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--- Sizes for some Digitrax, ESU & Zimo decoders ---

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I recently decided to buy a couple Zimo MX615 decoders as they are very small and also are suppose to be great decoders.

Seeing how small they are in the specs is one thing but to see one out of the package is an eye opener. I can't imagine a loco that you couldn't get one of these in.

I'll save the two until I'm doing decoder installs again and come up with a small loco that I can't fit a less expensive decoder in although these are not that expensive compared to some others.

One of the first decoder I installed was the Digitrax DZ123 as I could get those for about $16 pre-COVID. I did use a couple Lais decoders I found for $12 that seemed to work fine as a basic decoder but that one seems to have disappeared. I still have some of the 123's that I bought for that price and will use them in locos that have enough room. When I ran into situations where the 123 was a hard fit I moved onto the DZ126T which is smaller and probably about the smallest decoder Digitrax sells. I was getting those for about $23. Then I found the ESU 5 Nano and then the 5 Micro shown above. Really like these decoders especially the newer 5 Micro. Very small 4 function outputs and 2 logic outputs if you need more.

I installed one of the 5 Nano's (now discontinued) in the N scale Doodlebug above ( Video HERE ) and used the extra outputs for interior lighting and cab lighting. That install and my other documented installs are ( HERE ).

The Digitrax 126T can probably fit in most N scale locos but now that it is about the same price as the ESU 5 Micro I'll go with the 5 Micro. As for the Zimo if I find something that the 5 Micro doesn't work in (not much) I'll use the really small Zimo MX615R and at $37 it is still a good buy. I'm actually looking forward to using it in an install. I've been busy the last few months trying to get the main layout up so haven't done any installs. Actually miss them so might have to take a break soon and do a couple.

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