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

  • Thread starter Thread starter Aod
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Feek said:
I just bought these so I will have at least some illumination :)

bulbs.jpg
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That's what i like to see!
Now, what of that Tribble of yours? make sure it doesn't get into your stocks of quadrotriticale :D :p
 
Tefal said:
yeah but the thing is i want to build a custom one with some extra features :p

also I'm skint now until i get paid :o
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These ones have loads of features! :p
have you read the instruction manual? it has the features list at the end, very nice and comprehensive.
 
Samueltastic said:
Ive followed the instructions shown but when i test for 170v between ground I only get 12v. Playing with the dial doesnt change the voltage as well, any ideas?
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Check for short circuits, make sure that you've soldered all the dioes in the right direction (they only go one way) and make sure that the LM7805 and IRF630's are the right way round.

Also, did you forget to insert the microprocessor and/or is it correctly soldered in place?
 
we could just rename this thread "*** Official Electronics Stuff Thread ***"? :D

Samueltastic said:
Muppet award for me........................Didn't insert the micro-processor :p

Doh!
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Hehehehe, at least it was the very very simplest problem to rectify :D

Feek said:
It's a slower procedure than I expected, some of those pads around the resistors are indeed very small as are the ones around the two bugs.

Anyway, I've got the PSU stage built, tested and set up to 169 volts and now I'm off to bed. I should be able to do some more tomorrow and then that'll be it until the weekend.

PSU-20110913-225805.jpg


/edit - Sam, doh! :)
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Looking Good Mr Feek :)
 
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Feek said:
Grab a piece of veroboard and a length of wire. Strip the wire and cut it into pieces.

Solder wire to veroboard.

Repeat.

Simple practise, you won't need to do much to get your skills up.
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Dirt-cheap too if you get your stuff from the right places :)
 
Tefal said:
and what are the right places?
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Initially, anywhere that isn't "That Cartographic sounding place"
eBay's a very good place to start.

RS and Farnell (can i say those Feek?) are okay, but only if you're close enough to buy in person so you don't have to pay the hideous delivery charges. they're also much cheaper in bulk.
 
Feek said:
Yes, fine.

There's also Rapidonline who also have a trade counter if you're anywhere near Colchester.
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Yay! no suspension for me :)

Tefal said:
I think they'd look good behind some of that circle hole mesh

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/8050/stockphotobrushedmetalm.jpg

folded over them like a cage (might need bigger holes and smaller solid frame gaps) but with a rusted/red/yellow finish of aged weather beaten steel.
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That's sort of my plan for the case for mine, i'm going to use hexagonal-holed aluminium-mesh as a case for the PCB, should look epic.
 
RopAyy said:
See im not a fan of those blue LED's and i think the cases all need to be weathered/aged steel! The rust orange just gives the clock a better look IMO!

Everytime i check the updates on this thread i find it harder and harder not to go buy the gear i need to solder, practice and get one of these kits!

Damn they look schweeeet!

By the time i get around to it GD population will own the last of the Nixie lamps!
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when you build the kit you can leave them out, and you can also turn them off in the clock-software. :)

I agree with you about the case :D
 
Feek said:
Hands up everyone who just knew I'd do more tonight ;)

I did a lot more...

board-20110914-222611.jpg


Infact there's a tube on that board...

underneath-and-tube-20110914-222714.jpg


Getting to the base of the tube to solder it was the only really tricky bit.

Here's the one tube with power applied.

five-20110914-222852.jpg


Very happy so far but I really don't have time to do any more tonight, the iron is off.

I've got a dedicated GPS on the way, no faffing with manual time settings for me :D
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Looking good Feek. those tubes are a right bugger to solder in eh?
which GPS receiver did you go for? the Globalsat BR-355?
 
I think i saw that exact auction and was very tempted but decided against it.

I'm sure i don't need to say this but you'll need to set up the GPS settings in the clock as per the instructions in the manual :)
 
Smaller grade solder simply allows you to apply solder in finer amounts which is good if you're soldering small things and don't want shorts.

I use an Iroda Solderpro 50 (gas powered) which i couldn't be happier with :)

Feek got the IN-8-2 kit with tubes
 
My clock went a bit funny this evening. the first tube (NX1) was lit up all angry and not changing, as though all the cathodes had been short circuited.

I washed the whole board with isopropanol and a toothbrush and it stopped. I think some capacitive dust from my antiperspirant must have gotten on it somewhere, similar things have happened before.

Unfortunately the board's all sticky now, i think the IPA might have started dissolving the Solder-resist :eek:

Tefal said:
I thought you got a plastic spacer that went under the tube to raise it off the board a bit so cases can fit without covering the base of the tube as much??
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That's only the IN-14 tubes that come with the spacer for some reason.
 
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