@carrier7676 The glass tube has segments which can be lit up. To do this you have to feed 180 volts to the anode which is common to all segments and control the current going to each segment which are the cathodes.
The shapes for all the characters for one tube are stored in a processor chip beneath each tube, along with the software to make the fading transitions.An additional processor and memory feeds the information to the tubes.
@carrier7676 No and yes. Nixie tubes need about 170 volts minimum for the neon gas to fire. They only need low current though. In the case of these jumbo tubes each segment needs a slightly different current for even illumination. It is common to run these tubes from a switched mode power supply from 5v-12v.
@carrier7676 There are no nixies anywhere on the planet that run on 12v because the neon gas will not ionise and glow unless you give it at least 170v. You can do this from 12v but only if you boost it up to 170v first.
If you want to learn about nixies, join the neonixie-l google group - sorry theses posts won't take links. Do a web search.
It depends where on the planet you are where you get nixies. They are rare and getting rarer. Russian tubes from ebay will be your cheapest option.
@whoopjohn Oops! I didnt read down to see this comment, lol. Where is a good resource for learning about nixie tubes (uses, programming, ect ect)? I know I'm bugging you a lot, but I have a great idea on how to implement them into a project I have in mind (to possibly put them in or on an XBOX 360, and hiving 4 tubes that say "XBOX" and then "360"). It would be a "Steam Punk" style. Thank you for all you help.
@carrier7676 The word nixie means Numerical Indicator eXperimental No 1 after the first prototype. So they have numbers not letters. The jumbo tubes you see here were used in the NY stock exchange and are unusual. They are also about 6 inches high, so I am not sure where you are going to put four in an XBOX. There are one or two smaller alphanumeric devices, but if you can find them then the cost will astonish you and your idea does not really do them justice. Have a look at tube-tester(dot)com
@whoopjohn Ooh ok. Thanks for the info on the nixie tubes definition. The reason I think I can do this is bcuz I saw somewhere that someone made a nixie tube watch and those nixie tubes were pretty small (they where the ones I had in mind to use). I think Steve Wozniak has one. So then I can at least get the small numerical ones and have them light up in "360" at least (maybe).
@carrier7676 I worked with David Forbes on the design for the nixie watch that Woz wears. I have one of the first three prototypes that were made. David and his brother Jim have the other two.
@whoopjohn Nice work! The nixie tube watch looks cool! But Im looking for a beginners project with nixie tubes. Then if I can find the small ones like in the watch then I want to see how I can eventually get it to run inside of an xbox 360 (possibly blinking "360" and/or counting down to that number) for a retro "steam punk" themed console. If I can ones that run at 12 volts then I can get it to run off of the xbox power. But this is far down the line when I've gained some more experience.
@carrier7676 Once more - last time OK? There are no nixie tubes that run off 12 volts. Every nixie tube can be made to run off 12 volts if you boost the 12 volts to 180 volts at sufficient current to light the segments. John the neonixie-l group and we can point you to sources. This is not the place because these comments won't accept URLs.
@carrier7676 You could probably get several hundred of the tubes in the nixie watch in the space of the ones you see in the video here. They are not too rare either - NL5870. There are some cute cheap Russian tubes - IN-17 that are top view. You will have to make the digits light somehow, which means a microcontroller such as a PIC or Atmel. If you leave them lit on a single number for any length of time you will get cathode poisoning. Join the Neonixie group.
Comment removed
carrier7676 5 months ago
How do you get it to show the letters?
carrier7676 5 months ago
@carrier7676 The glass tube has segments which can be lit up. To do this you have to feed 180 volts to the anode which is common to all segments and control the current going to each segment which are the cathodes.
The shapes for all the characters for one tube are stored in a processor chip beneath each tube, along with the software to make the fading transitions.An additional processor and memory feeds the information to the tubes.
whoopjohn 5 months ago
@whoopjohn Thanks! are there any nixie tubes that can run on 12 volts?
carrier7676 5 months ago
@carrier7676 No and yes. Nixie tubes need about 170 volts minimum for the neon gas to fire. They only need low current though. In the case of these jumbo tubes each segment needs a slightly different current for even illumination. It is common to run these tubes from a switched mode power supply from 5v-12v.
whoopjohn 5 months ago
@whoopjohn Where do you recommend I look look for the smaller ones (that hopefully run on 12 volts)?
carrier7676 5 months ago
@carrier7676 There are no nixies anywhere on the planet that run on 12v because the neon gas will not ionise and glow unless you give it at least 170v. You can do this from 12v but only if you boost it up to 170v first.
If you want to learn about nixies, join the neonixie-l google group - sorry theses posts won't take links. Do a web search.
It depends where on the planet you are where you get nixies. They are rare and getting rarer. Russian tubes from ebay will be your cheapest option.
whoopjohn 5 months ago
@carrier7676 An efficient supply can be bought already assembled from Taylor Electronics.
Google 1363 - SmartNixie HVPS-V
These big tubes are very hard to find and expen$ive.
whoopjohn 5 months ago
@whoopjohn Oops! I didnt read down to see this comment, lol. Where is a good resource for learning about nixie tubes (uses, programming, ect ect)? I know I'm bugging you a lot, but I have a great idea on how to implement them into a project I have in mind (to possibly put them in or on an XBOX 360, and hiving 4 tubes that say "XBOX" and then "360"). It would be a "Steam Punk" style. Thank you for all you help.
carrier7676 5 months ago
@carrier7676 The word nixie means Numerical Indicator eXperimental No 1 after the first prototype. So they have numbers not letters. The jumbo tubes you see here were used in the NY stock exchange and are unusual. They are also about 6 inches high, so I am not sure where you are going to put four in an XBOX. There are one or two smaller alphanumeric devices, but if you can find them then the cost will astonish you and your idea does not really do them justice. Have a look at tube-tester(dot)com
whoopjohn 5 months ago
@whoopjohn Ooh ok. Thanks for the info on the nixie tubes definition. The reason I think I can do this is bcuz I saw somewhere that someone made a nixie tube watch and those nixie tubes were pretty small (they where the ones I had in mind to use). I think Steve Wozniak has one. So then I can at least get the small numerical ones and have them light up in "360" at least (maybe).
carrier7676 5 months ago
@carrier7676 I worked with David Forbes on the design for the nixie watch that Woz wears. I have one of the first three prototypes that were made. David and his brother Jim have the other two.
whoopjohn 5 months ago
@whoopjohn Nice work! The nixie tube watch looks cool! But Im looking for a beginners project with nixie tubes. Then if I can find the small ones like in the watch then I want to see how I can eventually get it to run inside of an xbox 360 (possibly blinking "360" and/or counting down to that number) for a retro "steam punk" themed console. If I can ones that run at 12 volts then I can get it to run off of the xbox power. But this is far down the line when I've gained some more experience.
carrier7676 5 months ago
@carrier7676 Once more - last time OK? There are no nixie tubes that run off 12 volts. Every nixie tube can be made to run off 12 volts if you boost the 12 volts to 180 volts at sufficient current to light the segments. John the neonixie-l group and we can point you to sources. This is not the place because these comments won't accept URLs.
whoopjohn 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@whoopjohn Ok, Understood. Thanks for the info.
carrier7676 5 months ago
@carrier7676 You could probably get several hundred of the tubes in the nixie watch in the space of the ones you see in the video here. They are not too rare either - NL5870. There are some cute cheap Russian tubes - IN-17 that are top view. You will have to make the digits light somehow, which means a microcontroller such as a PIC or Atmel. If you leave them lit on a single number for any length of time you will get cathode poisoning. Join the Neonixie group.
whoopjohn 5 months ago
You should make it show 1337 ;)
daniding1 11 months ago