TIPS
Insulating lighting
resistors
A recent article on installing
DCC in a locomotive said you
will need to insulate light-
ing resistors in the shell. My
method not only accomplishes
that, but affixes them to the
shell itself. I use a Permatex
Blue RTV Silicone, used for
making automotive gaskets.
“RTV” means “room tempera-
ture vulcanizing,” which means
the product cures without additional heat or special treat-
ment. Being a gasket product it is made to withstand high
heat for a long period of time.
I have used this method for going on 25 years without expe-
riencing an overheating issue and have used the product to
install circuit boards on the inside of shells or to the chas-
sis. I have had as many as four resistors in one hood sec-
tion without heat issues. Blue RTV is also great for securing
and insulating metal or brass light tubes and securing can
4: Permatex Blue RTV
Silicone, a gasket prod-
uct made to withstand
high heat for a long
period of time, can be
used to install and insu-
late lighting resistors in
locomotives.
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