![]() Included alternating GROUND connections on the pin header output for ease of access. Instead of having the Rx connect to an external potentiometer, I included a 50K POT on-board the High Voltage PCB. I eliminated the "Pulse" output since possible higher voltages aren't needed and I wanted to keep the pin header count as small as possible. The regulator I selected takes the already available 12VDC and outputs a nice flat 5VDC connected to the output pin headers. I added a 5VDC Regulator for powering the microcontroller circuit that drives the logic on the Nixie Tube PCB. However I made a few changes specific for my application: I used EAGLE for all of my schematic and PCB designs. Instead of purchasing one of his kits (I think he was still selling them at the time) I decided to copy his circuit design and implement my own. His high voltage power supply only required 12VDC input and gave adjustable output from 45VDC to 190VDC, perfect. I found the work of Threeneuron (Michael Moorrees) to be of high quality and thoroughly documented, I like his work. The Nixie Tubes I purchased require a DC voltage around 170V to operate. I have already made the adapter for the IN-12A. Allows easy swapping between Nixie Tubes of different styles. Smaller PCBs that act as adapters between different types of Nixie Tubes that have a simple pin header connection to the main PCB board. I've already started on this and seems promising.ĭesign the Nixie Tube connectors with a more modular flexibility. Incorporate a IN-9 Nixie Bargraph Tube to act as the seconds counter for a 4-digit Nixie Clock. Possible WIFI or GPS IC to automatically sync the correct time instead of doing so manually.Īdd PWM control to the RGB LEDs so dimming and a larger color range is possible.Īdd a PTC Fuse for overcurrent protection in case something goes wrong. This version will use the IN-12A Nixie Tube design.įor future versions of this project, I would like to include:Ī Real Time Clock IC for more accuracte timing and small battery backup in case of power loss to the overall circuit. The overall circuit is powered through an off-the-shelf low-voltage AC-to-DC adapter. Not to cutoff entire power to the overall circuit, but just to cutoff the high voltage to the Nixie Tubes when the user wishes to turn off the Nixie light when going to sleep at night. There will be a main latching push button power switch. Pushing the encoder puts the system into "set mode", rotate to set hour, push again, rotate to set minute, push again, rotate to set second, push again, and back to normal ticking operation. The setting of the clock's time will be done via a rotary encoder. The red, green, and blue controls of each LED will be controllable through 3 latching push button switches so a combination of colors can be achieved. It will be a 6-digit 12-hour clock (H1 H0 : M1 M0 : S1 S0)īeneath each Nixie Tube will rest a small RGB LED to add additional color if the user wishes. Lastly, to reduce the size of the Nixie Clock's PCB by placing the HV PCB behind the main circuit board to keep out of view in the final clock box. Also to limit (as much as possible) the presence of high voltage and noise generated by the HV generator on the actual Nixie PCB. ![]() To give the overall project a more modular and flexible design in case I want to use the high voltage supply for another application. ![]() ![]() The high voltage supply's circuitry will be its own standalone circuit/PCB. The clock's logic would be powered via a simple microcontroller (PIC16, PIC18, etc.) not with the overkill of a single-board computer (Raspberry Pi, etc.). After researching and reading up on the impractical but beautiful technology, I wanted to build my own Nixie Tube Clock.Īfter observing features implemented on other Nixie Clock builds I found online, I decided on a few requirements for the 1st version of this project: I then found electronics websites and youtube channels explaining the circuit design required for driving Nixie Tubes that became critical for designing my own: EEVBLOG, Fran Blanche, Dalibor Farny, and Threeneuron. I also found many Nixie Tube clocks (the most common application nowadays) for sale built by hobbyists. A little searching proved old stock from Eastern Europe and Russia were available to purchase. Even though they require a ridiculous DC voltage level to operate, they truly are beautiful. I can't remember my first exposure to Nixie Tubes but I became fascinated with the old technology immediately upon learning of them.
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