy]

There's no vinegar smell.  It does have a mild solvent odor, but not too bad.  I use it in the house with no complaints from the wife.

I set up the test but will need to let it dry overnight.  I'll report back what I find.

[chi_boy]

After testing, there is nothing to indicate that Goop may be conductive.  The slightest film between the probes is enough to block the conductivity.  For now it's a mystery.  All of the other LED's in the batch are fine and the replacements are good too.  Maybe it was just dumb luck.

[PRR]

> if it smells of vinegar like some RTV

Nope. GOOP is the stuff they put shoes together with. HEAVY-duty rubber cement.

The original SHOE GOO product was sold for shoe repair. In fact if you had a hole in the bottom of your Keds, and slathered Goop over the hole, it would wear about as well as the original sole.

That stuff had a wicked solvent. (Glue-sniffing is a semi-problem in lands which make shoes; problem because it rots workers' livers, "semi" because the habit keeps the workers motivated.)

It is possible the 1980 GOO would attack some plastics, though I never observed a problem.

The several GOO/GOOPs sold now use a less-nasty and less effective solvent.

It still stinks like the little cake in a mens urinal.

But you can GOOP a concrete wall, throw a board on it, and screw pipes to the board. Great stick-um.