Re: Tiny universal clock PCB

I don't have the knowledge to design my own circuit boards but I do solder a lot so for my designs and ideas I depend on kits being released by others.
I'm kind of surprised that no-one has ever come up with a tiny SMD board that can drive 6 tubes and 2 colons and can be used as a base for new designs. Anode resistors could be chosen depending on the tubes used.
What I'm seeing all the time is PCBs that match the size of the tube board. Why? I see a lot of people like to show off the electronics inside the clocks but I don't like that at all. I just would like a tiny PCB that can fit into small cases and lets me choose how to wire up the tubes.
I did order the remote tube clock from pvelectronics but it's so large that it needs to be used outside the actual clock and you have to run a thick 22 wire cable from the clock to the case.
The closest I've found so far is the micro nixie clock from kosbo.com
However, it's only 4 digits and some components are still on the tube board.
Taking a design like that, adding 2 digits and replacing certain parts with SMD could probably keep it that tiny I guess?
I'd love if someone capable of desiging such a board could comment and share ideas.

Well, you could simply buy a clock or kit, sans the tubes and run ribbon cable to the tubes.

Mike Barile has been using my NixiChron board for his custom clocks, and doing exactly that. $200 without enclosure.

I also have another model, the GPSII , that is the same electronics packaged into a smaller 2-board set.
The boards can be either "L", or stacked, making for a compact footprint. $175 without enclosure.

Both of these clocks are GPS based, and set the standard for features that other commercial sellers reference their designs by.

You'd only need to size the anode resistors to the tubes chosen.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

Regards, Jeff

Hi Jeff.
Thanks for the reply.
Yes, I could do that but like I said, most kit's boards aren't made very small because they're made the same size as the the tube board which, most of the time, is pretty large. The board of the GPSII is also way too large for what I have in mind (think regular alarm clock size). The board of the micro nixie clock I'm talking about is only 35x60mm.

Maybe one the many commercial sellers will take a hint and offer a pre-assembed, compact/surface mount direct drive clock engine for the do-it-yourselfers.

I've no interest though.

Until then, you'll have to wait or live with whatever is available now.


Regards, Jeff

Jeff wrote: Until then, you'll have to wait or live with whatever is available now.

Which is exactly what I've been doing up 'til now and the reason why I've started this topic
Just hoping someone will take notice and perhaps be interested as well.

Yes, i too would be interested. I have already wondered about this myself before, why are there no six digit clocks as small as the IN-17 sandwich from Kosbo.