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Depends on which accessory decoder you want to use

You could use the ZTC 302 point motor/decoder in which case you would need 20 @£12.95 each not cheap, but it does include the actual point motor.

Team Digital SMD82 will operate 8 points and can be programmed to operate a route.

Hornby only 4 points

NCE snap it only 1 point.

There are alot more accessory decoders to choose from, not just these!

I think you may need to be a little more specific and which controller are you using?
Does it have the ability to control routes, do you want this function, if so the accessory decoder will need to be able to do this.

 

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QUOTE (butler-henderson @ 29 Jul 2008, 17:15) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>You can route set off any point decoder - feed the each pair of outputs through bridge rectifiers to a pair of relays and work the points off the switched relay output fed from a CDU.

Yes fair enough but not a cheap or easy way to do it, DCC is supposed to reduce the amount of wiring and make it easier.
Wiring up rectifiers and relays is to me over the top, when there are controllers or accessory decoders that can be programmed to do it.

 

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QUOTE (Vulcanbomber @ 29 Jul 2008, 19:45) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Problem is most decoders won't switch more than one point motor, so if you have something like a 3 way point you are stuffed, I wish someone would bring out a decoder which would utilise a central CDU

Some of the accessory decoders do have on board CDU's and can switch more than one motor from one ouput.

Having tried to operate points using the DCC controller and with switches and indicator panel I prefer the later option.
Scrolling through and trying to remember point addresses can be a nightmare if there are loads, while also trying to control the loco with the same controller.

The only reason I can see to use the DCC to control the points is if they are in a hard to reach area and there are only a few to operate.
Or you are going for full PC control.
You still need signals or some sort of marker to tell you which way the point is set, so that still needs a fair bit of wiring.

Yes Heathcote electronics do make a little point indicator board which will give an output to an LED when it senses a current change, but what if the point sticks and doesn't actually move?? The indicator has sensed the current change so will change the LED, oops!

When I have another spurt to finish my OO layout I may use the Merg accessory decoders and the Encoder.
The Encoder uses on/off switches by operating these gives you an indication to which way the point is set, so you move a switch which will give the ouput to change the correct point motor.
The advantage being the Encoder can be in the mimic panel with the switches connected to it, as it works using DCC only two wires need go to the accessory decoders, which can be placed close to all of the points, reducing all of the wiring needed.
Plus this system can be on it's own separate DCC circuit, so any shorts and th epoints will still work.

Having said all of that the new CANBUS system that Merg are working on looks very interesting, and I may even go for that as it looks like it will make it even simpler to control and wire everything.

Just my thoughts and opinions having used different ways of controlling points, it's down to the individual and their own layout in the end.