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Related Manuals for Nixie Glass Tube Clock 3
Summary of Contents for Nixie Glass Tube Clock 3
- Page 1 Glass Nixie Tube Clock #3 User's manual © Cold War Creations, 2010...
- Page 2 User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 Page 1 of 27...
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 Table of Contents 1 Glass Clock Design #3...........................4 2 Introduction to Nixie Tubes........................5 3 Clock Features............................7 4 Unpacking and setting up the Clock......................8 5 Setting the Clock............................9 5.1 Clock diagram..........................9 5.2 Setting the time and date......................10 5.3 Set time mode..........................10... -
Page 4: Glass Clock Design #3
Congratulations on your purchase of this unique timepiece! This clock uses Cold War era Nixie display tubes. The old is mixed with the new, using a RISC processor based single chip computer – which has more processing power than the old computers that originally used these Nixie tubes. -
Page 5: Introduction To Nixie Tubes
A neon bulb works by a high voltage ionizing neon gas, causing the gas to glow with an orange color. The Nixie tube takes this a step further, by shaping the cathodes like a numeral (0 – 9). When the cathode is energized, the numeral glows orange. - Page 6 The tubes used in this clock are Russian (Soviet) military tubes. The Soviets, seeing the Western Nixie, came up with their own versions with similar sizes and shapes. Unlike the U.S. Tubes they were manufactured well into the 1980's. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, these tubes became available on the surplus market, possibly from old warehouses of obsolete electronic equipment.
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Page 7: Clock Features
Power loss time backup, will not lose the time if power fails, and no battery to replace. Nixie tube anti-cathode protection software, helps prevent tube failure. Programmable display Off period – blanks display, while still keeping time. -
Page 8: Unpacking And Setting Up The Clock
User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 4 Unpacking and setting up the Clock Carefully unpack the clock from the box. The box should contain a wall plug-in power supply, two clear acrylic end plates and the clock itself. The power supply plugs into the wall outlet. -
Page 9: Setting The Clock
5 Setting the Clock This section describes how to set the clock. This includes setting the time and date, plus all the display options. Setting the Nixie clock features is accomplished by using the red mode button and the black function button. -
Page 10: Setting The Time And Date
User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 5.2 Setting the time and date When setting the time/date, the time is entered first followed by the date. Set the time by pressing the red mode button on the right side momentarily (Note: when powered up the clock will already be in set time mode, no need to push the mode button). -
Page 11: Setting The Time - Minutes
User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 5.3.2 Setting the time – minutes When the minutes (middle) digits are blinking, the minutes value can be changed. The black function button (left side) will change the minute value when pressed. Holding the function button on will quickly cycle through the minutes (0-59). -
Page 12: Setting The Date - Month
User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 5.4.1 Setting the date – month At this point, the month number (2 leftmost digits) will be blinking. Use the function button to change the month value ('01' = January, '12' = December, etc). Once the month value is set to the proper value, press the red mode button momentarily. -
Page 13: Setting The Alarm Time
User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 5.5 Setting the Alarm Time Set the alarm time by pressing the black function button on the left side momentarily. When pressed, the right most colon will be flashing, and the hours digits will flash on and off once a second. -
Page 14: Setting The Time - Hours
User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 5.5.3 Setting the time - hours When the hours (leftmost) digits are blinking, the hour value can be changed. The black function button on the left side will change the hour value when pressed. -
Page 15: Changing Clock Options
User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 5.6 Changing clock options There are several clock and display options available that can be changed by the user. When changed, these options will be saved to permanent memory. They will be saved even if the power is off for an extended period of time. -
Page 16: Option 2 - Date Format Display Option
User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 5.6.2 Option 2 – Date format display option This option selects the date format displayed. There are 2 different date display formats available: ‘01’ = display date format: mm dd yy (default) ‘02’... -
Page 17: Option 3 - Display Option, Time/Date/Temperature, Crossfade
User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 5.6.3 Option 3 – Display option, time/date/temperature, crossfade There are 3 different display styles available: '01' = display time and date. '02' = display time and temperature. '03' = display time, date and temperature. '11' = display time and date with digit crossfade. -
Page 18: Option 4 - Temperature Units, F Or C
User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 5.6.4 Option 4 – Temperature units, F or C This option selects the temperature units displayed. '01' format is Degrees Centigrade. '02' format is Degrees Fahrenheit. A blinking '01' or '02' will be displayed in the 2 leftmost digits, with the colon on. -
Page 19: Option 5 - Brightness Level
User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 5.6.5 Option 5 – Brightness level This option selects the brightness level for the display. There are 5 brightness levels to select. '01' → '04' select a fixed brightness level as follows: '01' = dim, no colons '02' = low-medium '03' = medium... -
Page 20: Option 6 - Anti-Cathode Poisoning Function
'00' = disable anti-cathode poisoning function. '01' → '23' = selects which hour anti-cathode poisoning starts. Anti-cathode poisoning mode helps prevent a condition in Nixie tubes where the cathodes (the individual digits) that aren't used often will be 'poisoned'. This is where deposits build up on the digits. When these deposits are thick enough, parts of the digit will not light up. -
Page 21: Setting The Display On/Off Times
User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 5.7 Setting the display ON/OFF times The clock display can be programmed to turn off and on at a specified time. Turning the digits off at night can extend the life of the tubes, or it may be desired to have the clock dark at night. -
Page 22: Setting The Off Time
User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 5.7.2 Setting the OFF time The OFF time setting is indicated by the leftmost colon on. Setting the display OFF time is accomplished by using both the mode button and the function button. The hours digits will be flashing on and off once a second. -
Page 23: Setting The On Time
User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 5.7.3 Setting the ON time The ON time setting is indicated by the rightmost colon on. Setting the display ON time is accomplished by using both the mode button and the function button. The hours digits will be flashing on and off once a second. -
Page 24: Disabling Off/On Time
User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 rev 1.2 5.7.4 Disabling OFF/ON time The display OFF function can be disabled by setting both the OFF and ON time to the same value, such as 00:00. This will disable the OFF mode. Page 23 of 27... -
Page 25: Maintenance And Care
Note: Make sure to unplug the clock before cleaning. While operating high voltage is present. 6.2 Use The Nixie clock may be used indoors 50 Deg F. to 120 DegF. Higher or lower temperatures will shorten the life of the tubes. Never use outdoors! -
Page 26: Warranty
Period of coverage • One (1) year from date of purchase for the case, circuit board and switches. The Nixie tubes and neon colons are covered for 6 months from date of purchase. What We Will Do to Correct Problems •... -
Page 27: Specifications
Temperature compensated 32 kHz time keeping crystal • 115 VAC wall transformer supplying 12 VDC 200 MA maximum current • 6 IN-14 Soviet Nixie Tubes, 180v anode voltage • Dimensions: 12” L x 5.5” H x 5.25” W, 2. lbs •...
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