***Official Electronics Thread of Officialness (it starts off with lots of Nixie Tube Clock goodness

  • Thread starter Thread starter Aod
  • Start date Start date
Alllllll done :D

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Had a couple snags but got there in the end. So pleased with it.

Thanks for the help with some of the problem guys. you were right Feek somehow it managed to go into clock mode without the buttons attached but worked ok today.
 
Looks good, that's how many now, four from this thread?

I find it really quite mesmerising just to sit and watch it. I've set the digits to fade (setting 7 to 1) which I think looks much nicer than a sudden change.
 
Well the kit arrived. Ordered in the afternoon and delivered the next morning. Can't say fairer than that!

Tubes not here yet, so I'll likely start on it at the weekend :)
 
Oh i've been hooked.

Tubes and pins bought for IN-8
Just have to buy the kit (probably from pv electronics) and then a new soldering iron and helping hands solder etc...

Also has anyone worked out how to remove the blue leds yet from the PV electronics kit?
 
Kit ordered.. :D

Now just for the soldering bits which i'll prob pick up at the weekend!

And fair enough on the leds.. thought maybe they might break the circuit or something so would need a wire in their place or something similar!
 
I didn't fit them either, I think they look a bit tacky. If you're not fitting them then you miss out some other components but that's all explained in the very detailed installation instructions.

Something just happened and I can't explain how it occurred.

I appear to have six IN-18s on the way. I don't know how it happened, I was looking at an eBay page and somehow the 'buy-it-now' button clicked itself :D :cool: :o
 
Feek said:
I didn't fit them either, I think they look a bit tacky. If you're not fitting them then you miss out some other components but that's all explained in the very detailed installation instructions.

Something just happened and I can't explain how it occurred.

I appear to have six IN-18s on the way. I don't know how it happened, I was looking at an eBay page and somehow the 'buy-it-now' button clicked itself :D :cool: :o
Click to expand...

Oh no! :eek:

how will you cope Feek!?! :(










:D

<edit>
Of course, now you're going to have to invest in a set of six Rodan CD47 tubes, the biggest in the world.
http://www.tube-tester.com/sites/nixie/data/cd47-gr414.htm


 
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Feek said:
I didn't fit them either, I think they look a bit tacky. If you're not fitting them then you miss out some other components but that's all explained in the very detailed installation instructions.

Something just happened and I can't explain how it occurred.

I appear to have six IN-18s on the way. I don't know how it happened, I was looking at an eBay page and somehow the 'buy-it-now' button clicked itself :D :cool: :o
Click to expand...

:D

My IN-8 tubes arrived this morning, so I'm all set. I was running pretty low on solder too, so I've ordered another reel of 0.5mm which all being well should also turn up today.

No blue LEDs for me either, although if I ever feel the overwhelming need for some tack, as the IN-8s are socketed, it's an easy retrofit :)

Looking forward to seeing your 'accidental' IN-18s in action :cool:
 
Just a thought regarding the LEDs, they can be totally disabled through the menu system so there's no problem in installing them and turning them off.
 
Oh crap, I killed my clock :( :mad:

I accidentally shorted the pins at front of the clock (with a zap! :eek:) and now it's not working. i think that i've both burnt out the fuse as well as killed the LM7805 Voltage Regulator.

At least I have some spare '7805s :)

<edit>
Oh crumbs... i replaced the LM7805 and hotwired the fuse with straight wire... nothing :(
 
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Ouch...

Which pins, on the controller bug? It's a standard 74141 nixie controller chip and they're on eBay for a couple of quid if it's that which has gone.

I have to ask, how did you manage to short whatever it was you shorted?
 
no, it was the transistor-resistor pinblock for NX6, the rightmost front group of pins. I dropped a 2p coin which bounced and landed on it :mad:

it's not the K155ND1 I don't think, but i actually have six spare of those anyway. :(

there's something seriously wrong with the board because even though i replaced the LM7805 and bypassed the fuse, the voltage-test point for 5v is showing roughly bugger all (about 83mV)
 
Sorry to hear about your short circuit woes Aod :(

Started on mine today. Just thought I'd do the low and high voltage power components first.

With the low voltage components in:

1.jpg


My fuse is a 1500mA one and not 500mA as mentioned in the instructions, and I have one 560R resistor missing (and I don't have any spare either :(), but I don't need it until later on :)

First voltage check:

2.jpg


High voltage components in:

3.jpg


Second voltage test:

4.jpg


So all is well and within spec so far!
 
Looking good - I set the voltage on mine at 169 as I figured it's better to be slightly under than over.

I had a bunch of 560R left over because I didn't bother fitting them for the tube LEDs. Also a couple of transistors as well but the instructions do say that there might be some components left over.
 
Good point about the voltage. Think I'll dial mine down too.

I found some 560R 1% resistors, finished it and installed the LEDs, seeing as they can be switched off. The fading digits configuration option is brilliant :)

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The socket pins were a bit of a pain in the proverbial, but other than that, it was straightforward enough.

Now to try and figure out a case of some sort, and clean the flux residue off the board!

I fear it's rekindled the building bug, as I'm now frantically searching for something else to do :D
 
He’s got one of the IN-8-2 kits with tubes included back in stock if anyone’s interested. Click here. Tefal? ;)
 
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