I asked on the DCS forum, so I'll repeat it here as it is also a TMCC question:
I have two TIUs which are connected to two barrier strips to power various sections of the railroad. Should the commons on the two barrier strips be connected to each other; currently they are not. All the rail commons are unbroken around the layout. I have the TMCC block connected to one of those two barrier strip commons, but not the other. Bridging the commons on both barrier strips would effectively connect the TMCC to both.
So, should the two common sections on each barrier strip be connected to each other?