Table of Contents
Why are Nixie 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.
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.
Do Nixie clocks get hot?
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.
Are Nixie clocks safe?
Yes, it is safe to power nixie tubes all the time, the power consumption is below 1W per tube, they stay at room temperature. Our clocks are powered from power adaptor which is able to deliver only 24W, in case of short-circuit of any kind in the clock/tube, the power adaptor cuts off the power.
What is the largest 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.
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.
Where are Nixie tubes made?
Nixies return after a 30-year wait. The last nixie tube was made in the early 90s, when this beautiful technology was replaced by lower-cost alternatives. But production has now resumed in the Czech Republic.
What are the smallest Nixie tubes?
Russian IN-17 Nixie Tubes. These are one of the smallest tubes ever made. Digit height is approx. 8mm.
Who invented the nixie tube?
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.
Do Nixie tubes wear out?
Because it is a shine and not a glow Nixie tubes do not wear out. Nixie tubes have no gaskets. The connection wires are fused into the glass and accordingly tight. The contained Neon can not escape.
How do Nixie lights work?
The nixie tube works like a neon lamp. It consists of an evacuated glass tube to which a small amount of neon gas has been added. When a positive voltage of about 180 Volts is applied to the anode mesh relative to a cathode element, the neon gas surrounding the cathode sees a strong electric field.
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).
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.
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.
What were Nixie tubes used in?
Nixie tubes were initially used as digital displays for equipment like voltmeters, early calculators, and frequency counters (you know, science stuff).
What are the sizes of Nixie tubes?
Overview of Soviet (russian) Nixie Tubes types: height, what they display and their life expectancy Type Height of digit Displays IN-14 (ИН-14) 18 mm 0…9 “, ,” IN-15A, IN-15B (ИН-15А, ИН-15Б) 18 mm Symbols IN-16 (ИН-16) 13 mm 0…9 “, ,” IN-17 (ИН-17) 9 mm 0…9.
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.
How much current does a Nixie tube use?
A Nixie Tube is a gas discharge device. Their colour and operating voltage are determined by the properties of the neon gas within. Tubes ignite at 140-170 V, slightly varying by type. Once ignited, their resistance is very low so a series of resistors is necessary to limit the current, typically to 1-5 mA.
How do vacuum tubes use neon?
Neon lights, also known as cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL), work when electrodes on each end of a vacuum tube filled with neon or other fluorescing gas are subjected to an alternating current, according to the Edison Tech Center. The current ionizes the atoms causing the tube to be filled with free electrons.
What is Lixie?
Lixie is a replacement of the outdated nixie tubes. The core of Lixie is the RGB LED, controlled by a MCU to display variuos colors. The light from the RGB led will be reflected by these acrylic panels, so the numbers cut by laser will be revealed by the colorful light for the RGB leds from the bottom.
What is a divergence meter?
The Divergence Meter is a device brought back from 2036 by Suzuha, invented by the future Okabe for his own personal use. It is an array of Nixie tubes that uses an unknown method to determine the “Divergence Value” of the current world line in relation to the absolute world line of 0%.
