Cudos for Z Stuff DZ-2500 & DZ-2001

[quizshow904]

I  too can send Cudos to Dennis for all the help in getting my 17 Gargrave switches with DZ-2500 and a DZ 2001 working. They are still working great. 

[dbaker48]

I wanted to share my success with the Z-Stuff Z-2500 switch motor, and the Z-2001 Data Driver.  

I was trying to connect 34 Ross Switch motors up on a layout so that I could;  1.  Have independent toggle switches on a Control Panel with corresponding LEDs for each switch indicating its position.  2. Provide control of the switches using a Cab 1 or Cab 2 remote as well.  (As it turns out the solution works with DCS and AIU as well.)

Initially I was having great difficulty. I had tried everything I could think of, even taken advantage of the experts here on the Electrical Sub Forum, and with the replies I received there was not able to make it work.  Even though every reply was helpful and beneficial.  I had sent an email to Dennis Zander of Z-Stuff, and unfortunate for me he was away at a train show I believe, and was not able to respond for a few days.  When he returned to his office, he replied within 18 hours!  Dennis took the additional effort and SENT me the schematic below:

(Please refer to Z-Stuff web site for DZ-2001, for wiring instructions)

Upon review of the schematic, I immediately found my problem!  I had connected the 12vac (red) wire to the center pole of the toggle switch, and NOT the Ground/Common (black) wire to the switch!  Fortunately, I had ganged all the center pole 12v wires to a standoff, and connected that standoff to a 12v source.  ALL I had to do was remove the 12v connection to the standoff and connect a ground (black wire) to it!  Everything worked correctly immediately! 

The toggle switches (momentary) mounted on the Control Panel work perfectly, and the LEDs respond accurately!  Huge relief!  The programming of the switches to the TMCC or Legacy system is easy.  This does require the DZ-2001 Data Driver ($20) to be plugged into the back of the command base.  NOTE: If I would have used the ASC or ASC2 it would have cost me close to $1000 to do the same thing.

In programming the DZ 2001 it is a simple 3 step sequence using the CAB 1 or CAB 2, programming 1 switch at a time thru the blue data wire.  (Each switch is assigned a unique ID number, in my case I have 30.)  I have 2 cross-overs, and it was no problem assigning two switch motors the same ID #, and they switch together!  So now I can switch each one manually (at the switch), use the button provided by Z-stuff mounted near the switch (if desired, or not even have it wired in at all).  Operate the switch from the toggle on the Control Panel, or operate it from the Cab 2 !!  This is fantastic!  IF I had DCS on the layout I can connect two wires (green and yellow) to the AIU and operate the switch from the DCS Remote!!  (train club application)  A huge benefit is the cost effectiveness, can have all I mentioned above with out using ANY of the ASC or ASC2  units.  (I would have needed 8 of them at what $120 each?

Dennis had indicated to me that with the DZ-2001 Data Driver I could use it with an infinite number of switches.  There was only 1 drawback.  IF one of the switch motors died, none of the switches would work, because they were all connected to a common buss for connection to the Data Driver.  He suggested to overcome that make individual groups of switches say 4 or 5 switches per group, and put a toggle switch (ON/OFF) on the buss wire for each group.  Then when a problem does occur, you could turn all the toggles off and turn them on 1 at a time, to find which group has the defect.  Then you only have 4 or 5 switches to investigate.

I really want to compliment Dennis on his Customer Service, and the development of the DZ-2001 Data Driver!!  It is GREAT!