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nixiediy@gmail.com 

Introduction 

This parts kit intended for an electronics hobbyists that want to make a Nixie clock and do not want 
go deep to complicated clock control electronics and software. This instruction step-by-step assists 
you to assemble the clock.  
 
The kit consists all necessary electronics parts (excluding Nixie tubes and power adapter) and a 
microcontroller with pre-programmed an application software.  
 

The main features of the clock 

 

Hours, Minutes and Seconds display 

 

12 or 24 hour operation modes 

 

Time accuracy is provided by built-in RTC (Real Time Clock) based on extremely precise 
DS3231 module with temperature compensation and backup with CR2032 battery 

 

Programmable leading zero blanking 

 

Date display in either DD/MM/YY or  MM/DD/YY  format 

 

Alarm 

 

Simple time setting using three buttons 

 

Standard, crossfade and scrollback display modes 

 

“Slot Machine” Cathode poisoning prevention routine 

 

Programmable Blue LED tube lighting 

 

Not AC frequency dependent – works in all countries 

 

Auto increase of adjusting value for quick time setting 

 

Neon colon indicators blinking at 1 Hz 

 

Tubes are driven in high frequency dynamical indication and provide service for many years 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

Summary of Contents for IN-12

Page 1: ...TUBE CLOCK KIT Assembly instruction and user manual Bring to your home a piece of history with The Vintage Nixie Clock and its Cold War era components The clock will give a cosiness and a uniqueness...

Page 2: ...24 hour operation modes Time accuracy is provided by built in RTC Real Time Clock based on extremely precise DS3231 module with temperature compensation and backup with CR2032 battery Programmable le...

Page 3: ...g placement and orientation prior to soldering will save hours of mistakes search and rework later REMEMBER A properly placed components and carefully soldered PC board will perform well for years a h...

Page 4: ...You may have similar power adapter in your house also because such type power adapters are popular and widely use The KIT consists electronics components necessary for a clock assembly only Nixie tub...

Page 5: ...S R1 1k 0 25W R2 470k 0 25W R3 3 3k 0 25W R4 0 5 0 5W R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R14 R17 R18 R19 R20 10k 0 25W R12 330 0 25W R15 R16 270k 0 25W R21 1K 0 1W Potentiometer CAPACITORS C5 2 2uF 250V Electroly...

Page 6: ...805 U2 MC34063 U3 K155ID1 U4 ATMEGA328P PU U5 DS3231 MISCELLANEOUS PCB Nixie Clock PCB BAT_1 CR2032 Battery socket Battery 3V CR2032 DB1 DB2 Neon bulb FUSE 0 5A L1 330uH 1A Inductor S1 S3 Buttons U3 S...

Page 7: ...7 R8 R9 R10 R11 R14 R17 R18 R19 R20 470k R2 0 5 R4 3 3k R3 330 R12 270k R16 R17 1k R21 NOTES Components actual view can differ due to different manufacturers If an inscription or color bar coding of t...

Page 8: ...ier indicates the number of zeroes to be added to the digits to obtain the resistance However it is sometimes unclear in which direction the bands should be read Therefore we recommend that the resist...

Page 9: ...9 nixiediy gmail com 2 2uF 250V C5 Transistors BC547 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q7 BC557 Q1 MPSA42 Q6...

Page 10: ...10 nixiediy gmail com IRF840 MOSFET Q2 EL817 OK1 OK6 Diodes 1N4004 D1 UF4004 D3 1N914 D2 LED 3mm...

Page 11: ...11 nixiediy gmail com Integrated Circuits LM7805 U1 MC34063 U2 K155 1 U3 ATMEGA328P PU U4 DS3231 U5...

Page 12: ...12 nixiediy gmail com Miscellaneous CR2032 Battery socket BAT_1 Battery Neon bulb DB1 DB2 Fuse 330uH 1A Inductor L1...

Page 13: ...13 nixiediy gmail com Button S1 S3 16 pin socket 28 pin socket Power socket 5 5mm x 2 1mm Speaker PCB Spacers 3mm screw...

Page 14: ...2 2nF Ceramic 1 TRANSISTORS BC557 1 IRF840 MOSFET 1 BC547 4 MPSA42 1 EL817 Optocoupler 6 DIODES 1N4004 1 1N914 1 UF4004 1 LED 3mm 6 INTEGRATED CIRCUITS LM7805 1 MC34063 1 K155ID1 1 ATMEGA328P PU 1 DS...

Page 15: ...high definition pictures If anywhere is uncertainty PCB view can magnify and an interested component may to view in details The side of the board that has printed component marking is the component si...

Page 16: ...To install place the leads of the component through the appropriate holes and press the component down against the component side of the PCB 2 3 1 The small value ceramic capacitor C7 may be installed...

Page 17: ...ds slightly outward to hold the component in place Solder the leads to the contact and trim the excess lead wire above the solder joint NOTES To make sure that capacitor C1 and diode D1 polarity is no...

Page 18: ...2 1N914 L1 Inductor 330uH C5 2 2uF 250V C2 C4 0 1uF C3 2 2nF R4 0 5 0 5W R1 1k R3 3 3k R2 470k R21 1k Potentiometer 3 1 All resistors except R4 leads bend in accordance with this picture that each res...

Page 19: ...e black probe on the GND test point and the red probe on the HV test point The voltage should measure between 140 and 180 Volts When PCB is powered its HV source contacts shall be not touched by hands...

Page 20: ...evant joints quality and polarity Do not continue with the assembly until the error will be corrected 4 5 Once the last test of LV source is completed disconnect the power 5 Microcontroller circuit co...

Page 21: ...board After inserting a socket into the board solder its two opposite corners pins first This will hold the socket in place Look at it carefully to check it proper orientation If not it is easy to hea...

Page 22: ...r as pointed in item 5 Check your work results with picture below 6 3 One end of the OK1 OK6 symbol on the PCB has a half hole at one end of the symbol In optocouplers OK1 OK6 first pin of the case ma...

Page 23: ...re right angle tactile button switches Insert them into locations and make sure that they sit flat on the board Solder all four pins of each switch 7 2 All resistors R8 R9 and R10 leads bend in accord...

Page 24: ...24 nixiediy gmail com 7 3 Cut the desired number of pins and solder them into position J5 An example of connecting remote buttons is shown in the photo below...

Page 25: ...resistor into the board holes marked as R5 R6 and R7 respectively and solder it leads 7 2 Solder capacitor C6 on the board at location C6 7 3 Battery has polarity and requires special attention when m...

Page 26: ...9 2 Install the transistor Q7 legs into the board holes marked as Q7 that its case flat edge is above the flat edge of the placement marking Solder it leads 9 3 Speaker is polarized device and requir...

Page 27: ...ED6 LED 3mm J2 Pin strips If necessary RGB LED backlight can be connected to the controller The controller supports common anode RGB LEDs and single color LED s 6pcs of blue color LEDs are included Co...

Page 28: ...B1 DB2 Neon Bulb R15 R16 270k R14 10k Q6 MPSA42 11 1 Resistors R14 R15 and R16 leads bend in accordance with item 3 1 Insert them into locations R14 R15 R16 and solder their leads as pointed on the pi...

Page 29: ...29 nixiediy gmail com An example of connecting neon bulb INS 1 is shown in the photo below...

Page 30: ...30 nixiediy gmail com 12 Nixie tube connecting All tube cathodes must be connected in parallel Anodes must be connected separately for each tube...

Page 31: ...31 nixiediy gmail com 12 1 Cathode connection 12 1 1 Prepare six wires 10 cores 12 1 2 Connect the wires together...

Page 32: ...on Use heat shrink tubing to isolate the joints 12 1 4 Cut the desired number of female pins and solder them to the cable Check the tube datasheet to identify cathode numbering 12 1 5 Nixie tubes can...

Page 33: ...mail com 12 2 Anode connection 12 2 1 Prepare six wires to connect the tube anodes Do the same steps as in item 12 1 4 and 12 1 5 12 2 2 Check the tube datasheet to identify the anode Mostly the anode...

Page 34: ...nstalled and soldered properly the clock shall begin to operate 13 PCB dimensions PCB dimensions pointed on the drawing below They will be necessary if you decide to make the case for clock All dimens...

Page 35: ...2 or 24 mode Mode 4 Set date DD MM YY Mode 5 24 or 12 hours mode 0 Set 24 hour mode 1 Set 12 hour mode 12 hour mode AM PM indication displayed on neon colon indicators AM neon indicators not blinking...

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