@signupsigma basically there neon lights,,but the anode and cathode are in the shape of numbers,,when voltage is applied they do as shown in the video,,
@n9xvt Yes they are neon lights, but with a 1% argon addition to make a "Penning Mixture" which results in better illumination and more reliable striking voltage (typically always around 180VDC) - the maintaining voltage for the glow is much lower. Also, the cathodes are the bit that glows, and these are in the shape of numerals etc, but the anode (if there is one at all!) is typically a fine mesh that is designed not to obscure the cathodes. Some early tubes used unused cathodes as the anode.
Do they make these now like as kits, I mean like at hobby supply stores? I know these are no longer used as main clocks, but do they still exist as kits?
@b0nes2 Manufacturing costs are very high and they are complex to make. Probably millions of them are still in circulation - the old USSR made them up into the 1980s and there are loads still around, so it would never be economic to make them again. Even the most expensive nixies, of which there is a small market, sell for a max of a few 100 euros - unless you could sell 10s of 1000s of them, it'd never be economic to set up a production line.
I don't know if you've held modern electronics often lately, but there's plenty of computer hardware that will keep you warm. Now, providing light, that depends on the hardware.
Every time I see one of these things, I always think the same two things: (1) I wish I could make one of these myself, and (2) if only someone had made a little "AM/PM" nixie tube, that'd have been perfect.
Beautiful job f1lby! I'm working on building one. It's tough getting the Z5 series bulbs. Your video makes want to build one even more.
hellsmaw84, the tubes are cold cathode tubes. The luminosity is not affected by current. The nixie bulbs run at about 120+ volts and operate at very low current (1-5mA). Although I have read about some ambient light coming from insufficient voltage running through the tube...
Luminosity is affected by current to some extent - the main effect of high current is to shorten tube life.
Nixies are dimmed by using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) at a higher than usual current but with a varying duty cycle - the shorter the "on" time with respect to the off time, the dimmer the nixie - you can even cross-fade between changing digits this way.
The tubes require typically 180VDC to strike, and maintain somewhat below that - they exhibit negative resistance.
wouldnt it be possible to have a fixed or variable dimmer control by doing power division with the fixed and just a regular variable resistor to set a wished radiance? that would be nice if your sleeping and the high brightness orange-red keeping you awake at night... its just keeping the input voltage the same without throwing off the seconds timer.
@hellsmaw84 These cold-cahode tubes cannot be dimmed by reducing the voltage - they would not strike below about 180VDC. To dim nixies, you use PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) whereby you turn the HT on and off very quickly (every few mS). By altering the ratio of the "on" to "off" time, your eyes see the tube as dimmed, e.g. with the same time on as off, the digits will be appear to be 50% dimmed.
Yes, it is nice to look at. I remember one year my brother was throwing out a Motorola AM Transistor Radio. I saved it and decided to wrap it up as his Christmas present. It ran on a round 9 volt battery, that I had to order special from Radio Shack (I'm not sure what year it was from. It had the circle and triangle Civil Defence symbol on the dial). To my surprise, it worked. That Christmas, everyone that came over to our house, wanted to see that radio. They thought it was really cool.
The neon tube time separators are a nice final touch.
faffaflunkie 6 months ago
WTF.Nixie tubes where used in Call of Duty: Black Ops(the red numbers at the end and the red dust in the main menu) xD
Does somebody know how to make a nixie tube style in GIMP?
DerGeckarbor 10 months ago
what's a nixie tube and what's the big deal about them, other than it looks cool.
signupsigma 1 year ago
@signupsigma basically there neon lights,,but the anode and cathode are in the shape of numbers,,when voltage is applied they do as shown in the video,,
n9xvt 1 year ago
@n9xvt Yes they are neon lights, but with a 1% argon addition to make a "Penning Mixture" which results in better illumination and more reliable striking voltage (typically always around 180VDC) - the maintaining voltage for the glow is much lower. Also, the cathodes are the bit that glows, and these are in the shape of numerals etc, but the anode (if there is one at all!) is typically a fine mesh that is designed not to obscure the cathodes. Some early tubes used unused cathodes as the anode.
nickds3 4 months ago 3
Do they make these now like as kits, I mean like at hobby supply stores? I know these are no longer used as main clocks, but do they still exist as kits?
BankaiIchigo12345 1 year ago
Does any company still produce nixie tubes? I know they are obsolete tech but some german company should start producing these in limited numbers.
b0nes2 1 year ago
@b0nes2 Manufacturing costs are very high and they are complex to make. Probably millions of them are still in circulation - the old USSR made them up into the 1980s and there are loads still around, so it would never be economic to make them again. Even the most expensive nixies, of which there is a small market, sell for a max of a few 100 euros - unless you could sell 10s of 1000s of them, it'd never be economic to set up a production line.
nickds3 4 months ago 4
Ah, the good ol' days! When electronics kept you warm and provided light in the dark. Very romantic!
man4Sam 1 year ago
@man4Sam
I don't know if you've held modern electronics often lately, but there's plenty of computer hardware that will keep you warm. Now, providing light, that depends on the hardware.
Draknfyre 8 months ago
Every time I see one of these things, I always think the same two things: (1) I wish I could make one of these myself, and (2) if only someone had made a little "AM/PM" nixie tube, that'd have been perfect.
ThreePointOneFou 1 year ago
This is great!!... Where can i find direction about how to make one?
marcopolito11 1 year ago
Beautiful job f1lby! I'm working on building one. It's tough getting the Z5 series bulbs. Your video makes want to build one even more.
hellsmaw84, the tubes are cold cathode tubes. The luminosity is not affected by current. The nixie bulbs run at about 120+ volts and operate at very low current (1-5mA). Although I have read about some ambient light coming from insufficient voltage running through the tube...
msilv3r 2 years ago
Luminosity is affected by current to some extent - the main effect of high current is to shorten tube life.
Nixies are dimmed by using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) at a higher than usual current but with a varying duty cycle - the shorter the "on" time with respect to the off time, the dimmer the nixie - you can even cross-fade between changing digits this way.
The tubes require typically 180VDC to strike, and maintain somewhat below that - they exhibit negative resistance.
nickds3 2 years ago
wouldnt it be possible to have a fixed or variable dimmer control by doing power division with the fixed and just a regular variable resistor to set a wished radiance? that would be nice if your sleeping and the high brightness orange-red keeping you awake at night... its just keeping the input voltage the same without throwing off the seconds timer.
hellsmaw84 2 years ago
@hellsmaw84 These cold-cahode tubes cannot be dimmed by reducing the voltage - they would not strike below about 180VDC. To dim nixies, you use PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) whereby you turn the HT on and off very quickly (every few mS). By altering the ratio of the "on" to "off" time, your eyes see the tube as dimmed, e.g. with the same time on as off, the digits will be appear to be 50% dimmed.
nickds3 4 months ago 3
Geek Heaven!
hsuson 2 years ago
Do you still have the 5 Z566 nixies (lamps) numberic display for clock like stated on youtube a few months ago?
carlosschechter 3 years ago
I do but I won't sell them... sorry :(
mzrainpl29 3 years ago
How much juice does it take to run those?
BikerTrashWolf 3 years ago
i want one of those.. how do i get them?
guzmalfoy 3 years ago
Yes, it is nice to look at. I remember one year my brother was throwing out a Motorola AM Transistor Radio. I saved it and decided to wrap it up as his Christmas present. It ran on a round 9 volt battery, that I had to order special from Radio Shack (I'm not sure what year it was from. It had the circle and triangle Civil Defence symbol on the dial). To my surprise, it worked. That Christmas, everyone that came over to our house, wanted to see that radio. They thought it was really cool.
velyogendra 3 years ago
Mine were 2nd hand sent from Poland.....
Most Nixies are quite small. I was told they're Russian....
f1lby 4 years ago
I believe that it is a German tube. Most nixie tubes were made in the USA, England, Germany (West and East), China, and the former Soviet Union.
Audinos 4 years ago
Ah-ha. I wonder what country of Origin the Z566M is?
I wonder if Z566M knows the country these beauties were made in?
f1lby 4 years ago 3
I guess it is German....
OneStoneAudioPhysics 4 years ago
@f1lby
The Nixies of a ZM-Type are mostly produced by WF, a company from the former GDR.
derAragorn 1 year ago
Z566M is not russian tube !!
Z566M 4 years ago