Extend the Life of Your Equipment

    The best way to keep your timing system running efficiently is to keep up with the routine maintenance prescribed in the user’s manuals. Keeping your CTS products in working order is simple: if you routinely perform these simple maintenance procedures, you should greatly extend the life of your equipment.

    Banana Plugs

    Banana Plug_5 Pack

    The best and easiest way to keep your banana plugs free of corrosion is to rinse them in fresh water after every use. If corrosion does begin to appear on the plugs, cleaning them with a toothbrush dipped in rubbing alcohol should be enough to remove any light corrosion. By following these simple steps, you should be able to keep your banana plugs free of any severe corrosion that would require harsher chemicals.

    Cable Connectors

    cable harness for on-deck swim timing system components

    Like the banana plugs, the easiest way to keep the deck plates and cable harnesses free of corrosion is to rinse them with fresh water. It is recommended that the deck plates and cable harnesses be rinsed with fresh water after every use.

    Deckplates

    Deck_plate-1

    Along with rinsing with fresh water, the connectors on deck plates or cable harnesses that the banana plugs are inserted into will occasionally need to be cleaned more thoroughly by using a combination of rubbing alcohol, soft pipe cleaners, and silicone grease. First, pour a few drops of rubbing alcohol into the connector and let it sit for several minutes to dissolve any corrosion. Then insert a folded pipe cleaner into the connector and use a plunging motion to clean the connection. Do not use anything abrasive that could scratch the connectors. The next step is to rinse the connector with a damp pipe cleaner and then to dry it with a dry pipe cleaner—make sure that no fibers are left in the connector. Finally, apply a small amount of silicone grease to a clean pipe cleaner and insert it into the connector.

    Data Connectors

    wallplate2

    Cleaning the data connectors on the back of the System 6 and in the wall plates uses a similar process as that for cleaning cable connectors. Apply two or three drops of rubbing alcohol onto a cleaning swab (these are different from a regular cotton swab, which you should never use), insert it into the connector, and pull it straight out. Move the swab to the next section of the connector and repeat. It is important that you do not move the swab horizontally across the connector as it could end up damaging the connector. Rinse the connector with a damp cotton swab, and then dry it with a dry swab using the same motion. Under no circumstances should you use abrasive cleaners such as steel wool or corrosive chemicals such as Lime-A-Way® to clean these connectors since they will damage the connection.

    To ensure proper care and maintenance of your CTS equipment please reference your user manual.