User Manual IN14-6-V2 Nixie Clock
Power for your Nixie Clock
The clock does not include a wall adapter. You should get a universal adapter yourself, these are not very expensive. The preferred voltage is 12VDC, but often 9VDC – 15VDC will do nicely too. The middle pin of the plug is the positive. Universal adapters often come with a set of various plugs, choose one that fits. If none them fits, you can use the dc-plug is included with the clock. If the clock does not work, you may have gotten the polarity wrong. Change the polarity and try again.
Setting the Nixie Clock
Turn on the clock by plugging in the wall adapter. The time will start at 12:00:00 and blinks.
Press and hold the set button, for about 5-6 seconds until the first tube will turn on its decimal point and starts blinking. Release the button.
Now, with each short press of the button, you can advance the first digit. The format is 24 hours, so the first tube only changes from 0-1-2 etcetera. After the digit is set correct, press the button again for 2 seconds, and see that the second tube will turn on its decimal point. Set all the other tubes in the same way.
Once you have set all digits, press and hold the button for 5-6 seconds, and the clock will resume normal operation.
At first, this may seem a bit of a hassle, but after a while you will notice that it is remarkably easy to set the clock.
Calibrating the Nixie Clock
The clock comes calibrated. There’s a label on the bottom with the correct calibration value for use at normal room temperature. If you use the clock in extreme cold or warm places, you may want to recalibrate it. Press and hold the set button, for about 7-8 seconds. While you hold it, you will first see that the first tube turns on its decimal point, and then the second tube will turn on its decimal point. Now release the button. There should be 4 digits displayed now.
Here you can set a new calibration value for the timing of the clock. First set this value at
5000. After setting this value, press and hold the button for 5-6 seconds, to return to normal mode. This value will be stored inside the microcontroller. Turn off the clock, and turn it on again.
Now set the clock, using a reliable time reference. Set the clock as described earlier, and wait until your time reference matches the time you have set. Now press and hold the set button for
5-6 seconds, and notice that the clock now runs synchronous with your reference, both displaying the same time.
Using the standard calibration value of 5000, the clock should run with a better accuracy than
+/- 10 seconds per day. Let the clock run for a couple of days, and note the time difference between the nixieclock and the reference clock you have used. Calculate the number of milliseconds per hour the clock runs too fast or too slow.
Example: after 2 days, the nixieclock seems 7 seconds too fast. Divide by 48 hours,
And multiply by 1000. That’s 145 millisecond per hour. The clock needs to run 145 milliseconds per hour slower, so the new calibration value will be 5000 - 145 = 4855.
Enter the new calibration value, turn off the clock, and turn it on again. Now you can set the clock, and it will be more accurate now. Repeat the procedure if need be.
Setting Display Off Time
Nixietubes last very long, but possibly not forever. You may want to use this option, to turn the tubes off during the night. Press and hold the set button, for about 9 seconds. You will first see that the first tube turns on its decimal point, and then the second tube will turn on its decimal point, and then the third tube turns on its decimal point. Now release the button.
There should be 2 values displayed now, the two middle tubes are off. These values tell you at what hour the display goes off, and at what hour it turns on again. Adjust the values to your preferences. To save the values, hold the button for 5-6 seconds, to return to normal mode.
The value will be stored automatically inside the clock. If you don’t want to use this option, put both hours at 00. (or set them at equal values). For your information, rumours tell the tubes last for 50.000 hours. I have reasons to believe it will be actually longer than that, as the current at which the tubes are driven is very low and well regulated in this design. 50.000 hours equals to more than 5 years. Lifetime is defined as the time it takes for the nixies to fade to 50% of their initial brightness.
Setting General Options
In this option setup you can select ‘fading’ display of the tubes, and also you can turn off the flashing neons. Press and hold the set button, for about 11 seconds. You will first see that the first tube turns on its decimal point, and then the second tube, the third, and the fourth tube.
Now release the button. There should be 6 values displayed now, either ‘1’ or ‘0’. A ‘1’ means the option is turned on, a ‘0’ means the option is turned off. Adjust the values to your preferences, the 1st digit sets the ‘fading’ on or off, the 2nd digit turns the flashing neons on or off. The 3rd option is to enable decoding of DCF77 signals and only applies to Europe and for clocks that are connected to a special radio receiver. The 4th option applies if you have the realtime clock option installed, using a DS1302 RTC clock chip. The 5th option selects 12/24 hour format, 0 means 24 hour format, 1 means 12 hour format. This option only affects the time displayed during normal operation; setting the time is always in 24 hour format. The 6th option is a timezone correction of –1 hour, and is only to be used with a DCF77 receiver installed, for UK residents. To save the settings, hold the button for 5-6 seconds, to return to normal mode. The settings will be stored automatically inside the clock.
If you have any further questions, please contact me at [email protected]
or look for additional information at www.franktechniek.nl
Have fun with your new nixieclock!
Thanks,
Frank Bemelman.
