Last Updated: 11 February 2024

Small DCC Decoders Recommended for N Gauge

Some manufacturers make great DCC decoders that are small enough for use in N Gauge locos. Below is a list of ones we regularly use for carrying out DCC conversions on both customers and our own locos. This list is based on years of experience regarding reliability, value for money and robustness in normal use, as well as size. Click the download icon to download the decoder manual and CV programming guide.

Decoder	Length (mm)	Width (mm)	Thickness (mm)
Doehler & Haass PD05A 2nd Gen*	5.2	8.0	2.5
ESU LokPilot Micro v5	8.0	7.0	2.9
Zimo MX616	8.0	8.0	2.4
Zimo MX615	8.2	5.7	2.0
Doehler & Haass PD10MU-3	8.5	11.7	1.8
Uhlenbrock 73406	9.5	7.5	2.4
Dapol Imperium 5*	10.0	8.4	2.8
Dapol Imperium Micro 6*	10.0	8.4	2.8
Lenz Silver Mini+	10.6	7.5	2.6
Tran DCX75 (CTelektronik)	11.0	7.2	1.4
Kuehn N45	11.7	8.9	2.3
Zimo MN140	12.0	8.6	2.3
Zimo MN170	12.0	8.6	2.5
Gaugemaster Ruby DCC92	12.0	10.0	3.0
Doehler & Haass DH10C (2nd Gen)	12.7	8.9	1.4
DCC Concepts Zen Blue+ Nano	14.0	7.0	2.7
Dapol Imperium 4*	14.0	8.5	2.8
Bachmann 36-558A*	14.0	9.0	2.0
Doehler & Haass DH10C (1st Gen)	14.2	9.3	1.5

Decoders marked with an asterisk are 6-pin rather than hard wired, but are generally widely available. We make them smaller by removing the pins and replacing them with wires. The dimensions quoted are with the pins removed.

We do not recommend any decoders made by Lais. Gaugemaster Ruby decoders are not considered suitable for Minitrix conversions.

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