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Hey guys. I am reaching out to the electrical gurus on this site to hopefully solve my problem I am having.

I am trying to interface my Custom Signals with my DZ-2500 switch motors.

First, I did try to reach out to Terry at CS but so far have not received any contact. I know Terry was planning to sell (close) the business and retire last year. I am not sure if he is still doing any business with the signals. I did not want to bug him if he left the business. His web site was not updated since his computer crash the other month.

Regardless, last year I purchased a bunch of his signals…all “SL” types during Terry’s discount sales. I plan to use these new signals to replace my MTH ones from my old layout.

My needs are pretty simple. All I want to do with the signals is use them to show switch position, nothing else. In that regard, I have a number of (2) head (SL-45’s) and also a lot of Atlas singles that I want to use my DZ2500 switch motors to operate.

I am a structural draftsman by trade; anything “sparky” related is always a challenge to me. Therefore, when something does not work as illustrated, I quickly run out of options.

Terry’s system runs the gamut of being highly sophisticated or quite simple. I chose the simple approach. I followed his directions using the PCB board supplied to “just show switch position”.

Here are some specifics:

Input to DZ2500:

Red = positive 14VAC (constant from accessory on Z4000)

Black = negative (common) 14VAC (constant from accessory on Z4000)

Output from DZ2500:

White = output to DZ2502 switch button

Blue = (not used)

Green = 5.07VDC (activated) 0.98VDC (not activated)

Yellow = opposite of green

 So the output for the green and yellow wire changes voltage depending on switch position. 

I checked with Dennis at “DZ” and he agrees with these readings from the DZ2500. So far, so good.

According to Terry at CS he told me…”Donald, You can use the auxiliary outputs on the 2500. Either the yellow or green wire will go LOW when the turnout is changed. Connect this to the Rin terminal and it should give you a red indication. Terry.”

I agree with Terry, this does happen to the green and yellow wires of the DZ2500 as noted above.

Now, jump to the PCB board that is supplied with every signal. a link is shown below.

It is very simple to hook up for my application. The power supply is the same as the switch motor = 14VAC. There are screw connections on the board and a LED lights when energized properly.

I plug the signal into the proper port on the board and the signal light displays “green”. Excellent. Simple to do.

Now according to Terry, I hook up either the green or yellow wire to his “Rin” (stands for RED in) connection and the light should show “red” as long as power is supplied from the DZ2500 green or yellow wire. When I throw the switch, the signal light should go “back to green” when the current goes “low”.

Well, this does not happen. He also has a “Yin” (YELLOW in) connection which changes the signal from “green” to “yellow” instead of red. I hooked up the green or yellow wire to “Yin” and the signal responds accordingly. When “Yin” is energized, it displays Yellow. When the input goes low, it goes back to green.

This would be perfect if I wanted a green / yellow display. But I need green / red.

Hence my frustration as I do not have a clue what to do next. In my mind, if the PCB responds as designed for yellow / green, why does it not work the same for red / green?

Back of Terry's PCB

Note that the "TM" connector is actually "Rin".

Thanks for any help.

Donald

Last edited by 3rail
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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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