开云体育

--- In NEONIXIE-L@..., "The Fool" <unmitigated_fool@...> wrote:

Alternately, has anyone used this:

"Yilane Systems YS-610 Universal Dekatron Computer"

I just completed assembly of one of these kits. Looks like I'm going to have to debug it though. The dekatron lights but doesn't cycle through the positions.

I don't have the kit, but the guys behind it are solid. I'm sure if you email them, Richard will help you get up and running.

Which tube are you trying to spin? Something pretty vanilla (4kHz neon) or is it more exotic? Does the tube start to step and then stick, or does it never move? Are you trying to spin the tube too fast?


Jon.

[edited by A.J. - please trim quoted material]

I was recently asked to look into the possibility of using the MM5375 clock chip with the B7971 tubes. The MM5375AC is available for $7 from a surplus house. It's the 50 Hz version of the clock chip, but it's not hard to convert 60 Hz to 50 Hz with a counter and a gate.

It turns out that the MM5375 data sheet has a schematic diagram of a multiplexed Panaplex clock. The MM5375 chip drives the tubes directly!

The method is to use a 28V DC supply to run the MM5375 chip, and DC couple the anodes to the digit outputs, and AC-couple the cathodes to the segment outputs.

The chip is rated (absolute max) at 30V Vss to Vdd, and 55V Vss to display output pins. The circuit uses pulldown resistors to -40 to -50V on all display output pins.

There is a little circuit in the cathode common line that appears to detect the turn-on of any segment and discharges a series capacitor to increase the anode-cathode voltage enough to make the tubes strike. Its time constant is 5 milliseconds, which is under one digit time.

What I'm wondering is:

1. Has anyone built this circuit? Does it work?

2. Might the MM5375 be powerful enough to drive the big B7971 tubes? It's rated at only one milliampere drive current per cathode, but that's at 5V power instead of the 28V they recommend for this circuit.

--
David Forbes, Tucson, AZ

"The Fool" <unmitigated_fool@...> wrote:

Check out this power supply on eBay. It can power both NIXIE's
and a dekatron from a single 12vdc source. He includes a circuit
to use.

eBay item #150460117377

There are a bunch of dekatron circuits in this groups Files section:


& Bolts/Dekatron Apps/

Files > Nuts & Bolts > Dekatron Apps

You need to be logged into yahoo to access them. Or you can find most of them in my Skydrive Electronic Projects folder:



Open to all.

They let any goober sell stuff on eBay ... Oh, that ones mine, oops.

--- In NEONIXIE-L@..., Aaron Taylor <ataylor@...> wrote:

I will be in Tokyo in two weeks and want to find the area where
nixie and other vintage stuff can be found. Is it in the same area
where all of the modern electronics shops are concentrated?

I just got back from a month in Japan and while there I stopped by
Akihabara. There were quite a few small shops dealing in older
technology(tubes, old cameras, etc). In most cases I found the prices
to be much higher than what is available online. Regardless, browsing
around was a fun experience. The shops were scattered all over the
area but are pretty easy to find if you take your time and explore the
nooks and crannies.

Hi Aaron,

It's been years, but I spent quite a bit of time in Tokyo. You'll want to go the Akihabara District in Tokoyo for all the electronics you'll ever want (go here for more: ).

The shop keepers are more skilled in the latest electronics so you'll have to do some digging to find the vintage stuff. I recommend having someone fluent in Japanese write out for you various names/descriptions of NIXIE tubes in Japanese to make things easier. You'll spend a lot of time gesturing and talking like a 2 yr old if you don't. Better yet, if you can get an English speaking native to go with you will certainly speed things up.

Finally, don't expect a bargain unless the shop owner just doesn't know the value of the NIXIE, which would be very rare. If the store knows anything about these tubes, then you'll have to do some haggling to get the price down.

But it's a joy to be in Akihabara. You'll have a great time.

Jeff

--- In NEONIXIE-L@..., Frederick Heald <fuego@...> wrote:

Alternately, has anyone used this:

"Yilane Systems YS-610 Universal Dekatron Computer"

I just completed assembly of one of these kits. Looks like I'm going to have to debug it though. The dekatron lights but doesn't cycle through the positions.

Check out this power supply on eBay. It can power both NIXIE's and a dekatron from a single 12vdc source. He includes a circuit to use.

eBay item #150460117377

I will be in Tokyo in two weeks and want to find the area where
nixie and other vintage stuff can be found. Is it in the same area
where all of the modern electronics shops are concentrated?

I just got back from a month in Japan and while there I stopped by
Akihabara. There were quite a few small shops dealing in older
technology(tubes, old cameras, etc). In most cases I found the prices
to be much higher than what is available online. Regardless, browsing
around was a fun experience. The shops were scattered all over the
area but are pretty easy to find if you take your time and explore the
nooks and crannies.

Aaron

On Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:08:15 -0000, you wrote:

I will be in Tokyo in two weeks and want to find the area where nixie and other vintage stuff can be found. Is it in the same area where all of the modern electronics shops are concentrated? I am also interested in finding a museum that would have a good collection of 60s and 70s Japanese consumer electronics on display. Of course, any other *must see* recommendations are welcome.

I went a couple of years ago - didn't find anything vintage apart from a tiny audio place on the
edge of Akihabara.

Allow at least 2 days to explore all the backstreets around Akihabara - ISTR there being a few
'unoffical' stalls on a sunday in car parks etc. I came back with tons of little tools etc. Not
cheap but stuff you never see anywhere else. Keep an eye out for odd little basements etc.

NHK broadcast museum (2-2-1-1 Atago, Minato-ku) is certainly worth a visit - lots of early
broadcast equipment etc. and I think also some consumer stuff.

I don't recall much in the way of other museum stuff - there is a post & telecoms museum which I
think is free but only worth it if you're in the area. Looking at my guidebook I think it was the
NTT Inter Communication Centre at Tokyo Opera City Tower

TEPCO electric Energy museum in Shibuya was mostly a waste of time, unless you happen to be
literally passing the door, in which case maybe worth 15 mins....

National Museum of Emerging Science (2-41 Aomi (Odaiba) was OK as a modern science museum - if you
like science museims in general it's probably worth a trip.

And absolutely don't miss the Tokyu Hands department store in Shibuya.

All,

I've got four nice A101 Dekatrons here, and I'm trying to figure out a
circuit for them. A simple spinner would be great, though I'd like to have
it run 60hz so I can add it to a nixie clock (doesn't have to be in sync or
connected to the same circuit, unless there's a way to do that.

I'm about a 5/10 in my soldering/circuit skills; I don't usually work with
"mains" voltage, but unless there are hv charged caps involved I know how to
play safe.

I've got a relatively well-stocked Fry's near my for components.

This one is UK 240v:

...but I don't really understand the circuit, let alone how to double it.

Alternately, has anyone used this:

"Yilane Systems YS-610 Universal Dekatron Computer"

Seems more my speed, building from a kit.

Eventually I'd love to be able to connect these to an Arduino.

Thanks for your help!

I will be in Tokyo in two weeks and want to find the area where nixie and other vintage stuff can be found. Is it in the same area where all of the modern electronics shops are concentrated? I am also interested in finding a museum that would have a good collection of 60s and 70s Japanese consumer electronics on display. Of course, any other *must see* recommendations are welcome.

hey guys, sorry about the multi posts I'm new to this, it keep coming back
saying it couldn't deliver, oh well at least you got it

[topic history deleted by A.J.]

I found this video of "Fatman & Circuit Girl". 38 seconds into their Intro theme song, is a dekatron spinning:



Its not really mainstream media, just a geek couple's video log, but they seem to have a cult following. Circuit Girl made a name for herself making a Commodore 64 on a FPGA (I think), and is notable enough to have her bio on Wiki:



A geek's wet dream, a girl that not only likes electronics, but it vry good at it ! She's also into pinball machines. Better than any internet porn.

I'm printing out her Wiki page, and going to the bathroom, now ... Bye

That displays a clock in nixie style?

would be so cool.

Ta

[edited by A.J. - please trim quoted material]

[edited by A.J. - please trim quoted material]
--- In NEONIXIE-L@..., "bergles" <bergles@...> wrote:

--- In NEONIXIE-L@..., "Nick" <nick@> wrote:

<snip>

I think your logic is killed - do you have access to a 'scope?

<snip>

I don't have a scope, just a multimeter. I'll check each IC and see if there's a short to HV.

I messed with it a bit more this morning and found that the "4" output of the driver IC (74141 Nixie Driver) was shorted to ground. I clipped the pin from the board only to find that the short to ground was internal to the IC. How reliable are these kinds of ICs? I have the russain K155N, but I don't know if it was bad from the beginning or something I did fried it. Plugging in the clock now results in a quick lighting of one "1" and then nothing...

driver data sheet

Yes. There are several.
Just go to APP store and search for Nixie.

There are free and paid.

The one I have is:
NixieFX it's a free one.

What would be really kewl is to have a Nixie theme. When I checked, it
was not available yet (even for jailbroken phones).

Michail

Hi, you can always try speaking to Pete himself, I've built 3 of his
kits & always found him to be very helpful with any problems I had, if
you visit his website you can email him from there, John

I did check the 170V and 5V supplies before I continued and they checked out. I'll post the pic to the Files-Temp section as soon as I finish this post.

I don't have a scope, just a multimeter. I'll check each IC and see if there's a short to HV.

thanks,

-Matt

Just saw this on Hack a Day. Haven't even read the writeup yet but knew it would make some folks happy here!

I ordered one of those kits from TI. I figured it's hard to get hurt
for under five dollars and it'll be fun to play with. I got the notice
tonight that it's on back order. I'll let the group know when I
receive it.

Thanks for the tip on this! This is one of my favorite groups.

Mike Harpe, N4PLE
Sellersburg, IN, USA

--
Please note my new email address:
mike@...