Awesome! I have so wanted one of these for a while, props for taking the time out to build one
Thanks man
It's taken a damn long time for me to get round to it
***Official Electronics Thread of Officialness (it starts off with lots of Nixie Tube Clock goodness
- Thread starter Aod
- Start date
Thanks man
It's taken a damn long time for me to get round to it
My clock as seen in the OP uses IN-8-2 tubes with 18mm digits. they're easily visible and legible from across the whole room, but also not too huge to be comfortable to see under my monitor on my desk. 18mm is a good size
yeah steam punk nixie things are awesome
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/4508/steampunknixieclock.jpg
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/6083/steampunknixie2.jpg
Drooooooool
anyone ever used
http://www.tubehobby.com/store.php?cat=1
their kits seem reasonably price (thew in -18'#s though are insanely expensive and don't come with the kit)
But i always liked the look of the in-14's it's the little pinched bit at the top i like and that kit including tubes seems pretty reasonable
They also sell dinky little crt tubes including a pretty cool looking 1" one (you could make them into a clock too, or an awesome retro/steampunk( with the right wood and bras casing) portable oscilloscope, with all the accuracy of a bus drawing lines in the desert mind but it would still be cool)
One thing i would love is a normal nixie clock with a IN-13 (or In-9) bar graph tube underneath linked to a timer function.
So you set the alarm and the bar graph fills as the time runs out (like a loading bar) mostly for short times i.e 10-30 mins not say for your normal daily 8 o clock alarm etc that wouldn't use the bar.
Just as a nice quick visual indicator of time left (could always run it backwards if you prefer it to empty as time runs out) either till something is done (food/download etc) or until you need to be ready (ie alarm goes off to wake you up then that kicks in and counts down for the next 30 mins you have to get ready).
But i think it ill take quite some time before i learn enough about electronics to get to the stage to design and integrate it into the clock (without say going over board and just putting i na full arduino/pic thing that would greatly increase the size of it
PV Electronics also have a complete nixie-kit with the IN-14 tubes included. i don't like the IN-14's because the Russians skimped on cost and used upside-down "2" as "5" so they look a bit wierd. many many other tubes also have the sealing pip at the top
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IN-8's are electrically identical to IN-8-2's but have solid pins instead of solderable wires
Which Kit are you looking at? there are ones available that come with little individual sockets
I think they best compromise is 4 x IN 18 (40 ish each) for the time and 2 x IN 8 (10 each) for seconds?
I think that Clocks look a bit silly with different sized digits. if you're going to splash out on four IN-18's you might as well go the whole way and get six.
In the 3rd post of this thread i linked to ebay auctions selling lots of six IN-18's for £150, that's only £25 per tube
none that i've noticed
Problem is I am average at best with soldering so don't want to kill £150 of nixies
Might do an 8 first an then try an 18.
the IN-18's are socketed, you'd be quite unlikely to kill them unless you really really badly mess up your kit, i'm not even sure if you could. apart from gross physical damage Nixies are remarkably resilient.
Either way, building an 8 and then an 18 when you've got the hang of it sounds good, especially because then you'd have two clocks
good point i'd forgotten about that 8's it is
Hehehehe.
Remember people, always do your nixie research before hitting the buy button and ending up with worthless glass
I believe so, but you'll want these as well:
http://www.pvelectronics.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_11&products_id=28
the tubes might ride a litle high off the PCB though.
Best thing to do would be to Email PV Electronics and ask if those pin-holders are compatible with the IN-8-2 board, i can't remember the tube hole sizes, i think they're 0.7mm though.
They're directly Ionising the Neon without any heating. they run completely cold, with a +170V DC applied to the anode mesh at the front and the digit of choice is grounded causing illumination
Mostly correct. the tubes to vary in their drive voltage, smaller ones needing less (around 140) and larger ones needing more (up to 220 for the MASSIVE ones). some clocks directly rectify and resistor the 170V DC from mains 240AC, but it's an inelegant design and also means that you've got mains AC on your board, which is never attractive.i think it's more the 140 range.
i thinkthe kits normally use 12v dc in then some Dc-DC converters to ramp it up for the tubes.
but don't quote me o nany of this it's been a long time since i looked
Like i said, usually between 140V to 180V depending on tube size. mine are 170.
Most tubes will run on 240V DC but they'll degrade very quickly and only last a few weeks/months.
THIS HERE is a design (the original design, actually. this page started the Nixie Clock revolution!) that uses rectified and resistored mains AC to drive the whole clock.
That kit is simply the PV Electronics IN-14 kit with their case, they sell on ebay as well as their webstore. their kits are good quality and good value, i'm personally unsure about the aesthetics and value of their cases but otherwise it's a good buy if you're happy with the IN-14 tubes
Yeah, I can't see tubes any cheaper on ebay. And you know if you get them from PV in the kit, they will match the boards...
Execept some IN-16's here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IN-16-IN1..._Consumer_VintageAudio_RL&hash=item3a69597dca
So options are either
Z570M kit with tubes
IN-14 kit with tubes
or
IN-16 kit without tubes, and buy some from ebay
Some guidance would be appreciated, but considering I had barely heard of these things until yesterday I think I'm doing quite well
You'll occasionally find cheaper tubes on ebay, you need to hunt around and get a little lucky though. those IN-16's you've linked to are somewhat overpriced and also, IN-16s are TINY little tubes, they look pretty miserable compared to the IN-14's and IN-8's that can be had for similar prices.
It's not a very Hard project Feek my man, like I said I completed my clock in a night
I don't know about the best, but their kits are certainly very good quality and was shipped promptly and well packed. have a look at their website and see the instruction manual for their kits, you'll be surprised at how many features their kits have when completed
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you wouldn't, but, that's £160 for 6x IN-18's as well as 6pcs Nos IN-14 nixie tubes + 6pcs Nos IN-12 nixie tubes + 6pcs Nos IN-1 nixie tubes 3pcs + NOS IV-6 vfd 6pcs, whereas six IN-18's on their own costs £150.
you could make two or three more clocks, or you could just sell the extra tubes and probably almost break even
Seeing as i've started this awesome trend and have attempted to contribute as much of my nixie-knowledge as i can, i don't suppose i can get a custom title like "Nixiedecina" or something? perhaps one that's better than what i've come up with?
Hehehehe, i suspect that you won't be the only one who wants it if he doesn't
we might have to amend the rules of the MM to allow the selling of Nixie-tube paraphernalia
Oh this will be a project that will be completed and it'll be completed pretty quickly. I've printed off the instructions and it looks very simple indeed, nothing like any tricky coils or inductors to wind.
/edit - No custom titles or selling outside MM
The kit worked out at just over £80 including postage.
Awwww
Very reasonable price. don't forget to buy a 12V adapter (5.5mm Center positive barrel plug!) for it
I'm Assuming you have a decent soldering iron and multimeter Feeky?
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Oh yes, forgot to say - I'll be using a feed from my Daiwa 25A PSU. That should be enough!
It looks like this, it's not exactly this model but it's close enough.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5545212/daiwa.jpg
It's a bit cumbersome for everyday use though?
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with adequate shielding even the noisiest device can be used with sensitive equipment.
On the other hand, this clock, uncased, has no shielding whatsoever
Indeed. like i said, i don't *think* it's producing any significant RF, my loudspeakers which are highly susceptible to RF interference (mobiles make them go nuts) have only the SLIGHTEST hum when i directly short the switching transistors on the front of the PCBs causing the tubes to flicker. otherwise they've just got the normal background RF crackle.
Nice! I assume you're using the IN-18s? those end-view tubes to the top right look huge! i bet they'll be snapped up eagerly!
the Tubehobby one apparently has a good reputation:
http://tubehobby.com/show_det.php?det=44
but this one from my 3rd post
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-DIGIT-I..._Consumer_VintageAudio_RL&hash=item3a663c2d01
also looks good and is also ready-to-run, just needs the Tubes. check their feedback, people appear to be satisfied with it
http://tubehobby.com/show_det.php?det=44
but this one from my 3rd post
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-DIGIT-I..._Consumer_VintageAudio_RL&hash=item3a663c2d01
also looks good and is also ready-to-run, just needs the Tubes. check their feedback, people appear to be satisfied with it
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