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Nixie UNIVERSAL TUBE CLOCK KIT Assembly Instructions And User's Manual

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UNIVERSAL NIXIE TUBE CLOCK KIT
Assembly instruction and user manual
Bring to your home a piece of history with The Vintage Nixie Clock and its Cold War era
components. The clock will give a cosiness and a uniqueness for your house.

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Summary of Contents for Nixie UNIVERSAL TUBE CLOCK KIT

  • Page 1 UNIVERSAL NIXIE TUBE CLOCK KIT Assembly instruction and user manual Bring to your home a piece of history with The Vintage Nixie Clock and its Cold War era components. The clock will give a cosiness and a uniqueness for your house.
  • Page 2 Introduction This parts kit intended for an electronics hobbyists that want to make a Nixie clock and do not want go deep to complicated clock control electronics and software. This instruction step-by-step assists you to assemble the clock. The kit consists all necessary electronics parts (excluding Nixie tubes and power adapter) and a microcontroller with pre-programmed an application software.

  • Page 3: Safety Precautions

    Safety precautions The clock printed circuit board (PCB) includes a High Voltage source that powers the Nixie tubes. It output voltage can reach 180 Volts DC. The voltage generated by this source can give a potentially LETHAL ELECTRIC SHOCK. When PCB is powered its contacts shall be not touched by hands or non- isolated tools (non-isolated tweezers for example).
  • Page 4  The KIT consists electronics components necessary for a clock assembly only. Nixie tubes need to purchase separately. This KIT can work with many nixie tube models. Tested with In-8, In-8- 2, In-18, In-12, In-14, In-16, In-1, z573m. Controller does not support biquinary type nixie tubes.

  • Page 5: Parts List

    Parts list Component designation Component description RESISTORS 1kΩ, 0.25W 470kΩ, 0.25W 3.3kΩ, 0.25W 0.5Ω, 0.5W R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R14, R17, R18 10kΩ, 0.25W R19, R20 330Ω, 0.25W R15, R16 270kΩ, 0.25W 1K, 0.1W (Potentiometer) CAPACITORS 2.2uF, 250V, Electrolytic C2, C4, C6, C7 0.1uF, Ceramic 2.2nF, Ceramic...
  • Page 6 DIODES 1N4004 1N914 UF4004 LED1-LED6 LED, 3mm INTEGRATED CIRCUITS LM7805 MC34063 K155ID1 ATMEGA328P-PU DS3231 MISCELLANEOUS Nixie Clock PCB BAT_1 CR2032 Battery socket Battery 3V CR2032 DB1, DB2 Neon bulb FUSE 0.5A 330uH, 1A Inductor S1 - S3 Buttons U3 Socket...
  • Page 7 Components review NOTES:  Components actual view can differ due to different manufacturers.  If an inscription or color bar coding of the component is small, it is necessary to use the magnifying glass. Resistors 1kΩ (R1) 10kΩ (R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R14, R17, R18, R19, R20) 470kΩ...
  • Page 8 The resistors used in the kit are marked with four coloured bands to identify the value. Bands 1 and 2 identify the first two digits, band 3 is the Multiplier and band 4 is the tolerance. The first, second and third coloured bands on the resistors indicate the resistance using a colour code. This table indicates how to convert each colour to its numerical equivalent.
  • Page 9 2.2uF 250V, (C5) Transistors BC547, (Q3, Q4, Q5, Q7) BC557, (Q1) MPSA42, (Q6) nixiediy@gmail.com...
  • Page 10 IRF840, MOSFET, (Q2) EL817, (OK1-OK6) Diodes 1N4004 (D1) UF4004 (D3) 1N914 (D2) LED, 3mm nixiediy@gmail.com...

  • Page 11: Integrated Circuits

    Integrated Circuits LM7805 (U1) MC34063 (U2) K155ИД1 (U3) ATMEGA328P-PU (U4) DS3231 (U5) nixiediy@gmail.com...
  • Page 12 Miscellaneous CR2032 Battery socket (BAT_1) Battery Neon bulb (DB1, DB2) Fuse 330uH, 1A Inductor (L1) nixiediy@gmail.com...
  • Page 13 Button (S1-S3) 16 pin socket 28 pin socket Power socket (5.5mm x 2.1mm) Speaker PCB Spacers 3mm screw nixiediy@gmail.com...
  • Page 14 1N914 UF4004 LED 3mm INTEGRATED CIRCUITS LM7805 MC34063 K155ID1 ATMEGA328P-PU DS3231 MISCELLANEOUS Nixie Clock PCB CR2032 Battery socket CR2032 Battery Neon bulb 330uH, 1A Inductor Buttons 16 pin socket 28 pin socket Power socket (5.5mm x 2.1mm) Speaker PCB spacers...
  • Page 15 PCB assembly sequence NOTES:  This instruction contents high definition pictures. If anywhere is uncertainty, PCB view can magnify and an interested component may to view in details  The side of the board that has printed component marking is the “component side”. This means that components must mount by inserting them down from the printed side.
  • Page 16 2. Low Voltage Power source components preparation for insertion into the board and soldering order LM7805 220uF, 25V, Electrolytic 0.1uF, Ceramic 1N4004 FUSE FUSE 0.5A Power socket 5.5mm x 2.1mm PCB DC Jack 2.1. Bend U1 integrated circuit leads. 2.2. Bend the two leads of the fuse and diode D1 so that they form a right angle to the component body.
  • Page 17 2.3.2. Either lead of the fuse may be inserted in either hole its location. NOTES:  To make sure that capacitor C1 and diode D1 polarity is not mistaken.  To make sure that integrated circuit U1 (LM7805) is not mistaken with transistor Q2 (IRF840) and diode D1 (1N4004) is not mistaken with diode D3 (UF4004) because they look like similar.
  • Page 18 3. High voltage generator components preparation for insertion into the board and soldering order MC34063 BC557 IRF840 UF4004 1N914 Inductor 330uH 2.2uF, 250V C2, C4 0.1uF 2.2nF 0.5Ω 0.5W 3.3k 470k 1k (Potentiometer) 3.1. All resistors (except R4) leads bend in accordance with this picture that each resistor place on board surface will be minimal.
  • Page 19 Check all relevant joints quality and polarity. Do not continue with the next test until the error in HV source exists. NOTES: Turn the potentiometer to adjust the voltage to approximately 165V. A potentiometer is needed to change the brightness of the nixie tube. nixiediy@gmail.com...
  • Page 20 4.4. Test low voltage (LV) source operability. Touch the black probe on the GND test point and the red probe on the 5V test point. The voltage should measure between 4.8 and 5.2 Volts. If not, disconnect power and check all relevant joints quality and polarity. Do not continue with the assembly until the error will be corrected.
  • Page 21 5.3. Insert the microcontroller into the socket NOTES:  Do not place the microcontroller U4 into the socket before you mount the socket onto the board.  Mount the socket such that the notch in the socket lines up with the notch marking in rectangular outline printed on the board.
  • Page 22 6. Tube driver circuit components K155ИД1 OK1-OK6 EL817 330Ω U3 socket 16 pin socket J3, J4 Pin strips 6.1. Take the resistor R12 and bend it, like pointed in item 3.1. Insert resistor into the board holes marked as R12 and solder it leads. 6.2.
  • Page 23 7. Buttons circuit components assembly S1-S3 Buttons R8, R9, R10 10kΩ 7.1. Parts S1-S3 are right-angle tactile button switches. Insert them into locations and make sure that they sit flat on the board. Solder all four pins of each switch. 7.2.
  • Page 24 7.3. Cut the desired number of pins and solder them into position J5 An example of connecting remote buttons is shown in the photo below. nixiediy@gmail.com...
  • Page 25 8. RTC (real time clock) circuit components assembly DS3231 0.1uF R5, R6, R7 10kΩ BAT_1 CR2032 Battery socket Battery 3V CR2032 7.1. Take the resistors R5, R6, R7 and bend them, like pointed in item 3.1. Insert each resistor into the board holes marked as R5, R6 and R7 respectively and solder it leads.
  • Page 26 9. Speaker circuit components assembly BC547 10kΩ Speaker 9.1. Take the resistor R20 and bend it, like pointed in item 3.1. Insert resistor into the board holes marked as R20 and solder it leads. 9.2. Install the transistor Q7 legs into the board holes marked as Q7 that its case flat edge is above the flat edge of the placement marking.
  • Page 27 10. LED backlight circuit components R17, R18, R19 10kΩ Q3, Q4, Q5 BC547 LED1-LED6 LED, 3mm Pin strips If necessary, RGB LED backlight can be connected to the controller. The controller supports common anode RGB LEDs and single color LED’s (6pcs of blue color LEDs are included). Connection diagram of RGB LEDs with a common anode: Connection diagram of single color (blue) LED’s: nixiediy@gmail.com...
  • Page 28 10.1. Resistor R17, R18, R19 leads bend in accordance with item 3.1. Insert them into location R17, R18, R19 and solder it’s leads as pointed on the picture 10.2. Install the transistor Q3, Q4, Q5 legs into the board holes marked as Q3, Q4, Q5 that its case flat edge is above the flat edge of the placement marking.
  • Page 29 An example of connecting neon bulb INS-1 is shown in the photo below. nixiediy@gmail.com...
  • Page 30 12. Nixie tube connecting All tube cathodes must be connected in parallel. Anodes must be connected separately for each tube. nixiediy@gmail.com...
  • Page 31 12.1. Cathode connection 12.1.1. Prepare six wires (10 cores): 12.1.2. Connect the wires together: nixiediy@gmail.com...
  • Page 32 12.1.5. Nixie tubes can be soldered directly to the wires or sockets can be used. It is more convenient to use the sockets, as in case the tube fails, it will be easier to replace it.
  • Page 33 12.2. Anode connection 12.2.1. Prepare six wires to connect the tube anodes. Do the same steps as in item 12.1.4 and 12.1.5 12.2.2. Check the tube datasheet to identify the anode. Mostly, the anode is labelled. nixiediy@gmail.com...

  • Page 34: Pcb Dimensions

    12.3. Plug in the power DC 12V supply. If all components installed and soldered properly the clock shall begin to operate. 13. PCB dimensions PCB dimensions pointed on the drawing below. They will be necessary if you decide to make the case for clock.
  • Page 35 14. Clock configuration and operation The three buttons of the clock have the following functions: Button 1 - Mode, Button 2 - Set, Button 3 - Adjust  Press Button 1 (Mode) to choose mode number  Press Button 2 (Set) to reach mode settings menu ...

This manual is also suitable for:

In-12