One of our Talk users, Greyfox, shared a link to a really cool product that I had never seen. It is called SmartNixie by Tayloredge and it it solves multiple challenges at once: It provides a simple mounting solution for nixie tubes and it simplifies device control by using the I2C bus. There are other modules that provide a GPS interface for timekeeping, a stand alone real time clock, and a power supply solution. Something like this really lowers the barriers to entry for people to tinker in our hobby. For such a simple solution, their prices seem really reasonable.
From their site:
The TES SmartNixie is a ready to use display module pre-programmed with several useful operating modes. The on board processor reads a four position DIP switch at boot up to configure itself as one of 112 possible I2C slaves or any of several special modes such as the I2C master of a digital clock. Modules are 100% interchangeable so that they may be alternated in the user application to maximize tube life especially when installed into 0.100" pitch socket strips which eliminates the need to solder directly to the module pins (See table at bottom of page). The ICSP (In Circuit Serial Programming) connections to the PIC16F677 processor are also brought out on the module pins to allow for user programming of the processor flash memory when all DIP switches are in the off position.
http://www.tayloredge.com/storefront/SmartNixie/index.html
Lastly, be sure to look at their gallery. http://www.tayloredge.com/storefront/SmartNixie/Gallery/index.html
It looks like Chris Barron is making some good progress on the Smartsockets project. Head on over to their Yahoo group to learn more and if you're not already a member, join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smartsockets/ (It is things like this that make me wish I stayed in electrical engineering....)
If you're not familiar with smartsockets:
Smart Sockets were born from a desire to create a family of products which consists of different types of popular displays, each with a standard uniform command set and a large number of display mode functions.
There are many inbuilt fonts and transition effects which can run at several speeds. This allows you to make an interesting display display routine with the minimum of fuss, the only requirement in terms of data signals is an industry standard 9600,8,N,1 input. This means they can be driven directly by a PC, a PDA, or a microcontroller.
There are also user-definable characters, which allows for the creation of a new character set, which is stored in non-volatile memory.
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Smartsockets are a device that makes controlling multi-segment displays significantly easier. They free up the inventor to focus on the functionality of the device they are building while leaving the interfacing with the tubes to up to the Smartsockets. Smartsockets are been developed for B7971 Nixie tubes but the advantage IV-17's have is that they are much cheaper and much easier to find. The project is still in development but it looks like Chris is making lots of progress. Check out the Yahoo! Groups to learn more.
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Hello !
I am just providing a brief update here, the IV-17 Smartsocket will be a multifunctional device. As well as being able to interface with it to send serial data the microcontroller's on board RTC has been utilised so this means the device functions also as a clock and alarm, with date function.
The latest version has all the four letter words of the english language programmed in too and can easily be set to cycle between words, show the time as well as the date.
The next step is to finish making some interesting transition effects when in the four letter word mode, and add a rotary encoder which the user can use to set up all control parameters, if they do not wish to use the serial interface.
GPS timekeeping is also an option.
I'm getting some lumps of quality time now and again to work on this some more and hope to finish it soon.
Greetings from Scotland !
Chris
It also looks like he posted a few more videos in his YouTube channel. Go check them out.
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This is a simple 180V DC nixie tube power supply. I have one of these and it works like a champ. I power it with two 9V batteries and it works great. (It also appears to be the one in the ArduiNIX photo here.) It sells for about $25.
Input Voltage: +11 to +26 VDC @330mA max
Output Voltage: +180 VDC @ 12mA (fully regulated)
Small volume: 1.5 x 2.0 x 1.0 inch
I purchased mine from Alltronics.com.
Other sellers:
I'm never sure where to put kits like these or the Ogi Lumen kit so I created a new category. They aren't completed clocks or even kits but they definitely are not vacuum tubes. Like the other kit, this one is an Arduino based kit designed to drive nixie displays. It appears that the user needs to bring their own power supply and Arudino - the board simply provides a safe interface between all of the components.
The device comes in three varieties:
From their website:
The ArduiNIX was created by two video game developers Jeremy Howa and Bradley Lewis over the course of 6 months. Jeremy and Brad got the idea to drive a nixie clock using Arduino, and soon the ArduiNIX was born.
The ArduiNIX is an Arduino Decimelia compatible shield which plugs right onto the top of the Arduino board. ArduiNIX takes care of stepping power from 9vDC wall wart* up to a maximum of approx. 200vDC to drive any and all Nixie tubes. ArduiNIX also provides Multiplexed display for up to 80 elements by using 4 anode channels and 20 cathode channels. Multiplexing increases the life expectancy of your nixie tube investment.
Check them out here: http://www.arduinix.com/Main/Welcome.htm
On MAKE: http://forums.makezine.com/comments.php?DiscussionID=5739
On Hack A Day: http://hackaday.com/2009/06/22/arduino-nixie-shield/
Are you looking for a great starter kit? Check out ogi lumen. The have an Arduino interface and interface kits for the IN-12a (similar to these) style Nixie tubes. They can be programed to do more than just display time. Check out the animation below:
From their site:
NIXIE DUO AND NIXIE DRIVER
Edge-to-edge connecting header pins allow for importantly big numbers. We've had 24 IN-12A nixie tubes (12 NIXIE DUO AND NIXIE DRIVER pairs) running on one NIXIE TUBE POWER SUPPLY. While enumerating an unfathomable amount of good things, these nixie tubes know especially the favored Russian countdown protocol.
...this thing is amazing. Now go buy one!
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