z stuff 2500 switch machines

First do you have new or old switches?  You can tell by the color of the traces on the pc board side.  Gold I think is the newest version, silver is the old style(firmware) which have lots of issues. or that reversed, can't remember without the switch machines in front of me.

Second what do you mean DCS mode?  There is no DCS mode, they only work with TMCC connected to a data wire driver or hardwired to a remote switch/accessory unit.

How is the data wire driver connected to TMCC?  Using the old command base/cab1 or Legacy?

If you have the old switches with the old firmware, Dennis at Zstuff will switch them out for you no questions asked.

superwarp1 posted:

First do you have new or old switches?  You can tell by the color of the traces on the pc board side.  Gold I think is the newest version, silver is the old style(firmware) which have lots of issues. or that reversed, can't remember without the switch machines in front of me.

I BELIEVE THE NEWER DZ-2500s ALSO HAVE A WHITE STRIPE AROUND THE BASE. 

Second what do you mean DCS mode?  There is no DCS mode, they only work with TMCC connected to a data wire driver or hardwired to a remote switch/accessory unit.

DCS MODE, PER THE DZ-2500's INSTRUCTIONS, IS REALLY TWO-WIRE MODE NOT THE TMCC ONE-WIRE MODE.  TO GET BACK INTO TMCC MODE, REPEAT THE PROCESS IN THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR DCS MODE.

How is the data wire driver connected to TMCC?  Using the old command base/cab1 or Legacy?

 GOOD QUESTION.  MAKES A DIFFERENCE AS TO WHICH SYSTEM HE IS USING.

If you have the old switches with the old firmware, Dennis at Zstuff will switch them out for you no questions asked.

Rick:

This may be way off base but pull the red LED's out of their sockets and try switching the turnouts (I may be wrong but I don't think they are necessary to operate the turnout).

For a while there was a bad batch of red LED bulbs in circulation. They were 'leaky' so would allow too much current to go through even in the off position. Bottom line the turnout will not function.

Joe

Rick, You should talk to Tom F at the club. We ended up taking all the Z2500s out and going back to Z1000s. Too many headaches.

Pete

I am using the old TMCC system at the moment because the data driver is old as well and does not work with the legacy. all the switch machines are the older ones and work by pushing the buttons on the switch machine it self. I have about 15 or more that I bought from our club. I was going to program the ones on the layout and then get the new data wire driver so i could throw them from both legacy and TMCC controler as I will be using both.

Rick, if these were the clubs then they are first generation, in fact we were the beta testers for Dennis when he was in town. I would follow Gary's (Superwarp) suggestion and have Dennis swap them out for the new ones.

Pete

My pile of dead DZ1000 switch machines is always growing.  Biggest problem I've had with them is after the layout sits for a month without power, 1/2 of them won't throw correctly until they have been "bounced" half a dozen times.   Even then, usually at least one of the fifty+ machines is dead dead and has to be replaced.  I order them 1/2 dozen at a time about twice a year.

No problem here with my DZ-2500's I did have some from the first run that where swapped out. They sure beat the Atlas switch machines.

I have only had one machine go bad. I took it  to Dennis at York he burned a new PROM, made a few adjustments and all free of charge. That's what I call customer service.

Steve

Problem solved. Talked on the phone with Dennis Z and worked it out. seems if a switch machine Gets into DCS or two wire mode ( too many fingers pushing buttons) that it will make everything else on the data wire not operate properly or at all. I unplugged that machine from the data wire and all was well. re programed it to TMCC or single wire mode and plugged it back in and everything is fine. He also offered to update and replace any bad ones. great customer service. thanks for all the help from forum members as well , I was just about to use all the tortise switch machines left from my HO layout , you all saved me a bunch of work.  Rick

Great!  I knew you could accidently get into 2-wire mode but I did not know you would have problems like you did.  Need to file this info away since I use DZ-2500s.

I recently completed connecting 34 of the DZ2500's, I am extremely satisfied with them.  I have them connected to a Legacy system and also hard wired to toggle switches on a control panel. 

The initial question may be a result of when reprogramming for switch 2, that the 1st switch data wire may not have been disconnected first.  Remember you only want one program wire connected at a time when programming.

Also gave me an invaluable tip, due to the volume of switches I was working with, he suggested I put them in groups to connect to the Data Driver.  Essentially I incorporated 8 toggle switches.  Each toggle is connected to the wire from the data driver (in parallel), then the output from the toggle goes to a terminal strip where I connect 4 or 5 switches.  THEN if I have a problem with any switch, (the data driver red LED is lit).  All I need to do is start flipping toggles, when the red light goes OFF, I know where to look for the problem.  ALSO, I ran one wire to the terminal strip directly from the driver, this provides programming capability.  I turn all the toggles off, then disconnect the data wire from the terminal strip that I want to program, and connect it to the dedicated wire directly from the data driver.  Makes it super easy. 

I have mine set up to operate in TMCC mode but also have them connected to an AIU. This gives me the ability to operate them with a push button panel, Legacy or DCS. Any way you like it.

Steve

L & N posted:

I have mine set up to operate in TMCC mode but also have them connected to an AIU. This gives me the ability to operate them with a push button panel, Legacy or DCS. Any way you like it.

Steve

Now that's neat.  I also have both TMCC and DCS.  Since TMCC uses 1-wire mode and the AIU uses 2-wire mode, how did you make this work?  Love to see a diagram.

The DZ2500's are in 1 wire mode. With the AIU I don't have the ability to use straight or diverging, I  just have one wire coming out of the AIU going to the 2500. I use the straight icon on the DCS remote each time, the first button press makes the turnout diverge, the next press would make it go straight, the third press would make the turnout diverge again.  I don't really loose anything this way but this gives the operator the ability to use one remote for train and layout control or use one remote to run the layout and one to run the locomotive.

Steve