Gargraves Switch w/dz-1000

If all you're going to have is the 4 switches then an Sc-2 is all you need to operate the switches with TMCC control. If you're intending on adding more switches in the future then the DZ-2500 route might be cheaper. You can have both systems operational at the same time if you change your mind at any time. To go the DZ-2500 route you will need these items.

DZ-2500 switch machines (1 for each switch)

DZ-2001 Data wire driver (1 for whole layout)

A separate AC power supply 10-18 volts 12-14 preferred

 The data wire driver is wired to a 3 wire buss and all the DZ-2500s are wired to this buss. The data wire driver plugs into the command base and receives the command signals and transmits them on the buss. The DZ-2500s receive the signals that are for there address and throw the switch accordingly. 

 If you decide to go with the data buss only you will have to replace the 4 DZ-1000s with DZ-2500s as I believe the DZ-2000 is no longer available.

Ron

Thanks for your replies. My head is still spinning from the confusion. If I understand it correctly, I can control the 4 switches without buying an SC-2 (~$100). All I have is the CAB-1 controller and the Command Base. What would be a typical key entry to operate a switch?

SW (Switch ##) Aux1 (Straight) Aux2  (Out),  with either the SC-2 or the DZ 2001 data driver/DZ 2500 combination.

No that is not correct. With the dz-1000 switch machine an SC-2 is required. TMCC  can control up to 99 switches through a series of SC-2s or by using DZ-2500 switch machines and a data wire driver. The DZ-1000 switch machine has no electronics in it to accept the TMCC commands from the command base. The SC-2 has the necessary electronics to accept the TMCC commands fro the base. The DZ-2500 has the electronics to accept the TMCC commands from the base through the data wire driver. So to operate your 4 turnouts from a cab1 or cab2 you will need 1 SC-2 or the list above to go with DZ-2500 switch machines.

Ron

Thanks Mike for the key sequence. That helps me visualize the operation. Now, I see what the Up arrow and the "Y" arrow on the CAB-1 means.

Ron: Looking at the Z-Stuff website tells me that One DZ-2001 plus four DZ-2000s would operate the DZ1000 actuator. Part of the writeup says The DZ-2000 "...is especially designed to operate our DZ-1000 Switch Machine. "

But:

1. The DZ-2000 is currently unavailable

2. The cost of four of them plus a DZ-2001 is about the same as an SC-2

I am in the middle of "The Great Westward Expansion", and won't be buying either TMCC solution right now. Maybe in a couple of weeks after I get the layout back into operating condition.

Regarding the DZ-2500. I understand that it operates "slowly". Would that be a problem throwing the switch in time when an approaching engine trips the anti-derailing tack section?

 You might want to check with Dennis at Z-stuff. The DZ-2000 may not be available any more. It might be cheaper to buy 4 new DZ-2500s and sell the DZ-1000s on the buy sell board. The anti derailing feature on the DZ-2500 is supposed to trip the switch quickly. In regular operation it trips slowly.

Ron