Why do some layouts not need to add a ground plane?
Some layout room’s environments provide an adequate ground plane for the layout.
For example my room is in the basement and was specifically built with the layout in mind with the grounded AC wall outlet wiring completely circling the room.
Also in the ceiling is the furnace duct system that runs the full length of the room as does the house wiring, water pipes and gas pipe all grounded.
And the ceiling is a suspended tile grid with track lighting that is all earth grounded too.
However, my layout is a worst case scenario for potential signal issues with lots of ladder tracks and several over under track bridges and tunnels.
My layout is also a TWO rail system so the TMCC signal enhancing capacitor coupling to both rails was needed to prevent the loco from loosing the signal when turned 180 degrees on the tracks. And I have never had a signal issue with the tunnels and bridges etc.
But I just realized I had inadvertently made a built in ground plane in the bench work with my block signal system’s wiring.
It uses a Plus and Minus 12 volt DC power supply and the +/- common is GROUNDED.
It runs all over the layout feeding the block detectors and block aspect signals.
So it is also a Ground Plane for the TMCC signal.
So this principal could be also used with scenery building lighting etc.
Just use a separate supply or transformer that has one output grounded or capacitor coupled to ground and distribute over the layout for your scenery use and future use.
BE SURE that the transformer is in phase so the AC neutral input is phased with it’s output that you have grounded.
Just a thought.
Carl
