Allen, I almost missed this post completely.. been a busy week. The clock is in production and I'm catching up on my shipments!
There are currently two offerings on the microcontroller used with the clock, one is an original ESP32-DEVKITC-VE board and the other the XIAO ESP32C3.. You can look them up, as they are standard parts.. but in the clocks case the main differences would be that the XIAO has an external antenna vs onboard with the ESP32-DEVKITC-VE. The XIAO is also a much smaller board, buying you a bit more prototype space around the board. There are more nuanced differences, but a good question and I will update the docs page to give more info about this. The optional items are links to the actual items, I'll try and make this more obvious. Regards, -Moses On Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at 1:13:25 AM UTC-8 W1SBY wrote: > Moses, > I was going to place an order but have a couple of questions. > > What is the difference between an ESP32 and a Xaiu ESP32C3? > > Also there is no way to pick “optional items” > > I’m looking forward to this clock. > > Allen > > Allen Wisbey, W1SBY > > > On Jan 20, 2023, at 5:31 PM, Moses <mo...@neonixie.com> wrote: > > I'm taking pre-orders! Waiting on a few production parts to arrive, > testing and adding a few final features to the firmware. There is an order > link on the main page at http://www.neonixie.com/IV-9-6D-RR/ > > > The firmware has several new features. I've added barometric readings from > the optional BMP280, mostly data displayed on the devices web server, but > I've included a drop down option to use the display as an altimeter! :) > I'm working on adding a pressure display option, likely alternating > between current pressure and HI / LO pressures for the last 24 hours. > There's also an option to display wifi RSSI and LUX readings, mainly for > debugging. If anyone has any other ideas for an 'alternate display' I'm all > ears! > > I'm delaying the QT PY board sale until I can do a little bit more testing > and secure sufficient stock. The original Espressif devkitc module and Xiao > C3 versions are available now. > > Thank you everyone for your support and be sure to read the dedication on > the bottom of the page! > > Regards, > -Moses > On Friday, December 30, 2022 at 9:20:27 PM UTC-8 Moses wrote: > >> An update. I've gotten a hold of a few Adafruit QT Py ESP32 boards and >> have been testing them out lately. The last picture is a working mockup >> before I spin up another PCB. >> >> http://www.neonixie.com/IV-9-6D-RR/ >> >> Looks like I can keep both the original ESP32 DEVKITC footprint and add >> the QT Py easily, giving me a few options. The Seeed Studio Xiao boards >> have the same pinout as the QT Py, so potentially another controller option. >> Height of components was mentioned previously, and if I omit the socket >> for the QT Py or the larger ESP32, I can get the board height down to about >> 9mm, which is pretty good I would say. As luck would have it.. I believe >> the pinout of the IV-9 is such that you can add the missing pin of the >> circular pin arrangement, connect them together and mount the tubes on the >> 'bottom' of the board. With this small change one can solder the tubes to >> the "bottom" with just a simple software option! >> >> The 74125 logic converter IC is below the ESP32, I may just move this >> away to the right side of the board. The BH1750 lux sensor and AHT20 >> temp/humidity in the corner of the board are working well. >> >> One thing I did notice is the QT Py boards can't be too far away from the >> wifi router.. likely from the tiny chip antenna they use. They have a >> variant with external antenna, might try that too. The ESP32-C3 (RISC-V) >> variant needed some USB drivers on my dev machine, which was a task, but >> eventually worked. >> >> I have been providing the tubes with 5v and running PWM at about 75%, >> this gives me right around 20ma per segment, and avoids having to provide a >> DC-DC converter. The actual voltage to the segments is less then 5v.. since >> there are losses in the driver ICs. I do have a diode on the PCB as well, >> which you can put in line with a solder jumper. The diode drops the 5v down >> to about 4.2v, giving a native 20ma per segment without PWM. I'd like to >> ask if anyone has any knowledge on theoretical lifespan impact of either >> option. I like the 5v option with PWM, can limit the maximum in software >> but provide the option to overdrive them if anyone so chooses. This is my >> first production attempt at a numitron clock, so any detailed experience >> from group members is greatly appreciated. >> >> Regards, >> -Moses >> On Friday, December 9, 2022 at 5:03:45 PM UTC-8 Moses wrote: >> >>> Ian, >>> >>> Yes, the picture is overexposed. I've found it's pretty difficult to >>> take good pictures of numitrons! >>> >>> The diode is just a plain silicon version, I put a jumper pad on the >>> bottom to bypass it if desired. When in line it drops about 0.8v, so my >>> input of 5v becomes 4.2v and the segments are using about 20ma each. >>> Bypassing it and providing 5v to the segments gives 24ma. There is PWM >>> dimming, so a maximum current option is easy to add to the firmware (on top >>> the the default brightness settings). During normal clock operation it's >>> running about 600ma, so I'm burning about 0.5w in the diode. It's not very >>> hot, but I will add some more copper on the PCB if the diode remains. I did >>> think about adding a switching converter, but that adds more parts to >>> solder. Assuming a switching converter would be 90% efficient.. I go from >>> burning 0.5w to 0.2w. Is saving 1/3 of a watt worth the additional parts >>> cost? I'm not sure. I'm trying to go with a low parts count without >>> sacrificing much. >>> >>> Yes, it's a bog standard 'clock in a box' type kit, haha. But I think >>> I'm ok with that right now. Could move everything to the bottom.. that's >>> always an option. >>> I used to socket everything.. but now my thinking is with modern >>> semiconductors, once it works it's likely good for a few decades I would >>> hope! It's feels like I'm adding another point of potential failure. >>> >>> Cool clocks on your site! >>> I did look at the Wemos D1 too.. but decided for this iteration I'll go >>> with the controller I already know. For something smaller I was also >>> looking at the Adafruit QT Py as well as the Seeed Xiao boards. >>> I couldn't figure out how you power your IV-9s. >>> >>> Regards, >>> -Moses >>> >>> On Friday, December 9, 2022 at 2:47:58 AM UTC-8 Ian Sparkes wrote: >>> >>>> Nice work! >>>> >>>> I'm not sure if it is just your picture, but they look over-driven to >>>> me. It's perhaps just the exposure - I guess D1 is a Zener to provide some >>>> stability on the drive to the filaments, maybe you need to drop the >>>> voltage >>>> on that. The Zener is a pretty wasteful way of stabilising the voltage - >>>> you're going to need to provide for about an amp at full blast (42 >>>> segments >>>> at around 20mA = .84A), and to dump the excess over the life of the clock >>>> amounts to a lot of energy. >>>> >>>> That's also a fairly hard set up you have there to find a nice case >>>> for, with the big dev board standing way up. Also for kits, you're going >>>> to >>>> want to put those drivers in sockets and they will also stand proud and >>>> too >>>> close behind the tubes to make an attractive casing easy. >>>> >>>> Here's my take on it - feel free to nab a few ideas there. (These are >>>> not for sale at the moment - stock trouble). >>>> >>>> https://www.nixieclock.biz/StoreNumitron-6Digit.html >>>> https://www.nixieclock.biz/StoreNumitron-4Digit.html >>>> >>>> BTW, when I was still delivering these, I would usually deliver them >>>> with the USB connector and the NeoPixels already soldered and tested. >>>> >>>> On Fri, 9 Dec 2022 at 05:21, Moses <mo...@neonixie.com> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hi Everybody, >>>>> >>>>> I'm happy to say the first prototype PCB has arrived and has been >>>>> assembled! Some pictures here: >>>>> >>>>> http://www.neonixie.com/IV-9-6D-RR/ >>>>> >>>>> Some details.. >>>>> - I purposefully picked all through hole parts as this will be in full >>>>> kit form. >>>>> - I ended up choosing the TI TPIC6C596N driver. It does everything I >>>>> need and is pin compatibility with PN '595N and possibly a few others. >>>>> I've >>>>> been testing software that keeps the unlit segments 'warm' by PWM'ing >>>>> them >>>>> to just barely invisible.. not so sure if this is going to make a big >>>>> lifespan difference. These are being driven by a 74AHCT125 for the logic >>>>> level shift (3.3v to 5v). >>>>> - The controller is a ESP32 original dev board from Espressif, the >>>>> same one I use for my previous nixie clock. This gives me a known good >>>>> working part number and software carry over from my prior nixie clock. >>>>> Most >>>>> of the features of that clock will carry over directly to this one, >>>>> including the BH1750 lux module and AHT20 temperature/humidity sensor. >>>>> - Input is 5v via a common DC barrel jack. I did order a few USB-C >>>>> input jacks, even found a through-hole one. I decided against using it in >>>>> a >>>>> kit due to the more delicate soldering required, as well as the unknown >>>>> quality of all the USB cables and power supplies I generally run into. >>>>> This >>>>> runs the IV-9s directly and optionally through a diode to run them at a >>>>> slightly lower voltage of ~4.2v if desired. >>>>> >>>>> I am ordering more parts and should have a few beta boards out before >>>>> the holidays. Hopefully production kits will be ready sometime in January! >>>>> >>>>> Thanks to everyone who provided advice and feedback! >>>>> >>>>> Regards, >>>>> -Moses >>>>> >>>>> On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 3:06:41 AM UTC-8 hall...@hotmail.com >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> If Richard is in-So am I 😊 >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Peter..insidiousnixies:Utube >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> *From: *'Ian' via neonixie-l >>>>>> *Sent: *Thursday, November 17, 2022 5:52 PM >>>>>> *To: *neoni...@googlegroups.com >>>>>> *Subject: *Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Any interest in IV-9 numitron clock >>>>>> kit? >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> I’m in >>>>>> >>>>>> On 17 Nov 2022, at 04:28, Richard Scales <ric...@scalesweb.co.uk> >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> I have built several numitron kits from nixieclock.biz and am a big >>>>>> fan of numitrons, I have only had them running far a couple of years and >>>>>> then for only half a day at most. I have heard that their tube life is >>>>>> 'long' but have not seen any actual numbers. I have also re-worked the >>>>>> design for other numitrons like IV-19 and DTF104B. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> <RCS_5954.jpg> >>>>>> >>>>>> - Richard >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Wednesday, 16 November 2022 at 22:26:36 UTC mo...@neonixie.com >>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Hi Everybody, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I seem to have enough IV-9 tubes to where I can produce a batch of >>>>>>> 100 or so 6 digit numitron clocks. Thinking ESP32 powered like my last >>>>>>> one >>>>>>> (Thank you to all those who gave suggestions, the kit came out great!). >>>>>>> I'm >>>>>>> thinking maybe try for a full through-hole solder kit with some shift >>>>>>> registers. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I know nixies are more popular.. but anyone interested in a numitron >>>>>>> clock kit? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Oh, one question I do have, anyone have long term experience (ie, >>>>>>> years?) running this particular tube? How do they fare? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Thank you! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Regards, >>>>>>> -Moses >>>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "neonixie-l" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>> send an email to neonixie-l+...@googlegroups.com. >>>>>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/421b1cfd-f165-49ad-a63b-1afae649b1ebn%40googlegroups.com >>>>>> >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/421b1cfd-f165-49ad-a63b-1afae649b1ebn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>> . >>>>>> >>>>>> <RCS_5954.jpg> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "neonixie-l" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>> send an email to neonixie-l+...@googlegroups.com. >>>>>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/6975019D-E714-4B91-94DC-878BE396B531%40yahoo.co.uk >>>>>> >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/6975019D-E714-4B91-94DC-878BE396B531%40yahoo.co.uk?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>>> . >>>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>>>> Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/neonixie-l/KK9P2jsFon8/unsubscribe. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>>>> neonixie-l+...@googlegroups.com. >>>>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/dbf54f53-6b8c-4a09-8766-a7c4c9b2b887n%40googlegroups.com >>>>> >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/dbf54f53-6b8c-4a09-8766-a7c4c9b2b887n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>> . >>>>> >>>> -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "neonixie-l" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to neonixie-l+...@googlegroups.com. > > To view this discussion on the web, visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/f8f38848-0b8c-407d-a291-fcd527033664n%40googlegroups.com > > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/f8f38848-0b8c-407d-a291-fcd527033664n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > . > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. 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