@Oman posted:Do you disagree with the following? I copied this from http://www.trainfacts.com/trainfacts/?p=298
The power source is a special “wallwart” AC transformer with a 3-pin molded AC power plug. Unlike most wallwarts, the Lionel unit connects one leg of the low-voltage AC outlet to the “U-ground” safety grounding pin on the AC plug. THIS CONNECTION IS NECESSARY FOR THE TMCC SIGNAL TO PROPOGATE PROPERLY!! This link from the Base to the house wiring is an essential part of the antenna system for TMCC.
This is absolutely correct. The TMCC base is a radio transmitter. It broadcasts a 455 kilohertz radio signal using two halves of an antenna. The outside rail is one half (transmitted by the wire attached to the lug on the command base) and the ground wire in a 3-wire house electrical system is the other half (transmitted by the U-ground pin on the command base power plug).
Your post above mine said, "Common is a good term for our AC powered track. It's not connected to earth ground, unless you install TMCC or Legacy." Our AC track common is NOT connected to earth ground. The track and the earth ground are the two legs of the antenna for the TMCC signal. Connecting these two legs together would prevent them from broadcasting the signal.
