One caveat about bundling all the DZ2500 wires into one cable - if you are going to use the serial data of the DZ2500 (the bluee wire) AND if you are going to use a switched sine wave transformer (like the ZW-L), be aware that the switching power spikes can couple (a.k.a. cross talk) into the serial data wire - because of the close proximity of the two wires in the bundle, interfering with proper control via the serial data wire. I know this from experience on my layout!!!

I was lazy, I used the CSM2 Breakout board.  It also gives me the connections for the non-derailing and remote switch button.

Another bonus of the breakout board, the green push to lock connector makes it easy to swap out a DZ-2500 switch machine.  Trust me, you're likely to do this a few times!

Well, I am using the 180 watt lionel power bricks so no problems with a switched transformer. The Utilitech method is what I want to avoid--I want to route one wire bundle one time, not six wires for each switch machine. I do use all that Utilitech stuff to connect accessories and structure lights, etc.  GRJ, to use the DCS AIUs, Barry's book says to not implement the non-derailing feature and also says that a separate manual turnout switch control is verboten. So the CSM2 has no home here, unless I have mis-understood what Barry said.

Don

Are you turning off the TMCC function of the DZ-2500?  Otherwise, the AIU would be in parallel with the manual switch, that shouldn't be a problem.  However, you don't know which position they're in in that case, so  suspect you have to turn off TMCC and use them like a manual switch machine.  I'm not sure what the issue with non-derailing is when in DCS mode.