@elementdude195 posted:Ya, momentarily it'll be bridged together when 2 rollers touch different blocks as it's arriving. We've found that it's okay for any engine to briefly move across the different blocks that are using different voltages. In our case we have a ZWL for the 2 main loops, and we use a separate transformer for the accessory power for the switch machines and relays, but they all share the same common wire.
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If the prospect of shorting different transformer outputs is a concern, you might look at the diode-dropping or rheostat method to create different track voltages. That is, these methods use a single transformer from which multiple voltages are derived. So when center-rail pickup rollers straddle adjacent blocks, there is no transformer shorting since there is only 1 transformer!
Of course many guys have multi-output transformers or multiple transformers so no problem coming up with multiple voltages. But if you don't have a spare transformer output to dedicate to the slowdown zone, the diode-dropping or rheostat method can also save some money and real-estate. This method is typically discussed in the context of downhill speed control (in conventional) where the downhill voltage is dropped a few Volts as a kind-of-sort-of speed control... such as this OGR thread.
From what I understand of the present application, I'd think maybe $5-10 in parts could do the trick.
This method should not "interfere" with whatever time-delay relay method(s) you use.
