What is the difference between single and double insulated wheels? Is it as deceptively simple as it sounds? I need the wheels where only one wheel per axle is insulated. (single insulated)?
You have it right - single insulated means only one wheel on the axle is insulated, so you can pick up current with the other.
Okay I am game. Why would you need insulated wheels? MY guess is something to do with DCC. If thats right and theres a readers digest answer to tell me why I am curious. If its a long answer don't bother unless you would just like to explain. Thanx Greg
Mopartex, You need insulated wheels for DC to prevent shorting between the rails, because one rail is - and the other rail is + , see? For DCC you need insulated wheels for the same reason. You only need one wheel insulated from the axle when you need to pick up current to operate passenger car lighting. The noninsulated wheel's axle sometimes has a contact wiper to collect the current, rather than have a wiper on the wheel. When plastic trucks came out, there was one passenger car I got that had wipers that contacted the inside of both wheels on one axle (both wheels insulated) to make the lights inside. It had siloutets of passengers in the windows, but with only one pair of wheels carrying the circuit, the lights flickered. It was easy to add wipers on other wheels, solving the problem, but it acted like putting the brakes on! The plastic trucks were also made rigid, so unlike the (good) metal trucks, you nolonger had working springs, and the trucks would nolonger flex, allowing them to travel over uneven track. Really bad poor quality, but cheap. You can't have lights with plastic wheels either. That's why. See?
Well, I need single insulated wheels for lighting of IHC passenger cars. No DCC for me, I'm no electrical engineer with loads of cash to spend. "I don't have the time, I don't have the energy"-Lewis Black. I am just an operator, watching the train merely run its laps is very enjoyable and relaxing for me. Model railroading IS fun! IHC cars come with 33" plastic wheels, Southern P.S. cars had 36" wheels. I was referred to Reboxx as they make wheels of correct axle length for the IHC trucks. Kadee and others are too long and do not turn freely. I have this problem on my Kadee wheeled McKinley Explorer cars.
Okey dokey gents thanx for the explanations. DOn't have any lighted cars myself,guess thats why I have never had no experience with this. Yet this is what this board is for learning more and more...and more lol Thanx again
