Questions about Z Stuff's signals

My semaphores work great! JohnA

I have 21 Z Stuff signals on my S gauge layout. The S gauge variant of the signals is just the O gauge heads on shorter poles. Five of the signals are 12 years old, the balance are 4 years old. All signals worked out of the box, none have failed so far. The signals move from stop to caution 4 seconds after the last car passes, then to proceed 3 seconds after that. The signals reads the trucks. As long as the train is moving the signal stays at stop. If the train stops and a truck is not blocking the detector then the signal will cycle to green. They can be daisy chained if desired, I did not do that. I bought mine at a train show from a vendor that specialized in S gauge so he always had some I could take with me.

I would recommend Ross Custom Switches. They sell Z-Stuff and are great to buy from.

Their site.    Good product, used with Ross and Gargrave switches.  DZ1000 switch motor, may be the most used product.  There is an assort of products, listed in the link underlined.

Best feature:  Self-contained limit switch(es) that inhibit switch motor burn-out.

2nd Best feature: Self-contained LED (red and green) indicator lights.

Zstuff, I've had no issue out of the box.  Only issue is they are fragile and break easily if you bump them or a cat likes to rub up against them.  The signals anyway.  I use the DZ-2500 switch machines.  No issue with the newer versions.  Dennis will swaps out any defective unit you have

Warning.  DO NOT PURCHASE FROM THE ZSTUFF EXPRESS STORE.  Nothing but problems.  Purchase from Ross Custom switches or other vendors.

@AmFlyer posted:

I have 21 Z Stuff signals on my S gauge layout. The S gauge variant of the signals is just the O gauge heads on shorter poles. Five of the signals are 12 years old, the balance are 4 years old. All signals worked out of the box, none have failed so far. The signals move from stop to caution 4 seconds after the last car passes, then to proceed 3 seconds after that. The signals reads the trucks. As long as the train is moving the signal stays at stop. If the train stops and a truck is not blocking the detector then the signal will cycle to green. They can be daisy chained if desired, I did not do that. I bought mine at a train show from a vendor that specialized in S gauge so he always had some I could take with me.

Has anyone daisy chained theirs?  Does doing so override the timed change of the signals so that they stay yellow if the trains stops in the next block, and not go green until the train has left the next block?

I'm looking at getting signals, was going to do Atlas until I found that Z Stuff has working semaphores.  I emailed them around a year ago asking this very question, but they never replied.

I have, depends how you wire them up or down.  I'm trying to remember how I have mine wired.  If the one ahead is triggered, the one behind stays red.  When the one ahead is cleared, it goes yellow, while the one behind stays red until the one ahead goes green.  Make sense?????  LOL

I had one fail and z stuff replaced it quickly without any questions.

Terry

I have two of their crossing gates and the dual semaphore trackside bridge and have not had any issues and like them a lot. The arrows stay down as long as a train is passing underneath. The IR does have a problem picking up black, so I always include at least one light colored car in any of my consists. As others have said, I would purchase from secondary vendors.

Any issues in using them with o gauge tubular track?

I don’t think the type of track is relevant

Terry

I don't have any Z-Stuff signals, but I have seen them at work on others' layouts.  Here's my two cents worth:

1. The upper quadrant semaphores are scale size, nice looking, and move at a very realistic speed. They can be daisy chained to operate prototypically, or they can be operated with the sensor and timer if you just want an action accessory.
2. The Magnetic Flagman type crossing wigwag is scale size.  The banner is kind of thick and moves a bit too fast, but, as long as the wigwag is placed back from the edge of the layout, it'll look good.  You might be able to slow them down to a scale speed, as there are speed selector switches on the bottom of the base for the crossing gates and wigwags.
3. The PRR Position Light signals should be very realistic in operation.  I suggest weathering the all-black PRR signals..

I'm a fan.

Good stuff!

My dad has the PRR signals on his layout. I really like them and plan on using them on my next layout. They’re the most realistic operating and in appearance than any other signal made (in my opinion).

@sinclair posted:

Has anyone daisy chained theirs?  Does doing so override the timed change of the signals so that they stay yellow if the trains stops in the next block, and not go green until the train has left the next block?

I'm looking at getting signals, was going to do Atlas until I found that Z Stuff has working semaphores.  I emailed them around a year ago asking this very question, but they never replied.

Yes, I have daisy chained them. I have 42 signals and I can tell you I was misled. When you daisy chain them they WILL time out. I wanted them to stay amber or red due to tunnels. After explaining what I wanted to do and being told NO PROBLEM I purchased 42 of them. A BIG INVESTMENT in my little world. I wired as we had discussed, using isolated rail to start the the signal. Then daisy chained. They will time out regardless of train location. I like them as they look great. They are EXTREMELY FRAGILE. My wife was working on scenery and bumped two. Destroyed one and I was able to semi repair the other.

Curtis

I have 5 of these signals installed on my layout. They are so easy to set up and work consistently well. Here’s one:

Having only seen pictures of the signals: what makes them so fragile?

@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:

Having only seen pictures of the signals: what makes them so fragile?

They are held together with extremely small screws. If you bump the top of the tower unit it will crack the base unit that hold the pole, circuitry and sensor. This will cause the ladder to pop out of it's bracket on the base but that is very easy to put back. The plastic around the pole  ( actual bracket ) is what cracks and breaks. This affects the sensor below it as it knocks it out of alignment. I love my wife but she has now damaged 2 and Destroyed 3. I just smile and say it is OK but inside I am screaming as they cost so much.

Thanks CurtisH

That has to be so frustrating. It appears that you handle it very nicely.

I noticed several guys have warned not to purchase from  Z Stuff Express.  What is the problem with placing my order directly with them?  I ordered before and had no problem but I am planning a larger order and wanted to try them again. Thanks.

Ernie

Ernie, from many posts here about their service you definitely are better off going through Ross Custom Switches for much faster service. I also think Gargraves is set up to sell Zstuff. I’m listing both because both are forum sponsors.

Thanks Rod.  I appreciate your reply.  I’ll take your advice and checkout Ross CS and see if they have my items in stock.

Ernie

Hi Everyone,

I'm very sorry about the previous poor response time. We have made some changes - like I can now see the orders place directly on the Z-Stuff website and take care of orders when they are placed if product is in stock. I also just finished responding to notes and questions left on the site (which were supposed to be forwarded to my e-mail (drzander@aol.com). My e-mail usually has 1 or 2 day response. Also, I do respond to phone calls everyday 9am-9pm CST. 585-377-0925.

Hi,

Our signals sense the train when it next to them on the track and change to stop indication. After the train passes, they time out and change to caution and then after another time out they change back to clear.

Out of the box reliability has been very good and we guarantee every one. Even after years have past and abuse taken, we repair them when possible.

See DZ-1060 Pennsy operating at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfSN-sJQSF8

The long term life is excellent. All solid state with LED indicators that fade in and out like lamps on a real railroad.

Sorry about broken signals. We attempt repair and if it's not possible units are replaced at the cost we pay for the signal.

I am very pleased with my trackside single and dual head signals, three color type.

Are there any physical differences between the 1050 and 1050-V ?

I am looking at adding a few more,  not sure if they are models with the variable timing option, no packaging.

I guess one way of telling is to hold the white and yellow wires together, apply power etc. according to the instructions.

I believe that, in some cases, the "V" series have two signal heads where the "non-V" has only one head.

The single head generally were 1050 with a set time and the models with a V were variable time