Absolutely, use a separate power supply for accessories, leaving the DCC supply to run trains only, IMO.

If you are interested in building your own automation circuits check out Rob Paisley's page.

And if your not into DIY electronics you could try this grade crossing signal controller

http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/product.php?productid=999002713&c...

The controller is available with either photo cell  or infrared detection.

The controller itself works well but both of these detectors can be unreliable, more so the photo cell detectors. If I was going to use it on my layout I would use current detectors and resistive wheelsets.

Cheers Steve

The below link has some options if you like DIY projects.

http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/CircuitIndex.html#Automatic

I bought his DCC amp meter parts a couple years ago. Very happy with the results.

Rich

Sorry, answered to quickly. I see this link already provided.

Rich

Sorry, answered to quickly. I see this link already provided.

Rich

Still a valuable post as you give feedback on purchasing from Rob and you remind us that Rob also sells kits and fully assembled circuits as well as providing plans for DIY'ers.

The updated (2008) version of the automated crossing gate circuit should be just what the doc ordered for the OP, I thought.

You guys are great, thanks  for the infos, btw, I am not really a DIY, but I still have time to consider everything. Being in the midst of tearing down a superb n scale layout, I will rebuild smaller HO with dcc/sound. Wife is claiming some land down in the basement, and I agree.

Former railroad name was .'' Lamoille, Massawippi & St-François rr,'' the new one is called ''Massawippi railroad corp.''

The former in n scale had its own decals and lettering, the new one will have 'used'' equipement, thus new reporting marks over old owners and so on ...

thanks again, will keep you posted !

Guy Laurin

Also try  "signalogicsystems.com"  They advertise on the railpics site and seem to have some neat stuff.  

Steve

 Moderator Edit:  Made into a direct link.

Steve please go to the site you tryed to put above and please put in a proper URL in order for us to find it. Because what to put above does not exist.

Dan

 I would strongly suggest you look at the Tam Valley Depot system. (New Sponsor). He has a DCC booster units and power supplies for a very reasonable price. This will keep your accessory system under its own power grid but still accessible from your DCC system. Then you can control the crossing gate with a servo and one of his singleton units. If you use a Quad-P unit then you have multiple controls. One could turn on the lights, one for the bell and one for the arm control. With the daughter boards and relays he has there is an endless combination of things that can be controlled, not just your switches.

And the great thing his prices and service are very good. 

I agree the Tam Valley Booster looks like a great solution for accessories.  Thanks for the heads up on that product!

Paco has what looks like a great solution.  A DCC Level Crossing setup including bells, gates and lights with seperate triggers as well as manual control

http://usuaris.tinet.org/fmco/pansem_sp.html#pansound

http://usuaris.tinet.org/fmco/download/PANsound_manual.pdf

http://usuaris.tinet.org/fmco/download/PANsound.zip (Hex Files)

I have not tried it yet but his other DIY DCC stuff is good.

It looks Promising

Cheers

Ben