A new wiring strategy for me - question

You could end up with a "high" ground. Basically somewhere in the ground circuit you could have a electrical bottleneck. The distance between the transformers would reacquire heavier gauge wire ,soldered connections. The shortest ground path is the best one. Hope this helps. Charlie

Connecting the grounds together at the tracks is electrically identical to connecting them at the transformers.

Any derailments on one track with one transformer will not interfere with power to another track with a different transformer. The 'hot' side of the transformer secondary has the circuit breaker, and not the common side.

Larry

Thanks fastman and Larry.  Sounds like 2 polar opposite opinions though.

Don't know if it matters, but I should have added that I use the fixed output posts for the switches' power, connecting the ZW ground to the fixed output terminal ground, not the posts used for track power.

Actually fastman, your comment about an 'electrical bottleneck' was my concern, in a way.  What I am a bit concerned about is that, using my "old" method, the TIU is NOT involved.  But for what I am asking about, the TIU is involved in a way since the track ground used for DCS operations connects first to the TIU and then the MRC ground.

Well, I have 7 more months to think and ask about it!!!

- walt

Hi Walt...We have 8 PW ZWs in phase  at  4 different locations. The "U"connections are tied  together with one  wire, 12 gauge.  The track also ties them together but,, You may lose a connection at a switch depending which rail the feeders are on.    DCS seems to like it along with TMCC.  Don't even think about Christmas Yet. It's been a cold winter. gregg