The layout I am building will have 3 loop wire. 1st feeds the passenger trains, 2nd feeds the freight and 3rd feeds power to turnouts, lights etc. At this moment I sent power through the CS2 to loop 1 and 2 but will eventually separate (maybe a MS or another booster). I use a booster and transformer to power loop 3.

I have two S88's and I connect reed switches on the passenger and freight line to either - which ever is closer. Does it matter which loop wire I use as a ground? My understanding is that the CS feeds power to the S88 and to the reeds through the ribbon of the S88. Can I use the ground on any loop? Does it make any difference on the current demand on the CS?

Just for completeness, I do not use the T on the S88. Never got the reeds to work that way. I use a distribution switch to connect all the returns and then connect the distributions strip to the loop wire.

Thanks.

>I asked this to Tom Catherall. His reply is below
>
> Tom,
>
> My questions pertain to the S88 when there are mutliple power sources.
>
> I am setting up a freight line, passenger line each having their own current feed. As an example, my CS2 (60214) (and transformer) will feed power to the passenger line and a booster (maybe the 60173) will feed power to the freight line. I will use an older booster (6017) to power switching tracks, K83 and lights. So, a total of three transformers isolated from each other. I have 2 S88's and 20 reeds. My reeds are set up as follow: 1 gray wire from reed to S88 and 2nd gray wire to distribution strip which returns via brown wire to ground. (I believe not pertainant to the question but the reeds don't work when I use the invert T on the S88). All equipment is marklin.
>
> Do I have to use a single ground (only the CS2)? That is both S88 return to the CS2 ground. Can I connect reeds from the passenger and freight to a single S88 - ie, which ever is close and not be concerned with which track it is on? I don't see how I have 1 S88 for freight and 1 for passenger (for gound) as both are connected to the CS2.

The grounjds will all be the same, just plug your s88 into the CS2 and use your track conntacts on any line.


Tom Catherall