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Thread: Nixie Tube Clock

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    Default Nixie Tube Clock

    What a neat little project
    Probably been posted on here before
    Cool for anyone into Clocks and some 1970's revival





    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    PCB:

    Kit less Arduino:

    Module:

    Full Kit:
    Last edited by ol' boy; 19-08-19 at 07:26 PM.
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    I must have a thing for nixie clocks.

    This one is GPS locked.




    This one can have the coloured back light as well and has a temperature sensor to read room temp




    SS Dave
    Death smiles at everyone. Grumpy old men smile back.

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    Nah, that is not the true spirit, you need to build a clock without any semiconductors

    This is my initial self designed clock counter with Russian Dekatrons from the 1960's, that divides the seconds from the 50Hz mains, the dekatrons have just calculated 42:



    Forget the blue modern rubbish in the front, that was from a kit. Just too lazy because of the wiring to take out my project from the shelf for the photo


    In case you don't know how dekatrons work they spin around a neon dot and you can tap the outputs, technically dividing by up to ten.



    I also have purple glowing ones yet to be implemented.

    ATM it only counts the seconds up to 99 or 59(hence the switches, that can also half the frequency and also stop the counter) and I use it for the dekatrons to mesmerise me while I listen to heavy metal music when I am running on my treadmill that is located in front of this.

    OK I am cheating a wee bit, it uses a semiconductor diode as a rectifier and a Russian HV driver which is a 400V transistor array, but I could replace it one day with vacuum tubes if I had more space.
    Important for me is that the digital logic is purely gas tube based.
    Last edited by Uncle Fester; 19-08-19 at 11:57 PM.
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    Cool stuff guys. Love those old displays ever since I saw them on a photo copier years ago

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    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    hinekadon (20-08-19),lsemmens (20-08-19),SS Dave (24-08-19),Uncle Fester (20-08-19)

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    US$145 per hand made tube. I can't even say that is expensive after seeing that video and the machinery involved.
    Also considering the size of them, I would almost say that's cheap.

    Go to a local dentist to get a simple filling replaced in 15 minutes costs more.
    Last edited by Uncle Fester; 20-08-19 at 12:01 PM.
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    Thanks for that video, most enlightening!
    I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message...

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    The Z568M nixie tubes are gorgeous! Would love to make a clock out of those and it'd look just the part sitting on top of a 1960s valve shortwave radio I restored last year, but the piggy bank needs to get a bit fatter first.

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    Quote Originally Posted by mitaux8030 View Post
    The Z568M nixie tubes are gorgeous! Would love to make a clock out of those and it'd look just the part sitting on top of a 1960s valve shortwave radio I restored last year, but the piggy bank needs to get a bit fatter first.
    Agreed.

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    Why not be the coolest kid on the block with one of these:


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    Quote Originally Posted by mitaux8030 View Post
    The Z568M nixie tubes are gorgeous! Would love to make a clock out of those and it'd look just the part sitting on top of a 1960s valve shortwave radio I restored last year, but the piggy bank needs to get a bit fatter first.
    Me to would love a clock made with the large nixie tubes but the wallet neads to grow a lot 1st.

    SS Dave
    Death smiles at everyone. Grumpy old men smile back.

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    Quote Originally Posted by bob_m_54 View Post
    Why not be the coolest kid on the block with one of these:

    At that price, i will not be going diving with it!
    If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!

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    WANT!!!!! Whose going to buy me one for Christmas?
    I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message...

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