I have to run 8 PWM signals out of an Arduino Mega to motor controllers that are placed anywhere from 25 ft. (7.62 m) away to 150 ft. (45.72 m) away. I expect the voltage drop will be high.
The alternate solution is to send a serial or ethernet message to 8 different Arduinos placed next to the motor controller. I can do that, but it's significantly more expensive.
To do it from the Mega, I assume I would need to do something like have a transistor circuit at the Mega which switches a higher voltage to each motor controller... either something like 7.5VDC, which will drop to the required 5 naturally over the distance, or a higher voltage like 12VDC and switch it back down t0 5VDC with another transistor circuit at the motor controller.
I also don't know if there will be noise associated with doing this...
Thoughts?