Rod,
on your layout are your track blocks all insulated from each other?
Yes, they are.
I would recommend no more than 150 feet of track per TIU channel for this reason.
Typically, any TIU channel of any TIU should be able to support up to 250-300 feet of track. Rev. L TIUs most likely can do even better. However, there are certain caveats that one must observe to maximize the number of feet a TIU channel can support:
- Block length should be as close to optimum as possible, i.e., 11-12 track sections per block
- Blocks should be center rail isolated from adjacent blocks
- There should be one and only one TIU/transformer connection per block
- No block should be directly connected to another block
- The number of blocks/TIU channel should be, ideally, 12.
If all blocks were composed of 11 track sections where each track section was 3 feet long, 12 such blocks would yield a total of 33' X 12 blocks = 396 feet of track per channel. Allowing for shorter track sections within a block, each TIU cannel can easily support 250-300 feet of track.
Each layout is, however, different and differing track topologies will yield somewhat different results. Regardless, the above remains the optimum way to build and wire track blocks.
This and a whole lot more is all in "The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", now available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book from MTH's web store site! Click on the link below to go to MTH's web page for the book!
