[neonixie-l] Re: Wanted: best few photos of Nixies in military equipment

['threeneurons' via neonixie-l]

I'd like to see some, too.

Back in the mid to late 80's, the US military put out a joint recruitment 
commercial on TV. It was highlighting the high tech equipment, all the 
branches used, implying that the recruits will get career building tech 
skills. One of the shots was a piece of gear, inside a tank, that clearly 
used nixie tubes. That gave me a chuckle, at the time, since nixies were 
long obsolete by the time, that commercial aired.

That commercial has to be floating around somewhere.  

On Monday, February 20, 2017 at 11:23:41 PM UTC-8, johnk wrote:
>
> I would like to get a few good pictures of Nixies in military equipment 
> [not expecting it to be mobile stuff].Preferably not generally available 
> test equipment but could be support equipment in the Defence industry.
> Can anyone point to their favourites please?
>  
> John Kaesehagen
> Australia
>

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[neonixie-l] Re: HV control chips

[gregebert]

I took a quick look at the HV5532 datasheet, and the 15V output-low voltage 
is at 100mA, which is far more current than you will need for a nixie. The 
outputs will tolerate an anode supply of +220V, so that gives plenty of 
margin.

So, if you have an anode supply of +200V, you can calculate a rough value 
for your anode resistor from R = (Vcc-Vnixie)/Inixie  . Assuming Vcc=200, 
Vnixie=145, Inixie=4ma you get about 13K for the anode resistor. These are 
approximate values to get stated; you definitely need to bench-test the 
design and pick the appropriate resistor to maximize tube life. Tweak the 
anode resistor until you get the recommended anode current.  Be sure to use 
a large-enough power-rating for the resistor. In this example, the power is 
220mW so I would use a 1/2W resistor, not a 1/4W.

Be careful driving in HV5532 from 3.3V logic levels. Per the datasheet, Vih 
(min) is 0.8*Vcc, or 4.0V. Technically, a logic signal from a 3.3V device *will 
not meet spec*. It might work in certain conditions, but I question it's 
reliability. I personally would not implement any design that violates 
spec, as it's an invitation for trouble even though it might 'work' under 
certain conditions.

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[neonixie-l] Re: HV control chips

[Paul Andrews]

I am looking to drive regular Nixies. I am trying to figure out how to read 
those datasheets! There are a lot of variations on a theme with this family 
of chips. I had to think for a bit, but I get what you are saying re. low 
voltage - I have to keep reminding myself that low voltage == ON  (and I 
have to hit strike, not maintain) and high voltage == OFF! and that the 
current limiting resistor will drop the comparative voltage further.

I will go back and peruse the data sheets some more, though everyone seems 
to like the 5530. I looked at the HV5523, which also has 5V Vdd but a max 
of 220V output. However it also has a max low of 15V. I could use a current 
limiting resistor for this, but there is no specification of the min low, 
and I wonder if the comparative voltage could therefore vary between 220V 
and 205V? Just exploring possibilities at this point.

On Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 11:57:12 AM UTC-5, gregebert wrote:
>
> Are you driving segmented tubes (like the 7971) ? If so, I would advise 
> against the HV-series drivers because you will need several different 
> segment-currents.
>
> If it's a traditional 10-cathode nixie, where each numeral uses the same 
> current, the HV devices work great. There's a variety of opinions about 
> using drivers rated below the anode supply voltage. The legacy 74141, which 
> is rated around 45V, has been used for nixies for years and it's 
> suitability relies on the voltage-drop across a nixie.  While it's probably 
> OK for bipolar (NPN) output drivers as long as the current is limited, it 
> *definitely* is *not* OK to exceed ratings for MOS devices because it 
> will cause destructive breakdown.
>
> I looked at the HV3418 datasheet, and I dont think it will suffice for 
> nixies because the spec value of the *low* output voltage at 5mA  load is 
> 25V. If you are running from a +180V supply, the tube will 'see' less than 
> 155V because of the voltage-drop on the anode resistor. The ability to run 
> at +5V on the logic side may sound desirable, but the other specs in my 
> opinion make this device unsuitable.
>
> I cant say enough good things about the HV5530. I have a 14-tube clock w/ 
> IN-18's that has been running for over a year now with zero issues. I used 
> a level-shifter to drive the HV5530 inputs to 12V from my FPGA, which has 
> 3.3V I/O's.  Instead of an anode resistor to set the segment current, I use 
> a PMOS device to generate constant current.
>
>
>
>
>

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[neonixie-l] Re: Tired of German Postal Service and Customs

[taylorjpt]

The problem I had with the whole situation is that I NEVER had a disputed 
package returned from Germany, telling me that they eventually got their 
package but never fessed up to it.  Either way it was no longer worth the 
effort of annoyance so I cut them off a couple years ago.  I tried to block 
Germany on Paypal buy they kept tunneling in, and even set up a $10,000 
fee/4999 day delivery for all German orders to try to dissuade them but had 
to refund $10,000 twice last July which is going to wreck havoc on my taxes 
for last year because Paypal reported an extra $20K on my 1099K!!! :-(

And you're right about the German Ebay:  It is set up to thwart non-German 
users trying to clear opened cases!

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[neonixie-l] Re: HV control chips

[gregebert]

Are you driving segmented tubes (like the 7971) ? If so, I would advise 
against the HV-series drivers because you will need several different 
segment-currents.

If it's a traditional 10-cathode nixie, where each numeral uses the same 
current, the HV devices work great. There's a variety of opinions about 
using drivers rated below the anode supply voltage. The legacy 74141, which 
is rated around 45V, has been used for nixies for years and it's 
suitability relies on the voltage-drop across a nixie.  While it's probably 
OK for bipolar (NPN) output drivers as long as the current is limited, it 
*definitely* is *not* OK to exceed ratings for MOS devices because it will 
cause destructive breakdown.

I looked at the HV3418 datasheet, and I dont think it will suffice for 
nixies because the spec value of the *low* output voltage at 5mA  load is 
25V. If you are running from a +180V supply, the tube will 'see' less than 
155V because of the voltage-drop on the anode resistor. The ability to run 
at +5V on the logic side may sound desirable, but the other specs in my 
opinion make this device unsuitable.

I cant say enough good things about the HV5530. I have a 14-tube clock w/ 
IN-18's that has been running for over a year now with zero issues. I used 
a level-shifter to drive the HV5530 inputs to 12V from my FPGA, which has 
3.3V I/O's.  Instead of an anode resistor to set the segment current, I use 
a PMOS device to generate constant current.




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Re: [neonixie-l] Re: FS: IV-4, IV-12, IV-17, IV-26

[Yuriy Ovchinnikov]

I have 1 pc. of IN-18 only.

2017-02-21 10:24 GMT+03:00 Trumpeter :

> I need some in18 with late date codes when available.
>
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[neonixie-l] HV control chips

[Paul Andrews]

Hi,

I was following up on a discussion elsewhere which mention the HV5530 as a 
control chip for Nixie tubes. This has 32 outputs and 12V digital control, so 
it has some drawbacks. There are many other similar chips, in particular the 
HV3418, which has 64 outputs at 180V and 5mA, with 5V digital inputs. So, at 
least from that perspective, it looks like a very good match for driving 6 
nixies.

I don't know enough to understand the rest of the data sheets for these 
devices, so I don't know how to determine their suitability for driving nixies. 
Can anyone help?

Thanks

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[neonixie-l] Re: Tired of German Postal Service and Customs

[Roddy Scott]

> If you think you have some issues with Germany, try buying from the UK 
> when you live next door to it!
>

I live in Ireland and even though there is a border with the UK as in N.I. 
it can be a real pain as if I want items from the UK mainland, I get the 
same notification from a lot of Ebay sellers - Does not ship to your 
country. Then I have to go through Email and most of them don't even reply 
and those that do slap extortionate P charges on the cheapest of items.

I wanted a selection of springs for making brass push buttons for my clocks 
that cost £2.95 and they wanted £8.40 for P! They offer post free for the 
UK so I got my daughter who lives in Glasgow to order 3 packs and send them 
to me for less as me buying 1 from them would have been.

I have had a couple of Dekatron Spinners from Mike and do not object to the 
P as it is coming from the States, I get quite a few clock kits from Pete 
Virica sent signed for but I get really pissed off with other UK sellers 
ripping me off. I mean, a Jiffy bag and a £1.75 stamp suddenly becomes 
£8.40?

I get parts and tubes from everywhere and a lot of the sellers from the 
likes of the Ukraine, Bulgaria etc have free P included. It just shows 
that some people just love ripping you off.

>
>  
>

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