Sols were prepared in the systems TMOS:H2O:Solvent:HCl with molar ratios of 1:4:Y:0.0005 with Y=3 for Solvent=MeOH, EtOH, DMF and Y=0.75 for Solvent=DMSO, The sols were cast into cuvettes and covered with parafilm during gelation and aging. The conductivity of the sols and gels inside the cuvette was determined by impedance spectroscopy, The conductivity of the gels was obtained in a special holder outside of the cuvette. Solvent exchange experiments were carried out three times with an excess of MeOH, EtOH, DMF and DMSO as exchange solvent. The conductivity of the exchange solvent was monitored in a conductivity cell and that of the exchanged sample in the holder. Evidence is presented that only a certain portion of the protons contribute to the conduction in the as-prepared samples of gel. The exchange experiments can be interpreted by the combination of two factors, namely a different proton concentration inside and outside of the gel at the end of exchange and an additional conduction process which does not involve protons,