Interesting .. I really appreciate Arturo's and John feedback, including the embedded Lionel TMCC info link
I currently am not experiencing any of these issues on my layout today which is 24x8 in my new house nor had I in my old house using the same wiring configuration as noted below and that layout was 24x13 .. Smaller room in new house .. very disappointing
I do see the merit in common grounding and potential for TMCC signal interference. When I put my 24x8 layout together and out of ignorance, I have a common neutral (or ground) throughout my entire layout and have tied all my transformers together with the same shared neutral, including my Z1, Powermaster, multiple transformers for my (30) 022s, lighting, signals, accessories, engine transfer table, etc.. My common neutral uses a buss bar setup around my entire layout and therefore I only run a single power line (voltage dependent on what device I send it to) based on desired light brightness or speed of any given accessory. When I have isolated rails, I typically only isolate one section of track then use the trigger rail to feed a small relay module that I make with a bridge rectifier with a 25V 2000+ mfd capacitor to a 12VDC relay to manage the AC voltage thru the relay going to the desired device. The capacitor smooths out any interruption when you have 'dirty' wheels on light cars passing over the isolated section and gives a steady 'extended' output. If I run a block for example at a crossing gate and say the trip section is 4 track sections, I only use isolated sections in the 1st section and the last section and tie the two isolated sections together to trigger the relay. So any isolated sections is limited to one track length (I use Lionel tubular track). The same shared neutral is used on my 5 signal bridges and my Bascule bridge with no noticeable interference .
Now I only use one TMCC controller and I am considering adding another as well as a second Powermaster and Z1 to my layout as I am currently limited to running 2 or 3 engines concurrently before my Powermaster trips out from current load .. (it all depends on the engines running and their motor configuration (can motor, Pullmor single or dual motors, etc). So this awareness of signal corruption may make me think different on this addition
Thanks again to all
