DCC in Z scale

Special Considerations in Z Scale

Voltage is the prime concern, you need to keep the voltage down to avoid melting motors and sometimes lamps. If your supply cannot be turned down enough, make one or more full wave bridges using "fast recovery" diodes and put in series with the power to the track. The fast diodes will keep from messing up the DCC signal (rounding off the "corners").

Here's an exampleFR601DICT-ND from Digikey

Some Z is fine on 8 volts, some 10. Many systems will only go down to 12v. Remember that the voltage to the motor is NOT the same as the track voltage, but usually a couple of volts lower. My PowerCab puts just about 13v DCC to the rails, so I have standardized on that voltage. This should supply 10-11 volts to the motor after the decoder "drop".

What's available in decoders:

CT Electronik

• DCX65 -------- 6 x 5 x 1.8 mm - SMALLEST DECODER MADE
• DCX76z ---- 6.9 x 6.1 x 1.7 mm - 4 function
• DCX77z--- - 7.6 x 5 x 1.8 mm -
  
• DCX77L ---  9.5 x 4 x 1.8mm -
• DCX74z ------- 9 x 7 x 2.6 mm - 4 function
• DCX33 ----- 10.4 x 6.7 x 1.4 - 4 function
• DCX76 ----- 10.8 x 7.1 x 1.3 - 4 function
• DCX75 -------- 11 x 7.2 x 1.4 mm - 4 function
• DCX74D --- 13 x 9 x 1.5 mm - 7 wire version - 2 function outputs
• DCX74DV - 13 x 9 x 1.5 mm - 9 wire"full"version - 4 function outputs
• SL76 - 16.7 x 7.7 x 2.3 mm - sound, motor and 4 function - SMALLEST SOUND DECODER
• DCX52 - 17 x 11 x 2.3 mm - 8 functions
• DCX70-2 - 17 x 11 x 2.6 mm - 7 functions
• DCX51-P12 - 18.6 x 9.5 x 3.6  mm - PluX12
• GE75 - 24 x 9 x 3.5 mm- sound and 2 function decoder 
• DCX51-2 - 25 x 15 x 3.7 mm - 4 function

Digitrax

OK, low cost, not the smallest, no small 4 function decoders

• DZ123 - 13.97 x 9.144mm x 3.302mm - 2 function
• DZ123M0 - drop in for MicroTrains GP-35, GP-9
• DZ123Z0 Board Replacement Decoder for American Z Line (AZL) GP-30 Diesels and others.
• DZ123MK0 Board Replacement Decoder for Marklin Mini Club 88455 and others.
• DZ123MK1 Board Replacement Decoder for Marklin Z 88584 and others.
• DZ125 - 10.62 x 8.64 x 2.84mm - RETIRED
• DZ126T - 14 x 7.13 x 3.25 mm - 2 function
• DZ143 - 9.1 x 14 x 3mm - 4 function, RETIRED
• DZ146 - 14 x 10.23 x 3.77mm - 4 function

ESU

• LokPilot Nano - 8 x 7 x 2.4 - 4 function - SECOND SMALLEST DECODER CHOICE
• Loksound Micro v4.0 - 25mm x 10.6mm x 3.8mm - sound, motor, 4 functions
• Loksound Select Micro - 25mm x 10.6mm x 3.8mm - sound, limited sounds
• Lokpilot micro v4.0 - 10.5 x 8.1 x 2.8mm - motor and 4 function
• LokPilot Fx - 13.5 x 9.0 x 3.5mm -function only - 6 functions

Lenz

• Gold Mini "Plus" - 11 x 9 x 2.6

NCE - (North Coast Engineering)

• Z14SR - 14.2 x 8.6 x 3.2 mm -

Soundtraxx

• Micro Tsunami 25.4 x 12.7 x 5.6 mm

TCS (Train Control Systems)

• Z2 - 12.95 x 6.65 x 2.79 mm - 1 amp cont / 2 amp peak / 2 function 60 ma total / wired
• MZA4 - 1 amp cont / 2 amp peak / 4 function 80 ma total / drop in for MT GP9, GP35, SD40

Uhlenbrock

• 73400 - 10.8 x 7.5 x 2.4 - has SUSI interface

Zimo

• MX621 - 12 x 8.5 x 2.2 - motor and function - 4 function outputs, .7 amp continuous
  
• MX618 - 15 x 9.5 x 2.8 - 4 function
• MX646 - 28 x 10.5 x 4 - motor, function and sound - 4 function outputs - servo control,  1 amp continuous
• MX642 - 30 x 15 x 4.5 - motor, function and sound - RETIRED?
• MX646 - 28 x 10.5 x 4 - RETIRED
• MX648 - 20 x 11 x 4 - motor, 6 function, sound, - 
• MX649 - 23 x 9 x 4 - 6 functions, or 4 functions and 2 servo - SECOND SMALLEST SOUND DECODER MADE
• MX658 - 25 x 10,5 x 4 - motor, 4 function, sound, susi, servos

Ngineering

• N8031B - not really a decoder, but super mars light simulator, uses 3 LEDs, up to 18v supply.   7.9 x 7.9 x 3 mm

DCC Manufacturer ID table:

1: CML Electronics Limited
2: Train Technology
11: NCE Corporation
12: Wangrow
13: Public Domain & Do-It-Yourself Decoders
14: PSI - Dynatrol
15: Ramfixx Technologies (Wangrow)
17: Advanced IC Engineering, Inc.
18: JMRI
19: AMW
20: T4T - Technology for Trains GmbH
21: Kreischer Datentechnik
22: KAM Industries
23: S Helper Service
24: MoBaTron.de
25: Team Digital, LLC
26: MBTronik - PiN GITmBH
27: MTH Electric Trains, Inc.
28: Heljan A/S
29: Mistral Train Models
30: Digsight
31: Brelec
32: Regal Way Co. Ltd
33: Praecipuus
34: Aristo-Craft
35: Elektronik & Modell Produktion
36: DCC Concepts
37: NAC Services, Inc.
38: Broadway Limited Imports, LLC
39: Educational Computer, Inc (DCCdevices.com)
40: KATO Precision Models
41: Passmann Modellbahnzubehoer
42: Digirails
43: Ngineering
44: SPROG-DCC
45: ANE Model Co., LTD.
46: GFB Designs
47: Capecom
48: Hornby Hobbies Ltd.
49: Joka Electronic
50: N & Q Electronics
51: DCC Supplies, Ltd
52: Krois-Modell
53: Rautenhaus Digital
54: TCH Technology
55: QElectronics GmbH
56: LDH
57: Rampino Elektronik
58: KRES GmbH
59: Tam Valley Depot
60: Bluecher-Elektronik
61: TrainModules
62: Tams Elektronik GmbH
63: Noarail
64: Digital Bahn
65: Gaugemaster
66: Railnet Solutions, LLC
67: Heller Modenlbahn
68: MAWE Elektronik
69: E-Modell
70: Rocrail
71: New York Byano Limited
72: MTB Model
73: The Electric Railroad Company
74: PpP Digital
75: DigiTools Electronics Servicing and Contractor Ltd.
76: Auvidel
77: LS Models Sprl
78: Tehnologistic (train-O-matic) ROM
79: Hattons Model Railways UK
80: Spectrum Engineering US
81: GooVerModels BEL
82: HAG Modelleisenbahn CHE
83: JSS-Elektronic DE
84: Railflyer Model Prototypes, Inc.  C
85: Uhlenbrock Elektronik GmbH
86: Wekomm Engineering, GmbH
87: RR-CirKits
88: HONS Model 1011000 0x58 88 HKG
89: Pojezdy.EU 1011001 0x59 89 CZE
90: Shourt Line 1011010 0x5A 90 US
91: Railstars Limited 1011011 0x5B 91 US
92: Tawcrafts 1011100 0x5C 92 UK
93: Kevtronics cc 1011101 0x5D 93 ZAF
94: Electroniscript, Inc. 1011110 0x5E 94 US
95: Sanda Kan Industrial (1981) Ltd.
96: PRICOM Design
97: Doehler & Haas
98: Harman DCC
99: Lenz Elektronik GmbH
100: Trenes Digitales
101: Bachmann Trains
102: Integrated Signal Systems
103: Nagasue System Design Office
104: TrainTech
105: Computer Dialysis France
106: Opherline1 1101010 0x6A 106 FR
107: Phoenix Sound Systems, Inc.
109: Viessmann Modellspielwaren GmbH
110: AXJ Electronics
111: Haber & Koenig Electronics GmbH
112: LSdigital
113: QS Industries
114: Benezan Electronics
115: Dietz Modellbahntechnik
116: MyLocoSound
117: cT Elektronik
118: MÜT GmbH
119: W. S. Ataras Engineering
120: csikos-muhely
123: Massoth Elektronik, GmbH
125: ProfiLok Modellbahntechnik GmbH
127: Atlas Model Railroad Co., Inc.
129: Digitrax
131: Trix Modelleisenbahn
132: ZTC Controls Ltd.
133: Intelligent Command Control
135: CVP Products
139: RealRail Effects
141: Throttle-Up (Soundtraxx)
143: Model Rectifier Corp.
145: Zimo Elektronik
147: Umelec Ing. Buero
149: Rock Junction Controls
151: Electronic Solutions Ulm GmbH & Co KG
153: Train Control Systems (TCS)
155: Gebr. Fleischmann GmbH & Co.
157: Kuehn Ing.
159: LGB (Ernst Paul Lehmann Patentwerk)
161: Modelleisenbahn GmbH (formerly Roco)
163: WP Railshops
165: Model Electronic Railway Group
170: AuroTrains
173: Arnold - Rivarossi
186: brAWA Modellspielwaren GmbH & Co.
204: Con-Com GmBHs
225: Elproma Electrounics Poland
238: NMRA reserved