IV-18 Soviet VFD CLOCK
by Turbo_Hobby / eBay
Starting at $69.99
User Turbo_Hobby has released a new clock based on the IV-18 VFD tube and it looks pretty slick. There has been other clocks based on this tube but no other ones, based on my recollection, include a calculator function. That's right, it is also a calculator. It seems fitting that the tube that was originally designed for calculators is finally being used for one in this vacuum tube Renaissance.
The production time on each one of these devices is significant. Each one of his creations is hand assembled and even the transformer is hand wound. In practice, this means that he is only able to produce about one per month. Given that, the starting price is pretty good. (I sure wouldn't want to hand solder the SMT components.)
Turbo_Hobby is also the same guy who created the single digit nixie clock that I really like. He doesn't have a lot of feedback on eBay yet but I would not hesitate to do business with him again.
From the auction:
This is a fully assembled IV-18 VFD clock, with alarm, date, temperature and calculator function! Largest 8-digit VFD tube from USSR, NOS. Please refer to the video below or contact me for detailed explanation. Assembled with high-quality SMD components, with calibrated accurate clock pulse generator. The clock can be powered by either mini USB port or a 3.5mm 5V DC power supply, and keeps time by a SMD lithium battery when powered off.
Features:
- 8 digit, 7 brightness level
- Displays time, date (DD.MM.YYYY), day (1-7) and temperature (°C and °F both) every 30 seconds.
- 3 alarms
- Dual input (mini USB or 3.5mm 5V DC wall adaptor)
- AC driven VFD provides uniform display
- Four buttons control (set, select, up and down)
- Made by high quality components
- Extensible 8-digit calculator (please purchase the matrix keyboard separately)
- Uses high quality components
- Philips RTC (Real-time Clock) - PCF8563
- Accurate SMD Clock Oscillator
- Murata (Japan) SMD Clock Trimmer Capacitor
- NEC 6312 Specific VFD Driver IC
- EPCOS SMD Tantalum Capacitors
- ATmel M32 Microprocessor
- SANYO SMD CR2025 Backup Battery
Links
KOSBO VFD Round Clock
by Kosbo.com
Price: 49.95 EUR
Kosbo has just come out with a new VFD clock that is different from just about any other on the market. Instead of using discreet 7-segment tubes like the IV-11, this used one single display in the shape of an analog clock.
I personally own one of his IV-11 clocks and I’m quite happy with it. The PCB board is professionally assembled and I like the design of it. This round VFD clock takes it to the next level – soon there will be an acrylic base to complete the device and based on the renderings provided, it looks quite attractive.
Once the base is released, I may order one and do a more formal review based on that. In the mean time, go over to Kosbo.com and check out the rest of the photos and the specs. If you already have one of these, please leave me a message in the comments. I'd really like to get your opinion on this device.
From the site:
- Newly designed VFD Round Clock - just arrived on the market
- Unique compact design - there is nothing similar on market yet
- Circuit boards diameter is the same as tube's one - just make 30mm hole for whole clock installation
- Based on the modern Vacuum Fluorescent Display, which has 60 two sizes handle segments for real analogue clock simulation
- Reliable, simple to connect and easy to use Clock
- High efficiency and low power consumption for energy saving
- Use it as a Clock on your office table or as Alarm Clock to wake you up in your bedroom
- Convenient Time display reading
- Easy control with only 2 buttons.
- Over current and mixed polarity protection.
- Integrated Backup battery to keep Clock running in case of power failure for up to 14 days.
Links
IV-18 VFD 'Harp Clock' Kit
by Claus-Dieter Urbach / www.nixieclocks.de
Price: 120 EUR
I found this clock on Neonixie-l and I really liked the design. It is similar to the Ice Tube Clock from Adafruit but I personally like this design much more. It is housed in a acrylic cylinder and has a much more polished look and feel to it. If you're curious about the build, Claus has included the full manual and high resolution build photos to help you
From the site:
Technical details:
- 9-12 Volt AC 50 Hz or 60 Hz
- used tube: VFD IV-18
- current: 120 mA at 12 Volt
- Optional DCF77 Module clock shows time (mains driven) or DCF77 timing
- If in DCF77 mode, the clock shows the date for 5 seconds
What you get:
- kit with all parts needed (SMD parts already solder on the pcb)
- IV-18 VFD tube
- Power 9-12 Volt AC
- housing: Acrylic cylinder, 2 Acrylic side plates
- CNC milled and laser cut
- chrome plated connector
- silver wire
- wires for power supply socket and DCF77 socket
- stencils for mounting the tube correctly
- 2 x spacers for the 7 silver wires (pcb material milled)
- 2 sockets (power supply and DCF 77)
Links:
Ice Tube Clock
By ladyada.net
Price: $15 PCB Only / $65 Kit
For the open-source fans, I have a neat little project for you. It is an open soruce VFD clock called Ice Tube. It is deisgned by Ladyada.net and is based around the IV-18 VFD Tube. I don't yet have one of these added to my VFD database yet, but basically it is an eight digit, 7-segment VFD display contained in a single glass envelope. (It is projects like these that make me wish I had stayed an EE major...)
Description from Ladyada.net:
- Cool glowing blue tube with 8 digits and alarm on/off dot
- Adjustable brightness
- Alarm with volume adjust
- Precision watch crystal keeps time with 0.002% accuracy!
- Clear plastic enclosure protects clock from you and you from clock
- Battery backup will let the clock keep the time for up to 2 weeks without power
- Selectable 12h or 24h display
- Displays day and date
- 10 minute snoozer
- Integrated boost converter so it can run off of standard DC wall adapters, works in any country regardless of mains power
- Great for desk or night table use, the clock measures 4.9" x 2.9" x 1.3" (12.5cm x 7.4cm x 3.3cm)
- Completely open source hardware and software, ready to be hacked and modded!
Links:
Single VFD Clock
By Jon Stanley
http://www.electronixandmore.com/project/15.html
HThsi one is almost identical to the Numitron version, but instead this uses a VFD display. As he did for the Numitron version, Jon graciously provides both the schematic and the code for the PIC microprocessor on his site. It uses the same 4-led + tube setup with the LED's indicating the digit currently displayed and the tube showing the value.
All images and video are copyright Jon Stanley.
Kosbo IV-11
6 digits IV-11 VFD Clock with 2 Alarms.
by Kosbo.com
£54.95 / Kosbo.com
I just found this clock while doing a Google Image search for something completely unrelated. It appears to be by eBay seller Sparkeltube. It is a 6 discrete digit VFD based clock. It has two alarm and a built in buzzer. But let’s face it - you’re buying this for the display :) I love this thing - I want one!
FTA
- Unique and new VFD Clock on the market !
- Fully assembled and tested VFD Clock
- Six BIG 20mm high digits (IV-11 VFD Tubes)
- Displays Time , Date and 2 Alarm clock sets
- Accurate & calibrated time clock source from internal crystal
- Integrated 2 Alarm Clocks
- Easy control with only 2 buttons
- Uses standard 12V wall plug Power Supply
- Precision Seconds setup
- Internal buzzer for Alarm1 and Alarm2
- High efficiency integrated on board DC-DC converter
Links:
Elektronika 7
This clock is so unique it has its own Wikipedia entry
I found one of these clocks on eBay a while ago and shamelessly stole the images from it, from Wikipedia and from one other source (below.) Sadly, I didn't think to bid on it at the time. I you look at the photo above and then at the photo below, you can see a little 7-segment VFD display. It looks like they are only using it to display the bottom half of the figure 8! That is one way to engineer a decimal point, I guess.
The Elektronika 7's are old VFD Matrix displays that have become somewhat of a collector item. Since Wikipedia has a good description I will let them describe it:
Electronics 7 are industrial clocks with luminescent indicators where each figure was formed by four or eleven 7-segment lamps. For each indicator there was a board decoding the binary code sent by the main board. There were also models based on light-emitting diodes . The basic shortcoming of the clocks was that the segments of the display were gradually burnt out, and there was a significant difference in a luminescence between more often and less often displayed segments. It usually happened after ten or more years of continuous work. All the street and wall clocks were based on the kit by Saratov factory “Reflector” and even now are used in many administrative and industrial premises in Russia. The clocks were made on the basis of vacuum-fluorescent indicators manufactured in Russia.
Samsung approximation clock
By John Smout / Clock-It
Price Unknown
I found this clock while searching for clocks to feature and reminds me a lot of the Verbarius clock. It is a large VFD display that spells out the time and appears to be able to display other information. Sadly, it seems that only four of these clocks were ever made. Go check out Clock-It now, he has some good stuff there.Samsung VFD display in grey metallic finish case.
From the creator:
This clock was made in conjunction with a friend, Andrew Jardine, who also introduced me to PIC programming, which opened up a whole new world to me. At last I can make my electronic dreams come true… maybe.
Not much to say about the case, it is a minimal shape made from thick polycarbonate to house the displays and my driver board that sits on the back of it. As the display itself runs off 5v and has all the necessary components to make the display work, all I needed to do was feed it serial data and off it went.
The aim of this clock is to display words much as a person speaks when you ask them the time. About six o’clock, nearly half past six, that kind of thing. So it approximates to the nearest ten minutes and gives an appropriate response.
In addition there are a few other modes. A static rather than scrolling clock, one that dissolves snowflakes into the characters.
I have made four of these clocks. Andrew has one, two have been sold and I kept one.
I have a small quantity of the displays left and Iintend to expand the repertoire of words with an EEPROM.
Originally from Clock-It (be sure to check out the video of it in action.)
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