Ground Plane - pin 5 on DBL Connector

I do that pin 9 to over the sc-2s and also connect the track common (outside rails) to the sc-2 common. That helped mine immensely.

CJACK: I think you mean Pin 5 not Pin 9 and thanks for the reply. Just curious where you added the track common connection to the SC-2. In my case, so far, my first SC 2 being connected is being used to turn block power on and off, so there is no track common connection. The SC 2 is being powered by a wall wart. I will be using my other 2 SC 2s for switch track operation and will therefore have a track common connected. These 2 will be right next to the first one in my power distribution center:

Yes, misstated. Pin 5. Thank you for catching that.

I started out with the wall warts, but in the process of changing things to fix poor performance, I powered the SC-2s with a separate ac supply. Then I put the ground connected wire over them. That seemed to help. I imagined the SC-2s were just like engines which sit on the outside rails which is the other side of the signal. So I connected the outside rail, that is, the U terminal of the Legacy base to the common side of the power to the SC-2s. That made the biggest difference on my setup.

CJACK: Thanks for the information. If the ground plane wire does not solve my issue, I will do what you did with the separate ac supply for the SC 2s.

Success!

I received the DB9 adaptor yesterday and installed it with a wire from pin #5 to a terminal strip that I placed just above my SC-2s and now I have great reception and I can activate them from accross the room!

Now that it is almost 4 years later, and I have a Base3 on order, I have an updated question regarding finding a source for my ground plane connection (needed to improve signal to my SC2s and upper level tracks).

I purchased a SER2 which I plan to use with the Base3 to provide a DBL connector for use with my Accessory Motor Controller.

Does anyone know if pin 5 on the DBL connector on the SER2 (that will be connected to the Base3 via LCS cable) will provide my needed ground plane connection if plugged into the SER2?

AND, maybe a slightly more complicated question: Now, I have the Legacy "Y" cable  from my Legacy base connected to: 1 - Legacy Base, 2 - the above referred to DBL connector to provide my needed ground lane wire, 3 - "accessory" connector provides signal for my existing Accessory Motor Controller.

When the Base3 arrives, will I be able to simply unplug the DBL connector from the Legacy base and plug it into the SER2, thereby providing signal to my AMC and ground plane? Seems like a simple solution...maybe...

Thanks in advance for reading this updated (OLD) post and any information provided!

Stan

@stangtrain posted:

Now that it is almost 4 years later, and I have a Base3 on order, I have an updated question regarding finding a source for my ground plane connection (needed to improve signal to my SC2s and upper level tracks).

I purchased a SER2 which I plan to use with the Base3 to provide a DBL connector for use with my Accessory Motor Controller.

Does anyone know if pin 5 on the DBL connector on the SER2 (that will be connected to the Base3 via LCS cable) will provide my needed ground plane connection if plugged into the SER2?

AND, maybe a slightly more complicated question: Now, I have the Legacy "Y" cable  from my Legacy base connected to: 1 - Legacy Base, 2 - the above referred to DBL connector to provide my needed ground lane wire, 3 - "accessory" connector provides signal for my existing Accessory Motor Controller.

When the Base3 arrives, will I be able to simply unplug the DBL connector from the Legacy base and plug it into the SER2, thereby providing signal to my AMC and ground plane? Seems like a simple solution...maybe...

Thanks in advance for reading this updated (OLD) post and any information provided!

Stan

I suspect that the SER2 will not provide the ground side of the Legacy signal that the base does.  The other alternative with be a house ground either from a properly wired 3 prong outlet.  A lot of folks use that now.  @Dave Olson would know 100% but I don't see them carrying the ground to the SER2.

I just did a little research and see that there are quite a few adaptor plugs for grounded outlets that have plastic legs for the hot and neutral part of the plug and a metal leg for the ground and can be easily connected via terminal or banana plug to provide my needed ground plane needs.

I think this is simpler even to what I am doing now with the DBL connector, LOL!

I tapped the earth ground off the Legacy power supply barrel connector for the TMCC Buffer.  I just stuck a little extension with the outside barrel connection on a pigtail.

Update: I purchased this outlet adapter to use for my ground plane wire:

I also remembered that quite a few years ago, when I used an outlet box screw to connect to my ground plane wire, I was advised to use this capacitor inline with the wire:

In addition, I remember that someone else advised it wasn't needed, LOL.

Can someone let me know their thoughts on how to proceed.

Thanks so much!

Stan

@MartyE posted:

I suspect that the SER2 will not provide the ground side of the Legacy signal that the base does.  The other alternative with be a house ground either from a properly wired 3 prong outlet.  A lot of folks use that now.  @Dave Olson would know 100% but I don't see them carrying the ground to the SER2.

I measured the continuity from the base earth gnd on the base to the SER2 pin #5 and get a couple ohms of resistance. Probably just the few connections in series from the base to the SER2. So it should be ok as a return side for the 455KHz signal (earth gnd).

There's no need for a series capacitor, the TMCC and Legacy command bases connect directly to the ground from the outlet.  It's all done in the power brick.  Just measure from the outlet ground prong to the outside of the barrel plug for the command base power, you'll find a direct connection.

John:

Thanks for the response! Your advice is always appreciated and respected!

I will not add the series capacitor and will install the new wire from the outlet adapter as I described above. Now I do not need to worry about finding a way to use "pin 5" and then only need to connect to the SER2 (via the DBL connector) to my existing AMC that I use to control my turntable with Legacy when the time comes to transition to the Base3, whenever it arrives.

Stan