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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by Don Gibson DANGER. I use graphite with WALTHERS Passeger cars because graphite conducts electricity but. It can short out the insulating ring on conventional wheels. Conventional wheelsets need one insulated wheel. [/quote] Thanks for bringing up that point Don. I never had that problem, but then I try not over do it with any lube. If there's that much graphite getting on the wheels, it's on the rails too and it would cause the driving wheels on a loco to slip. I do think however a dusting of graphite couldn't carry more than a few milliamps. It would be like having resistor wheel sets. Is it enough to short out the interior lights? Update: I laid out a bit of graphite on a sheet of paper to measure the resistance and found resistance was infinity for a smuge of graphite with the test leads 1/16" apart. A resistance of 150,000 to 200,000 ohms was measured with a pile of graphite 1/32" high with the leads 1/16" apart. So, if there is enough graphite build up, it can cause a short of a sort.
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