7. HOW TO OPERATE THE CLOCK
The three buttons have the following functions:
SET: Exit tube test routine on cold power-up;
Show date;
Set: time, date;
Enter configuration menu;
ADJ: Adjust: time, date, alarm time, configuration parameters;
ALARM: Set alarm time; snooze; cancel snooze/alarm;
Entering configuration mode:
The principal settings of the clock are stored in flash memory – your
preferred configuration is stored even after powering off the clock for
extended periods. To access the configuration mode press and hold the
‘Set’ button. After 2 seconds the seconds will become highlighted.
Continue holding the button a further 2 seconds until the clock displays
in this format:
00-XX- 99. The ‘99’ in the seconds digits tells you that you are in the
configuration menu.
In configuration mode the hours digits diplay the current parameter
being adjusted, and the seconds digits display the current value stored
against the parameter.
For each parameter, and referring to the table below, scroll through the
range of possible values by pressing the ‘ADJ’ button. When the desired
value has been reached, move on to the next parameter by pressing the
‘SET’ button. When the last parameter has been set, pressing ‘SET’ one
more time will revert the clock back to time display mode. The first
parameter (0) cannot be changed as it is the software revision number.
It will show for several seconds and then move to parameter 1.
In all correspondence on support issues, please quote the board type,
revision date and software version.
Nixie Tube Clock ‘SixNix’
Issue 1 (20 July 2011)
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
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Parameter
Description
Values
0
1
Software revision
12 / 24 Hr mode
10 = version 3.0, 11 = version 1.1 etc
0 – 12 Hr (default)
1 – 24 Hr
0 = MM.DD.YY (default)
1 = DD.MM.YY
2
Date format
3
Leading zero blanking
eg. 01:54:32
4
Night mode start hour
0 - 23
5
Night mode end hour
0 - 23
6
Night mode
0 – Tubes off (default)
1 – Dimmed display
7
Display mode
8
Night mode override
period (minutes)
0 – standard change of digits(default)
1 – fading digits
0 – 50 (default 3) 1
9
Snooze period
0
1
2
3
–
–
–
–
6 minutes (default)
9 minutes
12 minutes
15 minutes
10
Colon neons mode
0
1
2
3
4
–
–
–
–
–
AM/PM Indication, flashing
AM/PM Indication, illuminated
Both flash (default)
Both illuminated
Both off
11
Colon neons during night
dimmed mode 2
0
1
2
3
4
–
–
–
–
–
AM/PM Indication, flashing
AM/PM Indication, illuminated
Both flash
Both illuminated (default)
Both off
12
Auto date display each
minute
0 – Off
1 – On (default)3
13
LED backlights
0 - Always off
1 - Always on
2 - On, and follows tube nightblanking (default)
14
15
16
Reserved – leave as 0
Reserved – leave as 0
Slots Mode4
17
Restore default settings
0
0
0
1
2
3
4
0
1
0 – leading zero blanked (default)
1 – leading zero displayed
– Slots disabled
– Slots every minute
- Slots every 10 minutes (default)
- Slots every hour
– Slots at midnight
– Keep user settings
– Restore original default settings5
Notes:
1. Press ‘SET’ briefly during blanking to show time for prescribed period.
2. Night time neons mode is active when night mode is set to dim. During night time blanking the
tubes AND neons are disabled.
3. Date will be displayed each minute between 50 and 55 seconds past the minute.
4. Visual effect / cathode poisoning prevention – all digits on all tubes are cycled for 10 seconds.
This setting overrides night blanking or dimming for the duration of the effect (10 seconds).
5. Set this parameter to ‘1’ to restore original default settings. Internal operations will then load
all the original settings and restore the value to ‘0’
Nixie Tube Clock ‘SixNix’
Issue 1 (20 July 2011)
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
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Setting the Time and Date:
From time display mode, press and hold ‘SET’ button for 2 seconds until
the seconds digits are highlighted.
Press the ‘ADJ’ button to reset seconds to zero.
Briefly Press ‘SET’ again and the hours will be highlighted
Press the ‘ADJ’ button to set the minutes.
Briefly Press ‘SET’ again and the hours will be highlighted.
Press the ‘ADJ’ button to set the hours.
Proceed in this fashion to set the calendar: Year, Month and Day.
Finally, briefly Press ‘SET’ again to revert to normal clock operation.
Showing Date:
From time display mode, briefly press ‘SET’ button. Date will be shown
for 5 seconds, then revert to time display.
Auto Date Display:
Setting parameter (18) to ‘1’ will enable auto display of date between 50
and 55 seconds past each minute.
Night Blanking Override:
During programmed night blanking, the blanking may be overridden to
see the time by briefly pressing the ‘SET’ button. Tubes will remain lit for
the period defined in parameter (8).
Manual RFT Call:
In DCF / WWVB / MSF modes, pressing ‘ADJ’ briefly during time display
will initiate a manual time seek for maximum 6 minutes, or until a valid
time frame is received.
Setting Alarm:
Press the ‘ALARM’ Button. The seconds digits show the on / off status of
the alarm: 00 or 01 (off or on).
Set on / off status, then minutes followed by hours by using the ‘ALARM’
and ‘ADJ’ buttons. When set, the alarm LED will also light.
Canceling Alarm:
Press ‘ALARM’ briefly to cancel alarm and enter snooze mode, or a longer
press until the clock bleeps, to cancel snooze. Alarm remains set for the
next day.
Nixie Tube Clock ‘SixNix’
Issue 1 (20 July 2011)
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 26 -
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