Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Relocate tubes on single clock
I thought that there was actually an exchange of matter between the cathodes going both ways when all the cathodes are on alternatively. Which means that if only 1 or 2 cathodes are used, theses cathodes erode faster. I don't know if the sputtering on the glass in the front is also worse on the first hours digit? But I also understand that the lifespan of a nixie is mostly a sum of the lifespan of each cathode. In some datasheets you can find the lifespan if only 1 digit is used or if the same digit is on for a long time (the datasheet I just found says every 100 hours though...). Page 6 of the PDF from Telefunken for example : http://www.tube-tester.com/sites/nixie/dat_arch/Telefunken_01.pdf Perhaps the cathode poisoning prevention can prolong the lifespan a little, but the first hours digit will inevitably fail first simply because in every case the same 1 or 2 cathodes are on much longer than the others. So for me the question remains. Let's say there is a way to switch the position of the nixies without risk, by moving them with their sockets for example : Is it better to change the position regularly and have the 0s and 1s fail (much?) later but on all nixies more or less at the same time, or is it better to "sacrifice" one nixie, knowing that it will have to be replaced much more often? -- 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+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send an email to neonixie-l@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/30c54fcd-2f7e-4c4d-aba1-c1958a94d8cc%40googlegroups.com. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Relocate tubes on single clock
Alic, Cathode poisoning only affects the unused digit. So it isn't a reason to replace a tube, as the affected numbers are never used. The only time I could see it being an issue is in the hours tube that you might go from displaying civilian time and then you want to display military time. I remotely located my PIR sensor so it is hidden and in a good position to detect people. So I do have a wire leading from the clock but at least don't have the sensor sitting like a wart on the clock. It makes a great night light, off when you don't need it, on wen you do! Jonathan On 6/7/2016 1:24 PM, Alic wrote: I don't own a nixie clock long enough myself, but I've heard of several examples of nixie clocks running for a long time where the tube of the 1st hours digit had to be replaced. It seems that no cathode poisoning prevention was used back then though. The future will tell which of the current life prolonging measures is the most efficient. Turning the nixies off when nobody is looking seems to be the obvious choice. Now all I need is to find a way to hide that ugly PIR sensor ;-) -- 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+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send an email to neonixie-l@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/6db4f1e4-7021-751b-73f4-37ff6a7829e9%40madlabs.info. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Relocate tubes on single clock
I agree about breaking 'em and uneven wear, and the digits that get cathode poisoning aren't getting used, so who cares? I was tinkering around on the code for my oldest clock and checked the hours tube. Couldn't see any difference after 15 years of operation. The first 9 years it was on 24/7. The last six it has had a motion sensor on it and only runs with someone in the room. These are B5991 tubes. Jonathan When you really think about it moving them around not only risks breaking them but can cause multiple tubes to have uneven wear vs just a couple. The 10s hour spot only does 0, 1, and maybe 2 so you end up with the most time on those digits. Move that tube to the seconds where it gets equal time on each and you still have more time on those first digits but after a while they'll start to look dimmer than the larger numbers. -- 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+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send an email to neonixie-l@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/5751D975.1090001%40madlabs.info. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
