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My son and I are getting ready to build our first layout (4' x 8').  I have no experience with model trains at all and my son is only 8.  We have all the items to build an HO layout which will have two turnouts.  We will run two to three locos at a time.  I've already decided to go DCC and will most likely buy the Digitrax Zephyr.  To spice up the layout, we'd like to have a few functional railroad crossing gates, maybe a traffic light or two, street lights and a few signals.  With all that being said, I have been reading articles and forums on the web for days on end to get familiar with wiring.  I know I need to run feeders.  I have an idea of what they are and why they are needed, but I have no clue as to how you actually wire them.  I'm thinking you chain wire from one feeder line to the next?  I've seen layouts where crossing gates go up and down as the train comes and goes, but I have no clue as to how they work...same goes for track signals.Regarding the above accessories, I'm not sure if they can be hooked in with the DCC system.  I read that I could use a DC power pack to run accessories.  Would I need to run a wire to some sort of control panel and wire the accessories to the panel?  It's driving me crazy that I can't figure out the wiring...not one of my strong areas.  Anyhow is there a good beginner wiring site I might have missed that provides step by step instruction?  Is there a good wiring book that will offer insight?  I looked at books at my local hobby shop, but at $19.95 per book, I was hesitant to blindly buy one.  Sorry for the beginner questions and thanks in advance.
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