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Reply to "Need a schematic circuit for stop / go action for Lionel 132 train station"

I never thought that a bridge rectifier could cause so much trouble! The key is that as long as you don't have a connection from the track AC common to the accessory common, the bridge is okay to use. You string the AC out through the DC converter (with the bridge) and don't look back. That means that you can not use the accessory posts of the same transformer with the bridge because they are connected internally. Hmm...

Well Stan, running DC through the rails to trigger block detection and accessory activation seems like a distinct advantage as you have demonstrated repeatedly. If I ever attempt this myself, I will pay attention to the multiple commons problem that comes up when using a bridge rectifier to convert AC to DC.

In the meantime, my interest for block detection with the isolated rail method centers around the use of AC optoisolators. That seems like a good choice as long as you are planning to design a circuit board to hold the darn things.

Thanks again for all of your shared insights and experience!

  -- Leo

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