How Do I wire up accessories

[hiawatha18]

Hello. I am building my second HO scale layout and it is well underway. However, while I have wired it for very simple DCC operations on a double-track mainline, I have a question since DCC is new to me. How do I wire up accessories like operating signals, or highway grade crossing lights? Back in the day, I would just use the extra terminals from my MRC power pack. Can I still use this pack and just dedicate it to my electrically run accessories? Thanks for your help...I really do appreciate it.

[waltr]

Use a separate power supply for any accessory that is not controlled from DCC. There are many options from large open frame PS to wall warts.
Wall Warts are readily available and you may even have a few laying around from old electronic devices that have died. These are commonly 9 to 15V and 100 to 500mA or more.

[Iron Horseman]

Originally Posted by hiawatha18

Hello. I am building my second HO scale layout and it is well underway. However, while I have wired it for very simple DCC operations on a double-track mainline, I have a question since DCC is new to me. How do I wire up accessories like operating signals, or highway grade crossing lights?

Long answer is there are more ways to wire accessories than one can shake a stick at. Are the accessories actually interacting with the trains on the track, or are their triggers electrically isolated from the DCC on the track? I mean does the highway crossing lights activate by a manual switch, magnet, pressure switch, beam of light, etc, or does it sense the locomotive/train through the power in the track (block detection like a Twin-T circuit)? I am guessing the former since the accessories used to work from the extra terminals. If they were electrically connected I am not certain that would have worked well.

Back in the day, I would just use the extra terminals from my MRC power pack. Can I still use this pack and just dedicate it to my electrically run accessories?

Short answer is, yes. Nothing needs to change for accessories. The MRC power pack can still be used. I have a 1964 MRC that has been doing nothing but powering accessories since 1984.

[hiawatha18]

Thanks for your help. I only have some simple lighted accessories from my first layout, but as I am building a new one, I'd love to incorporate crossing signals and gates, and other more interesting things to bring my layout to life.

[Iron Horseman]

Originally Posted by hiawatha18

Thanks for your help. I only have some simple lighted accessories from my first layout, but as I am building a new one, I'd love to incorporate crossing signals and gates, and other more interesting things to bring my layout to life.

AH! In that case I would recommend getting a new power supply to the exact specification of whatever crossing signals and/or gates you purchase. Often a working crossing gate will use a slow motion stall type motor to move the arms. Those are generally considered DC devices.