Nixie Clock type 1b

My type 1b design is basically the same as type 1a, streamlined for mass production - the main change was to use a more powerful microcontroller chip that allowed me to eliminate several components. The only user-visible change is that it now has the test/demo mode that my 2-digit designs have.

Here's a mockup of what the clock actually looks like in operation. The time initially shown here is 7:38 (it could be either AM and PM, there's no way to tell other than using a 24-hour display format).

Start clock simulation
JavaScript required, uses your computer's clock.

Push switch left Push switch right
The toggle switch on top is mainly used for setting the clock, but can also select one of two alternate displays.

Stop clock simulation
This will free up the memory and CPU time taken by the animation.

Normal display mode:
Display mode when switch pushed to right:
Display mode when switch pushed to left:
Display options:
Digit display time: / 120 of a second
Gap betwen digits: / 120 of a second
About the only feature of the actual clock missing from this simulation is the ability to set the time. This is done by touching a magnet to the bottom front of the case: each touch of the magnet selects the next settable value (hour, minute, month, day, century, year, and the six option settings shown above), and the switch on top raises or lowers the displayed value. A strong neodymium magnet-on-a-stick will be provided with the clock for setting it.

Click here for a copy of the instruction sheet for setting the clock (in Acrobat PDF format - get Acrobat Reader if you don't have it already).

Here are some pictures of the inside of clock #1:

The processor is a PIC18LF1220, running on its internal oscillator at 500 KHz. The firmare uses 1064 out of 4096 bytes of program ROM, and about 41 bytes of RAM.

Serial #5 of this design is functionally identical to the rest, but built in a rather different enclosure - a lighthouse candle holder from Hobby Lobby, standing a foot tall. Click here for a copy of its instruction sheet (not significantly different from the normal one).

I didn't take any pictures of #5's circuitry, but it uses the same boards as the rest of the 1b clocks. Instead of having the Nixie directly soldered to the board, there are wires leading to a socket. Likewise, instead of having the toggle and reed switches directly on the board, there are wires going down to the actual switches at the base of the clock. A key is used instead of a magnet to enter setting mode. Also, there is an isolation transformer in the base, since a direct line-powered design like this would not otherwise be safe in a metal enclosure.

Contact

Any questions or comments about this page can be directed to: Jason Harper.
Go back to my main Nixie page.

Normal display mode:
Display mode when switch pushed to right:
Display mode when switch pushed to left:
Display options:
Digit display time:	/ 120 of a second
Gap betwen digits:	/ 120 of a second