Nixie Clocks

€ 135 - Kit / € 155 Assembled

Are you looking for the ultimate Christmas gift?  I think this might be it :)

Buy It Here

Let’s say you’re NixieKits.eu.  You build one of the nicest end view nixie clocks on the market.  Then, you go on and build one of the nicest VFD clocks on the market.  What’s next?  Well the answer to that is to build a killer little IN-16 nixie clock!  

Video Review:

{vimeo width="700" height="390"}17512915{/vimeo}

Text Review:

If you’ve seen the reviews of the IN-12 of IV-12 clocks, this one will look similar.  Let’s start out with the similarities between the clocks.

The menu and underlying software between the clocks is very similar.  The menu system is the same and the menu numbers even map to the same option.  For example, Option 1 is 12/24 more on all of the devices.  The same display effects are the same between the different clocks and even the layout of the buttons is almost identical.  THIS IS A GOOD THING.  NixieKits.eu has one of the most intuitive menu systems that I’ve come across and there is no need to re-engineer it.  As an added bonus, if you own multiple NixieKits.ed clocks, you can also use the same manual between devices (with only a few exceptions.)

This nixie clock is a closer related to the IN-12 clock than the VFD clock.  Specifically, the LED lighting under the tubes is nearly identical to that of the IN-12 clock.  They are 2-wire RGB led’s so each diode cycles independently of the other ones.  Like on the IN-12 clock, there is a knob on the back of the device to control the brightness or to turn off the LED’s entirely.  

During the night, I tend to keep mine at a medium brightness.  During the day - full brightness.

Lastly, it has the anti cathode poisoning features that the IN-12 clock has: the slot machine effect and the wave effect.

Design

Jurgen Grau has perfected the stacked acrylic design.  This is by far the smallest clock in the NixiKits.eu collection and it is, in my opinion, one of the most professional looking.  Currently, the clock is offered in two varieties: one with a clear top and one with a mirrored finish.  Be sure to look at the photos below to see the difference.

I also have to point out the size - this thing is small in a good way.  Jürgen has perfected the layered acrylic enclosure and his skills show.  The slim PCB design fits perfectly in the enclosure and the base only stands about an inch tall.  I can’t confirm this for sure, but it might be the smallest six digit nixie clock on sale right now.

Technical Data

• Tubes: IN-16 Nixie tubes, 13 mm digit height.
• RGB tubes lighting: brightness adjustable.
• Alarm: adjustable time, snooze and tone.
• Time format: 12- or 24 hour mode.
• Display: time / alarm / date / or alternating time - date.
• Effects: scrolling date, display fading, digit cycling in different styles.
• Power: 12VDC 350mA max.
• DC Power consumption: ca. 3.5VA (full tubes and tubes LED brightness).
• Timekeeping: for more than 20 min. with 300,000µF SuperCap in the event of mains failure.
• Time accuracy: internal 4 MHz crystal, adjustable with buttons for minimal deviation of app. 1 s per month.
• Dimension (w x h x d): app. 140 x 62 x 60 mm (incl. tubes)
• Weight: app. 150 g
• Power supply: 100...240V~ Power cord for EU/GB/US

Additional Highlights

• Selectable leading zero suppression between 0:00 and 10:00
• Selectable digit cross fading
• Automatic date display with selectable display frequency
• Scrolling date with adjustable speed
• Automatic digit cycling with various effects and selectable frequency to prevent cathode poisoning
• Adjustable standard display brightness
• Dimmer control with start time and duration to save tube's life
• Alarm with adjustable tone and snooze option
• Easy to set up with 3push buttons

Photographs