Nixie Clock Kit IN-B color LED backlit Operation Manual Nixie Clock Kit IN-B V. ( All Right Reserved ) - -
Operation Manual IN-B Nixie Clock Power for your Nixie Clock The clock does not include a wall adapter. You should get a universal adapter yourself, these are not very expensive. The preferred voltage is VDC, but often VDC VDC will do nicely too. The middle pin of the plug is the positive. Universal adapters often come with a set of various plugs, choose one that fits. If none them fits, you can use the dc-plug is included with the clock. If the clock does not work, you may have gotten the polarity wrong. Change the polarity and try again. Setting the Nixie Clock Turn on the clock by plugging in the wall adapter. The time will start at :: and blinks. Press and hold the Set button ( Located at the Top side, see photo ), for about - seconds until the first tube ( decimal point ) will turn on and starts blinking. Release the button. Now, with each short press of the button, you can advance the first digit. The format is hours, so the first tube only changes from -- etcetera. After the digit is set correct, press the button again for seconds, and see that the second tube will turn on. Set all the other tubes in the same way. Once you have set all digits, press and hold the button for - seconds, and the clock will resume normal operation. At first, this may seem a bit of a hassle, but after a while you will notice that it is remarkably easy to set the clock. Color LED ON/OFF Switch DC plug.mmv Setup push button - -
Calibrating the Nixie Clock Press and hold the set button, for about - seconds. While you hold it, you will first see that the first tube turns on its, and then the second tube will turn on its. Now release the button. There should be digits displayed now. Here you can set a new calibration value for the timing of the clock. First set this value at. After setting this value, press and hold the button for - seconds, to return to normal mode. This value will be stored inside the microcontroller. Turn off the clock, and turn it on again. Now set the clock, using a reliable time reference. Set the clock as described earlier, and wait until your time reference matches the time you have set. Now press and hold the set button for - seconds, and notice that the clock now runs synchronous with your reference, both displaying the same time. Using the standard calibration value of, the clock should run with a better accuracy than +/- seconds per day. Let the clock run for a couple of days, and note the time difference between the nixieclock and the reference clock you have used. Calculate the number of milliseconds per hour the clock runs too fast or too slow. Example: after days, the nixieclock seems seconds too fast. Divide by hours, and multiply by. That s millisecond per hour. The clock needs to run milliseconds per hour slower, so the new calibration value will be - =. Enter the new calibration value, turn off the clock, and turn it on again. Now you can set the clock, and it will be more accurate now. Repeat the procedure if need be. Setting Display Off Time Nixie tubes last very long, but possibly not forever. You may want to use this option, to turn the tubes off during the night. Press and hold the set button, for about seconds. You will first see that the first tube turns on its, and then the second tube will turn on its, and then the third tube turns on its. Now release the button. There should be values displayed now, the two middle tubes are off. These values tell you at what hour the display goes off, and at what hour it turns on again. Adjust the values to your preferences. To save the values, hold the button for - seconds, to return to normal mode. The value will be stored automatically inside the clock. If you don t want to use this option, put both hours at. (or set them at equal values). For your information, rumour tells the tubes last for hours. I have reasons to believe it will be actually longer than that, as the current at which the tubes are driven is very low and well regulated in this design. hours equals to more than years. Lifetime is defined as the time it takes for the nixies to fade to % of their initial brightness. Setting General Options In this option setup you can select fading display of the tubes, and also you can turn off the flashing neon bulbs. Press and hold the set button, for about seconds. You will first see that the first tube turns on its, and then the second tube, the third, and the fourth tube. Now release the button. There should be values displayed now, either or. A means the option is turned on, a means the option is turned off. - -
Adjust the values to your preferences:- The st digit sets the fading NO or OFF. The nd digit turns the flashing Neons ON or OFF. The rd option is Not Use ( Reserved ). The th option applies if you have the real time clock option installed, using a DS RTC clock chip. The th option selects / hour format, means hour format, means hour format. This option only affects the time displayed during normal operation; setting the time is always in hour format. The th option is Not Use ( Reserved ). To save the settings, hold the button for - seconds, to return to normal mode. The settings will be stored automatically inside the clock. If you have any further questions, please contact me at patnsh@hkstar.com Have fun with your new NixieClock! - -
Assembly Instructions IN-B NOTE: Before start to soldering the clock PCB board. Please read the following instruction carefully. As this kit is equipped with PCB made Nixie Tubes adapter board to rework the IN-B pins layout to vertical insertion, some job for adapter board will be done before start soldering the clock components. The building of this Nixie Clock consist of portions :- ) The Tubes & Neon bulbs Adapter portion - making with PCB fiber boards. ) The clock portion - Clock control and tubes drive PCB. The kit come with whole set of PCB as shown below. - -
Tools for the adapter boards : A small size FLAT file for trimming process pcs. of pins. dual in line header pins are used for connect the Nixie Tube adapter board. Use the Flat file to trim the Neon adapter board & clock control board where with red circle marked. In order to make both parts has good insertion. -- Be careful DON'T TRIM excessive -- Make sure all the insertion parts are fitted into the main board slot as shown as photos - -
Assembly Instructions IN-B -- Electronic Section -- Traditional PTH (Plate Through Holes) components are used and make the soldering job and component handling simpler and easier. Also only SMT resistors and diodes are used because of no need to bend and cutoff the resistors and diodes lead before soldering more convenience and comfort. Unless you are very experienced with kit-building, it is highly recommended that you follow the steps below. First read the entire document twice, before starting. First step is to solder the resistors, capacitors, diodes,.. etc. The resistors have color code printed on them can be identified the value from the BOM list and you should not mix them up. When you are in doubt, use a multimeter and simply measure the value. The resistors are numbered in increasing order, using designators like R, R, R etc. Their values can be found in the schematic and/or component list. After you have done all the resistors., you can do the transistors. The orientation of transistors, regulator IC and diodes just follow the patterns printed on the PCB. (Don t mix them up or damaged components will result). Don t overheat the transistors, you should not spend more than a couple of seconds on each pad. Mount the electrolytic capacitors, the square hole indicates the (+) connection. Take care to mount these correctly. A reversed capacitor will certainly fail and your clock won t work. Mount all other parts on the PCB exclusive the x Nixie Tubes. Do not insert the PIC processor yet! Connect the VDC/mA (or better) adapter to the board. Test and measure if you have V on the L regulator. If you don t have V, check the polarity of your DC-adapter, you may need to reverse the +/- and check things again. Proceed if you have a clear +V. Put the screw of the potentiometer in the middle. Connect the DC adapter, but be careful not to touch any parts, after all there is a high voltage converter on the circuit board!!! Although it won t kill you immediately, it can be very uncomfortable. Check the high voltage generator; adjust it for V with a voltmeter. If you don t have V, disconnect the adapter, closely examine the entire board and check the board for shorts. Check if all parts have all their pins soldered. The next step is to insert the PIC processor. Be careful to align the pins, not to bend them as you insert the IC in its socket (the pin socket is placed on the bottom layer ). All pins first should go in about one millimeter, without any brute force needed, then you may press a bit harder until the PIC firmly sits in the socket. Please don t insert the PIC in the wrong way, there is a little notch on one end, that should match the notch on the PCB/Socket itself. Inserting it wrong will damage the PIC for % sure, your clock will never work, and you have to contact me for a replacement. - -
If the V is normal, you can adjust the high voltage for the nixie tubes. Later, you can always turn up the brightness adj.(hv) located at bottom side of enclosure if you find the display is too dim. A high voltage tends to show some ghosting effects before it is fixed by the employed anti-ghosting circuitry; you can adjust the brightness to suit your need. Too high voltage will shorten the life of the tubes so beware! V TP HV adjust VR Installing Neon Colon Bulbs to the PCB holder Trim the Bulbs lead to about.mm long insert to the holder and solder on the pad as shown at photo below for next installation - -
Installation Blacklit LED & Tubes adapter Board Header pins As shown at Photos - -
Mounting The Nixie Tubes & Neon Bulbs The last step is mounting the Nixie Tubes & Neon Bulbs after finished the components soldering and voltage checked normal. Start with U, the tube for the display of the seconds. After installing this tube, you can now connect the DC adapter. The U tube should display the seconds from -. If this tube does not have a display or if you are missing one or more digits, check the board again, maybe you forgot to solder one or more legs or some transistor or nixie tube wire. It is important to check this with only one tube mounted, because it makes is easier to find a fault if one exists. Mount the other five tubes and Neon colon bulbs, but do this one by one. Check the operation each and every time you add a tube. If a specific tube does not work, check the anode driver for that tube and fix the problem before proceeding further. As Shown as below photos If you got any question about the Nixie Clock just send me an email at patnsh@hkstar.com ENJOY! - -
A B C D D C B A Title Number Revision Size A Date: -Oct- Sheet of File: D:\Nixie Clock IN-_V..ddb T MMBTA T MMBTA R K R K R K T MMBTA T MMBTA R R K R K R NL NL R K R K T MMBTA R K T MMBTA R K R K R R R K T MMBTA R K R K R K T MMBTA T MMBTA R K R K NL NL T MMBTA R K R R R K T MMBTA T MMBTA R K R K R R R R R R R R R R R R SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SEL SELSEMICOLON HV SELTUBE ANODE ANODE ANODE ANODE ANODE ANODE CI VCC DRVC SWC TC SWE IPK IC MCA R K R R K C N C P T IRFRB C U/v C u/v D BYV- L uh VDC HV P K T MMBTA T MMBTA T MMBTA T MMBTA T MMBTA T MMBTA T MMBTA T MMBTA T MMBTA T MMBTA T MMBTA T MMBTA -V adjustable REF.V SELTUBE SELTUBE SELTUBE SELTUBE SELTUBE V NIXIE TUBE U IN-B V NIXIE TUBE U IN-B V NIXIE TUBE U IN-B V NIXIE TUBE U IN-B V NIXIE TUBE U IN-B V NIXIE TUBE U IN-B D D D D D D D D D D R R HV
A B C D D C B A Title Number Revision Size A Date: -Sep- Sheet of File: D:\Nixie Clock IN-_V..ddb R K R K R K S XT MHZ C P C P I/O X RST BATT X VCC SCLK IC DS XT.KHZ C.F.V C N R K Vin OUT IC M D N J DC JACK C N C N C U/V VDC SEL SEL SELSEMICOLON SEL SEL SEL SEL SELTUBE SELTUBE SELTUBE SELTUBE SELTUBE SELTUBE SEL SEL SEL SEL VCC VCC VCC SEL VCC OSC/CLKIN VSS RA/AN RA/AN/VREF RA/TCKI RA/AN/SS RB/INT RB RB RB RB RB RB RB RC/TOSO/TCKI RC/TOSI/CCP RC/CCP RC/SCK/SCL RC/SDI/SDA RC/SDO RC/TX/CK RC/RX/DT MCLR RA/AN OSC/CLKOUT RA/AN VSS VDD IC PIC F
Bill of Material for Nixie Clock IN-B Part Type Color Code Used Designator.F.V C N D K P.K R R R R R R.u/V or.u/v C.K R R R R R R R.MHZ XT K R R R R.KHZ XT (P) C C R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R M IC K R R (.u) C C C C u/v C C R R uh L K R R R R R R (P) C K R BYV- D DC JACK J DIODE IN D D D D D D D D D D DS IC IN-B U U U U U U (Depend on Kit Option) IRFRB T MCA IC MPSA (NPN) T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T MPSA (PNP) T T T T T T PIC FA IC SW-PB S DIP SOCKET PINS (.") IC DIP SOCKET PINS IC IC NEON BULBS Metal Studs With M screws x