DZ1000 switch machines

I use dpdt momentary center off toggle switches bought from Radio Shack. They popped right into pegboard for a quick control panel. 

I only have one DZ-1000, but have not had the problem you describe with the DZ-1002 push buttons? Could a loose connection or LED or something like that possibly be the problem?

Bruce,

The DZ1002 led lites sometime are both on, or do not illuminate and stay on in either position.

I have about a hundred of these installed. What you're seeing is perfectly normal. The LEDs are polarity-sensitive.

If both LEDs are lit, you need only reverse the LED that should be off in it's socket. Just pull it out (an angled needle nose pliers works best), ream out the hole a bit (because one side of the LED is flat while the other is round) and reinsert the LED.

Likewise, if neither is lit, reverse the one that should be lit.

I use both spdt momentary toggles and aiu's.  I question whether all leds are removable from all switch machines.  I've had some that couldn't be pulled out.

Robert,

I question whether all leds are removable from all switch machines.  I've had some that couldn't be pulled out.

The original DZ1000s had two red LEDs that were not removable. They were soldered in place. Every DZ1000 since then has had red and green LEDs, all of which are removable.

Barry,

Have you had any signal issues with wiring the DZ1000s to track power?  I have a friend who is building a shelf/ceiling layout in his home and cannot run separate power to each machine.  

Thanks,

Dave

Dave,

I have never run the DZ1000's from track power.

However, given the nature of the motors - no magnet coils of wire and they turn off when the throw is complete - I would suspect that any degradation of the DCS signal would be less severe than with turnouts that used magnet coils or that didn't turn off automatically.

Regardless the only way to find out for sure would be to try using the DZ1000's with track power.

The DZ1002 controller has internal circuitry which is compatible with the DZ1000.  If you use other manufactures momentary controllers such as Lionel or Kline they will not work with incandescent or led bulbs.

I use, in lieu of DX1002 coontrollers, PSDT center off momentary toggles.  Adjacent to the toggles I have LEDs to indicate switch position.  They work.

Technique is to study the schematic for the switch motors, and wire LEDs (with appropriate resistors) across the terminals of the toggle, so that minute current is flowing through the switch motors to power the LEDs, but not enough current to cause the switch motors to partially activate.  Trick is that, by studying the internal wiring schematic of the switch motor, which contains diodes, you can see which direction to wire the LEDs.  You may have to use more-than-expected resistance in the circuit, because the DZ1000s can be affected by slight currents.  For example, 60ma incandescent bulbs allow to much current to pass.

This is essentially the same wiring (except for being polarity sensitive) as Lionel used on their PW 022 switches.  The controller bulb is wired acros the controller terminals and therefore in series with one side of the switch motor coil.  The controller shorts across the bulb to all sufficient current to flow through the coil to activate it.

Robert,

It's a lot less work for the same result to use the DZ1002 pushbuttons that come with Ross and Gargraves switch tracks themselves.

Yes, but I prefer the appearance of buttons and levers in my control panels, than a bunch of boxes fastened to its face.  In addition, I have a number of old NJInternational switch machines out on the layout.  They're dogs and high maintenance, but they work and I have higher priority projects around the house and boat.