I have done some internet research already, and am having a hard time finding what I’m looking for.
My prototype railroad, a backwoodsy Idaho shortline, installed a rudimentary warning flasher at one of their grade crossings back in the '60’s. The flahsers themselves were two truck taillights mounted to the crossing signpost, and apparently the crew actually activated the flashers using a radio transmitter in the engine. This sounds like a job for a stationary DCC decoder! Except, which one?
I can see there are several on the market that include detection, flasher outputs, bell effects and crossing gate activation. Much too complicated (and pricey) for my needs. Can anyone recommend a simpler, less expensive, stationary decoder that will allow my layout crew to dial up the address and turn the flasher on as they approach the crossing (and turn it off as they clear it), and simply provide the alternating flashing effect for two red miniature lamps?
Why go to all that trouble and expense when a simple toggle switch on the layout fascia that your “crew” can use to turn the signal on and off. A simple 555 timer circuit can be used to make the light(s) flash.
ROb has a million and one circuits, includingmultipel grade crossing flashing ones. FOr power, use 4x 1N5401 diodes in a bridge rectifier configuration and a filter capacitor to get DC fromt eh DCC bus. For one, not a big deal, bit to run a bunch of accessories off the DCC bus is a rather expensive way of doing things, since a DCC booster costs a lot more than a simple wall wart and some wire to string a DC power bus around the layout.
If all you are going to do is turn on and off the flashers think about using a locomotive decoders hyper light outputs. A simple Digitrax DH123 or TCS T1 decoder wired to the DCC buss would work. Just be sure to put a small load (I use a small light bulb or structure light across the motor leads) to facilitate programming.
You can set the address to whatever you like and activate it with the whistle or light button on your controller.
Now that you have mentioned it, I may give it a try myself on one of my lesser used crossings to see if I can make it work. I have been reluctant to spring for another detections system.