Using Multi-Conductor cable Question re: Drain Wire

No reason I can see that using the shield (drain) wire would be an issue, it's just another conductor.  Nothing in this environment needs a shielded wire.

Don(Cerritos) posted:

I need to install 34 Ross switches with the DZ-2500 switch motors.  As each motor has 6 conductors and 4 of them need to be specific (dedicated) for each motor the is going to be a lot of wire.  I found a 22awg 5 conductor cable with shield and drain wire.  I was thinking about using the drain wire as a conductor for the ground/common connection for each motor.  The remaining 5 conductors used for the other requirements.

The other option would be using a buss wire for connecting the power to the motors and not using the drain wire at all, OR just  adding a another seperate conductor.  ANY THOUGHTS ?   (I would prefer to use the drain wire of course.)

Thanks

 You may want to check  with the New Jersey High Railers re the 2500s... Apparently if one fails the others do as well..... Very  similar to   Christmas lights wired in series.. 34 would be very disappointing.    I hope I'm wrong.

It sounds like he's still running home runs Greg, just using the shield wire as a conductor.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

It sounds like he's still running home runs Greg, just using the shield wire as a conductor.

I'm thinking  TMCC and data  wire driver. Seems if one messes up the works do in TMCC mode.

The 2500's are NOT my preferred motor, for sure.  The client in this case had previously purchased them all, and he and his son gave up on getting the layout wired.  So asked me to come in.  So far I went through all the power drops and made significant changes.  They want Legacy, TMCC and conventional operation on 3 main lines, with 18 sidings.  Also they purchased 2 transformers the ZW-C (with 4 bricks), and a ZW-L.  They do NOT want DCS at all, very adament about that!  Anyway the power drops were connected based upon wiring convience.  I combed through all the tracks and reconfigured the powere drops for each main line, and also isolated all the sidings (under toggle control now).

So now for the switches, I talked with Dennis Z, and he suggested that 2 things.  First use the DZ data control which fits on the back of the Legacy controller, and will communicate through the CAB2 for switch operation.  (Eliminating need of the SC2.)  Instead of connecting all the data wires from the switch motors to a single buss line.  To seperate them into groupings of 5 or so, and control that with a toggle, which is connected to the Data Buse then the controller.  Then WHEN a problem with a motor develops, you can reduce the issue by turning off the toggles one at a time, then when the problem group is disconnected the controller will come back on.  And, you only have to search for 1 in 5.  (I'm putting them in groups of 4.)  With the 5 conductor cable I run the cable to a connection panel, then seperate out the power, ground, & data wire.  Will then run a connection lead for the Left, Right, and "Activate" connection to the momentary toggles on the Control Panel.  Will use a power buss and ground connections for the cable coming from the switch motors at the connection panel.  And wire the Data Wires to the grouping toggle switch.

Hope this all makes sense.  A LOT of wiring buy maybe I can minimize some of the labor with this cable.  34x6 approx 200 conductors.  Lots of error opportunity!!!!

Greg/John,  You are both correct.  Doing Home Runs with the cable, but when all the data lines get connected, IF there is a problem with 1, ALL switches go down !   So thats why seperating into groupins of 4 to hopefully reduce the number to 1 in 4 to try and troubleshoot.

On one module, we used (11) DZ 1000 switch motors. There are (two) sets of (7) push buttons and a third input from an SC-2 controller, that does TMCC control, for (4) sets of cross over switches, and (2) additional switches. There is one switch that is (2) push buttons only,  (6) is the maximum control from an SC-2.   All done with a (4) conductor cable.

Y-module project.   Click on the link for a slideshow.

Don

Check out my website and go to the wiring tab then look for DZ1000/2500 motors . I still use the old 66 block wiring and you will see the different arrangements. Drop me a line or call if needed. www.montanarailpower.com .

WOW !  Steve, the information and illustrations on your website are really fantastic.  I have bookmarked your site for future use.  I'm too far along to take advantage of it currently, but it will be a great time saver in the future.