Z-Stuff DZ-1090 signal bridge - any experiences?

Our club bought one a couple of years ago.  Was wired incorrectly and the sensors didn't work correctly.  We had the usual, well-documented service experience with Z-Stuff.  Another club member was following up about it; I lost patience and stopped following the situation, so don't know the resolution.  I do know that it's not yet on our club's layout.

Hey George. I have one.

First, I made the BIG MISTAKE of buying the bridge "on line". My experiences along with a host of others is well documented in other posts. Once I finally received my bridge after a few months, it operated as designed but it does have an issue.

I talked to Dennis last year at York about my operating issues. Terry is indeed a nice guy to talk to and will help you out. My bridge, I had signals installed on both sides. My biggest problem was, the sensor to operate the signals DOES NOT WORK if the top of your engines and / or cars has a dark or black paint job. The signals would not change anytime a train with a dark roof passed underneath it. I could put my hand under the sensor and it worked fine. I assumed (incorrectly) that the sensors were "too high" above the cars for them to work properly. I move the bridge up (and then down) numerous times and always had the same problem.

Fast forward to York last year. I talked to Dennis and he confirmed that indeed this is a problem with the bridge. The sensors just do not operate correctly with a dark painted roof. He offered to try to re-calibrate the sensors for me if I sent the bridge to him but I declined and just decided to live with the problem. 

For me, I operate a lot of UP passenger cars and most of the time, even the gray painted roofs are too dark to activate the signals.

Other than that problem, they do work great.

Please, do not buy on-line but purchase from an authorized dealer. I know Steve at ROSS is one of them. Hope that helps.

Donald

I've had much the same experience with mine. Bought it several years ago from Trainz and it took a couple of months to get it. The main problem I have is it just randomly goes from green to red when there is no train under the signal. I've tried relocating it and re-calibrating several times with no improvement. Also it sometimes does not pick up on a black roofed engine but this issue is mentioned in the instructions. My DZ1070 series ground mounted sensors have a similar issue with black engines and cars ( however my DZ1050 series mast signal lights do not). Overall I'd say it works correctly about 80% of the time so for now I'm just living with it.

I talked with Dennis Zander at a show in the last year and he said to send it to him and he would load the latest version of the firmware, I just haven't gotten around to it. I've returned other signals for repair/replacement directly to him and he has always taken care of the problem promptly.

Ken

Thanks gentlemen! 

I trigger all my Z-Stuff signals either with an insulated rail or from DZ-2500 switch machines.  I have never been a fan of IR triggers.  I would be firing this signal bridge with those methods as well.

But if I do go down this path, I will buy the signal from Z-Stuff or a Z-Stuff distributor.  The research is on-going.

Thanks again!

George

ONLY BUY FROM A DISTRIBUTOR. I have NEVER had a good experience ordering from Z-stuff. However, if there is a mechanical issue, the service is excellent.

I have had issues ordering directly from Z-Stuff. Sales go to a different site that is not run very well. Orders lost, etc.

So I order Z-Stuff from Ross.

However, as frustrating as it is to send stuff back, upgrades to complex electrical components are inevitable. The answer otherwise is to go back to mechanical activators like Lionel used have.