Table of Contents
How long does a Nixie tube clock last?
Average longevity of Nixie tubes varied from about 5,000 hours for the earliest types, to as high as 200,000 hours or more for some of the last types to be introduced.
Why are Nixie tube clocks so expensive?
The reason is that nobody is making nixie tubes on a commercial basis nowadays. As old tubes get used up, they also become more expensive. The tiny tubes used in watches are especially rare because they were rarely used in the nixie display age. The thing is that tubes were not popular in clocks until recent years.
When did they stop making Nixie tubes?
The last nixie tube was made in the early 90s, when this beautiful technology was replaced by lower-cost alternatives.
Do Nixie tube clocks use a lot of electricity?
Although the voltage is high, the amount of current flowing is very small, so the clocks do not use much power. They only consume about 3 to 4 Watts of power, and consequently generate almost no heat. The tubes are not hot or even warm to the touch.
Do Nixie tubes burn out?
Nixie tubes are cold cathode devices and have no filament to burn out, so they have long lifetimes: a well-made nixie tube can last more than twenty years in continuous operation.
What is nixie tube poisoning?
Nixie tube cathode poisoning can be detected by monitoring the on-voltage and current through the Nixie tube while igniting the digit. As described by www.tube-tester.com, if a nixie tube is operated without exciting all the digits, the unused digits will often become coating by a highly resistive sputtered material.
What does Nixie mean?
noun. a letter or parcel that is undeliverable by the post office because of a faulty or illegible address.
Are Nixie tubes toxic?
It’s somewhat safe but potentially lethal. I tested everything with a meter and shorted all leads together to make sure mains are off. Be careful and think twice before you do anything.
Who invented Nixie tubes?
The first stable and well-functioning nixie tube construction was invented by Haydu Brothers Laboratories, which was founded by two Hungarian brothers namely George Haydu and Zoltan Haydu in 1936.
How much voltage does a Nixie tube need?
Nixie tubes require high voltages (>170 volts) to illuminate. A single anode is connected to a high voltage source via a dropping resistor and cathodes shaped like numbers are grounded to make them illuminate. Drivers, then, must be capable of withstanding the driving voltage.
Does anyone make Nixie tubes?
Unfortunately, nobody actually manufacturers new Nixie tubes anymore, and everything you can buy is simply old stock from decades ago — stock that’s going to run out.
What is the biggest Nixie tube?
The largest Nixie tube, the CD47, now sells for around US $1,000; back in 2000, it could be had for $100 or less. Some individuals, spotting an opportunity and a challenge, set out to make their own artisanal Nixie tubes.
How can you prevent cathode poisoning?
How can you prevent cathode poisoning? Exercise inactive cathodes (occasionally cycle the tubes through all cathodes). This will keep cleaning the coating off before it becomes too thick. Example- Nixie Clocks: Rotate the numbers like in a slot machine (a.k.a. one-armed bandit or fruit machine).
Do Nixie tubes use AC or DC?
Nixie tubes need about ~180Vdc to light up and thus on most devices, a DC-DC converter is needed. Here we designed a simple DC-DC switching regulator capable of powering most of Nixie tubes. The board accepts 12Vdc input and gives an output of 150-250Vdc.
What is the difference between Nixie tubes?
The differences are the glass envelope shape and the ‘5’ and ‘4’ digits. IN-14’s use a upside down and backwards ‘2’ for the ‘5’ digit. IN-8-2 tubes have a narrower ‘4’ digit than the IN-14, but use a normal ‘5’ digit. Note: When socket pins are used on IN-14’s the plastic base is not used.
How do you set a Nixie clock?
Press and hold the set button, for about 5-6 seconds until the first tube will turn on its decimal point. Release the button. Now, with each short press of the button, you can advance the first digit. The format is 24 hours, so the first tube only changes from 0-1-2 etcetera.
What were Nixie tubes used in?
Nixie tubes such as these ones were used extensively as numeric displays in electronic instruments and computer equipment until they were supplanted by vacuum fluorescent and LED technologies in the mid- 1970s. They were invented at Burroughs.
What is a vacuum tube radio?
A vacuum tube, also called a valve in British English, is an electronic device used in many older model radios, television sets, and amplifiers to control electric current flow. The cathode is heated, as in a light bulb, so it will emit electrons.
What is a Nixie mermaid?
The name, Nixie, refers to a magical water creature similar to a Mermaid called a Melusine or Neck. The Melusine are often depicted as having two tails. Also, Nixie is the name of a different Germanic mermaid shapeshifter and water spirit. Some legends depict the original Melusine as transforming only on Saturdays.
What is the meaning of Nyx?
Nyx. / (nɪks) / noun. Greek myth the goddess of the night, daughter of ChaosRoman counterpart: Nox.
What are Nixie switches?
“NIXIE” refers to an unusual and extremely rare MX BLACK variant known only from Nixdorf keyboards, such as the Nixdorf CT06-CT07/2 M Softkeys. The upper part of the switch housing is transparent instead of black.
