Switch Power Distribution - Do I Have This Right?

As long as you are using the KW for just the C & D output, and no non-derailing with a layout common for triggering, you should be just fine.  BUT, that's a lot of power just for DZ switch machines.  The power drain is just a few watts with idle switches, maybe an intermittent 30(~50 for the crossover) watts when operating, probably quite a bit less.

If the KW is not used for train control, why not use A-U or B-U so you can fine-tune the power delivery?

I do not have the DZ2500 wiring diagram but it looks OK. I also use the 14 volt tap on the KW but only have DZ 1000 machines. I use the rest of the KW to power accessories. I would also install a line fuse from the 14 volt tap. KW breaker is too slow for the wire used.

Might be a little neater to daisy chain the wiring instead of using the 2 barrier strips but that depends on the layout shape and preference. Be sure to color code your wiring. Because my siding is automated I throw the machines with relay contacts instead of the push button switches.

Also in your drawing you mark the AC as + and - which implies DC current, This is AC current and the DZ1000 machines will not work on DC.

Dale H

That's a good idea. The ZW2500's I've installed already seem to work just fine on 14VAC. I'm not sure if that will be enough to power two at one time on the crossovers.

I was wondering thought about all the terminal blocks. I've got one underneath the layout where the switch is, a 2nd by each controller with the phone wire running between the two, and then the pair at the transformer. Is that the standard practice or would it be better to have another wire going directly from the switch machine to some kind of a buss from the transformer? Do people run busses for switch machines?

That's exactly the way I have my DZ-2500's wired.  Using the 14vAC tap off of an MTH Z1000 brick, I have no problems powering a crossover with a single DZ-2502 remote button powering 2 DZ-2500's.

Be sure you read up on the posts about setting up the Z2500s, whether they are the current version or not. Important first steps. There were a couple of posts on this in late Feb.

Also consider whether you will be using the Z-2001 data driver later in your layout and do consider your need for non-derailing in the future. Your design might change a bit if yo add this.

Bye the way, the diagram is GREAT!!. Is there a database of icons you used?

Ralph

Dale - daisy chain what to what? For example, the black wire from the terminal block at controller #2 to the black wire at the terminal block at controller #1 and then directly to the C post of the transformer eliminating the need for the MTH terminal block?

And yeah, I get that for AC it's not really + and -. The "-" is the common, connected to the "C" post on the transformer. I just think in + and -, a leftover from my N scale days.

Thanks. The diagram is done in MS Visio and there are no icons. I drew everything myself, copying the DZ stuff from their instruction sheet and the terminal blocks from one I have. It actually doesn't take all that long...just copy and paste and then group individual objects together to form newer larger objects.

I actually did read up on what has been posted about the DZ2500, thus my idea to switch over to the DZ-1000 for the rest. The slow motion of the DZ-2500 doesn't get me all that exited but on the other hand, if I do switch over to Legacy, I suppose the DZ-2500 would be better.

i looked at what I did. The red wire (middle on the DZ1000) machine goes to the outer rail. I do not have any DZ2500 machines. 

Dale H

I have found that each of my 2500 machines behave differently. The mfg recommends a certain voltage but that may not apply in practice to each machine individually. I have a few that work great at a much lower input than some of the others and one that requires a lightening bolt to set if off. I was thinking about segregating those with different values. I have a lot of sources of dedicated power to use.

Matt

I operate all my dz-2500s on 12 volts power with no problems at all. If your machines don't all operate on one voltage I would think it's how they're set up. If they aren't exactly aligned and have absolutely no torque in the mounting screws they'll work fine. I have found attention to detail to be paramount when working with them.

Xray you might want to think about all 2500s as the wiring would be a little simpler. A 3 wire buss around the layout, then tie a hot, common and the data wire to each machine and also tie the data wire driver to the same 3 wires and plug the data wire driver to the Legacy base. That gives you command control of all the switches. If you also want to wire the pusbuttons jumper a hot and common off the buss and wire it to all the switches and then one wire from each machine to the buttons and you have button control also. A very quick easy and good looking wire job.

Ron