Nixie Tube Tachometer - Arduino & Megajolt

My Arduino powered, Megajolt-driven Nixie Tachometer !

More Information here - http://www.autosportlabs.org/viewtopic.php?p=13867#13867

This is a prototype I made to test several technologies I am developing for my other Project (a 1976 Valiant Hemi Charger).

Most of the details are in the Video. Arduino (AdaFruit Boarduino), I2C Bus powering the OLED Display and Tayloredge Smart-Nixie Sockets running In-1(4) Nixie Tubes, In-13 Nixie Bargraph, Megajolt Distributorless Ignition Controller controlling the ignition timing and feeding the RPM (and other data) to the controller.

More Details, Source code and Construction Tips (but no drawn circuit diagrams yet) are available if you contact me on the MegaJolt (www.autosportlabs.org) Forums.

No, I won't build one for you (unless you are prepared to pay consulting engineer hourly rates), but I will describe and help you build your own.

Yes, I know the Gemini is hardly an impressive Street Machine, but its my daily driver parts-getter that I'm testing this stuff on while I build my Triple-Webered Hemi Charger where the final version is intended for. :)

Enjoy the glowing plasma Tacho !

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Nixie
• Arduino
• Megajolt

[SpockieTech]

The Tubes are fine. Theyve been happily riding around on the Dash for over a year now. Temperatures here are more like 0c (32f) to 50c (122f) in the sunlight, which melted some hot glue holding internal cables in place, but didnt bother the display at all.. Ive nearly completed the next phase of the project, which adds a digital speedometer function and an output signal that triggers the next techno-gadget at 88Mph (you can probably guess what it is) :)

[thegenrl]

sorry dude, but you blab way too much. cool project though...

[SpockieTech]

@thegenrl - yeah, I know :) thats why the all the interesting bits and info are at the start of the video :) After hours of video editing and messing around, I was over editing, what was left matched the length of the audio track and explained all the techie bits for those who cared, so I left it at that.. :)

[SpockieTech]

seems it doesnt like the web-link. google for in-13 bar graph driver ledsales and follow the first pdf link for a circuit.

[SpockieTech]

The Bar-graph is a type of current-controlled Gas Tube - an IN-13. The Arduino generates a software determined rpm-related PWM analog voltage that is converted by an op-amp to a 0-4 milliamp current signal that controls the length of the gas discharge glow. I'm trying to post a link to a circuit, but youtubes comment system keeps losing it :(

[RockyTheLord]

That's fantastic! the extreme temperatures don't harm the nixies?  Like -20 F to 100 F?

[huckingfish]

You are my hero!! Nixies and an arduino... Like peanut butter and jelly! Great job

[thegenrl]

@SpockieTech fair enough chap. in fact i should have been nicer, i believe i was mad at youtube's HTML 5 at the time, not the video.  (wouldn't let me skip around)

[NewEvo]

Miloonium (the song) is awesome. Nixie tubes are pretty cool to actually, nice build.

[RedFathom]

@SpockieTech - electrolumanescent conducts in bowth directions, and anyone can edit wikipedia. some of the origional materials they were looking at created diffrent colors in their reverse direction.

[SpockieTech]

@redfathom - although I just looked it up in wikipedia, and it says they are electroluminescent LED's too :)

[RedFathom]

@SpockieTech - i just hate it when people call them led's since it's electro-luminescent. they should have just stuck with oeld.