DZ2500 Switch Machines - Great !

Good to hear some positive about the DZ2500 switches. I use them exclusively and have had zero problems. I have them connected to Scaletrax and Atlas switches...work perfectly. I use the edge-mounted switches that come with them plus the AIU.

G3 - I posted to you wall because I'm interested in ScaleTrax and didn't want to hijack this thread. I hope you don't mind.

Don, I've had a few of the early ones (DZ-2500a) go out on me, but I like the DZ-2500c flavor.  And I totally agree about the DZ-2001 Data Wire Driver.  I'm not sure how many DZ-2500 switch machines it will accommodate, but the limitation is in the total length of the bus (~ 75').  I had to split my bus into 2 separate busses.  Good news though is that you can daisy chain DZ-2001s.  I still have 2 flaky DZ-2500a's on my second bus, but everything else works great.

And you are absolutely correct about saving $$$ using the DZ-2001.

George

Dave...I couldn't find your post. It isn't on my wall. Please repost.

George (G3)

Sadly the first version of  the 2500 were full of issues. But with that said Dennis has stated if a 2500 switch machine fails he'll swap them out.   As the early versions fail on my layout, I get them replaced with the latest version and so far the new versions have not given me a lic of trouble

Gary,

That is good to know.  I have many Ross switches new in the box with the older DZ-2500s I bought a decade ago.  Work and family kept me from building my layout until now, so hopefully if I have problems with them Dennis will continue with this policy. 

G3 posted:

Dave...I couldn't find your post. It isn't on my wall. Please repost.

George (G3)

It was just a note saying I'm originally from WI and asking if you had any regrets about using ScaleTrax (and maybe more discussion). I'm torn between Atlas and ScaleTrax. No one carries it here, but I'll be stopping in at High Country Hobbies in Enterprise AL next month to have a look at it, they're supposed to have it in stock. I also added my email address (ddetert@cox.net) if you'd rather reply by email than hijack this thread. I would have contacted you by email, but you don't have one in your profile.

CAPPilot posted:

Gary,

That is good to know.  I have many Ross switches new in the box with the older DZ-2500s I bought a decade ago.  Work and family kept me from building my layout until now, so hopefully if I have problems with them Dennis will continue with this policy. 

Just sent three back, all for different reasons.  One that went up in smoke and all replaced with the new version no questions ask.  I'm about out of the old versions 3 or 4 left. 

Was thinking of installing DZ1000's on my mainline so I would know they have switched by hearing them "click".  I've had a number of "flaky" 2500s that sometime switch when activated and sometimes don't, but the relay switches the track and then there is a short when the train rolls over the hot rail of the switch. 

I've done my homework and have taken those motors apart and made sure it is balanced blah, blah, blah...but still get the same issue...they work about 75-80% of the time.

Does Dennis still replace these switches?  Mine aren't "dead", but just quirky. 

Is it possible to have both DZ 2500 & DZ 1000 on a Legacy layout?

If you want really reliable switch machines, do yourself a favor and use Tortoises.  They don't partially throw, they don't bounce back, they just work.

I have all dz-2500 with Ross switches and all non-derailing. With data driver. I use my cab1L to remote all switches. I also have the one button dz 2502 I can use to manually switch Ross’s. I have many old dz 2500’s that still work great, also they switch much faster than new ones. I also have a Ross double cross with dz-2500’s and with non derailing which was a little tricky wiring.