Z-Stuff switch machine

I feel your pain. I've experienced many issues, even though I'm a big fan of this product and have many on my layout.

You say black is connected to ground on the transformer and that it is hot. Those two statements are contradictory.

If both black and red were hot, you would experience no LEDs on and no ability to throw switches, which is what you observe.

Seems like the ground might be your problem.

I have 3 switch machines & remotes that I was able to hookup successfully.  However, I have 4 more left. My ground wire that runs under my layout works is not the problem since other accessories are work fine.  I feel the remote's ground wire connected to it's circuit board is the issue.  Four of the seven remote's have the same problem.  I've replace the four remote's with 5 new ones and have had the same problem with the first one I hooked up. Very frustrating to say the least.

Be careful of assuming that because other accessories work, it's not the ground. I had a terrible time getting a DZ-1000 switch machine to control a DZ-1008 relay.  Both the relay and the switch machine controller were connected to "ground." Lots of other things worked perfectly. But because the ground for the relay and the ground for the DZ1002 controller were not connected to each other, it didn't work right. There was nothing wrong with either Z-Stuff product. It was me.

I suggest you explore what is different about the three that work?

Common problem, with the DZ1000 switch machine, is an incomplete throw.  As designed, the machine has to, complete the throw, or the machine won't work.   

I had another thought: take a spare transformer, and away from the layout, hook up just one switch machine at a time. Let us know what you find.

I have two switch machines with remotes.  All remotes are connected to the same ground wire and AC power wires. The common wire on the remote is live.  I have seven switch machines on my layout.  Only 3 of the 7 are operational with Z-Stuff switches/remotes.  All wires at both switch machines and remotes are connected the same way.  

I think the ground wire that is connected directly to the remote circuit board is compromised.  Could I have purchased a bad batch of remotes???????

This has occurred with 5 remotes so far.

Hmmmm

I'm confused by the statement "All remotes are connected to the same ground wire and AC power wires."   The remotes have green, yellow, and black wires. The DZ-1000s have green, yellow, and red wires.  Yellow is connected to yellow, green to green, black on the remote to ground, and red on the DZ-1000 to AC accessory power (12-14VAC).

When you say the "common wire on the remote is live," do you mean you can measure a positive AC voltage between it and ground? If so, that is your problem.

Black wire is ground. All black wires must be or can be connected to the same ground (-). Same is true for the reds to power (+). this assumes you are using one transformer for all of the switches.

All transformers must be phased too IF you want the non-derailing feature to work,

Let me start over............the black wire on the remote is not behaving like a common connection. The voltage detector indicates current is going through it before I connect the black wire to ground wire running from my transformer.  I believe the circuit board on the remotes have been compromised.  However, three other switch machines/remotes are working fine.  My only conclusion is I think I have a batch of compromised remotes.  Maybe the manufacturer did a sloppy job when soldering black, yellow, & green wires to the circuit board.............???

Have you had similar experiences with Z-Stuff products?

The only issue I am aware of with the products themselves was that, as reported by others on this forum, occasionally an LED allows a back current, which messes up the operation, but I forget how. I purchased a dozen spare LEDs in each color, but have not needed to use them.

When I have been stuck, I have reached out to the owner at drzander@aol.com.

As I said, my problems have all been me. None have been the product.