EasyNixie

Description

I have been fascinated by nixie tubes ever since I discovered what they are. So strange, so old school, so 'warm'. Unfortunately, they are also hard to control and can be dangerous if not handled properly. Definitely not a beginner's project. 'Of course', five years ago, when I started learning about electronics, I immediately decided to build something with them. And, I failed... I was working with a PIC16 MCU, but the code I created turned into a classic example of spaghetti code. It wasn't functioning properly, and as the winter holidays drew to a close, I decided to set my experiments with nixies aside for a while.

Five years have passed since that moment. I've learned a lot, and I'm now prepared to confront my old nemesis. Remembering how challenging nixies were for me, I decided to make something that would make life a little easier for all the nixie enthusiasts.
Checkout the Kickstarter Link.

Details

Ok, lets dig in details a little bit...

Three hardest things about driving nixie tubes are probably:

High non-standard voltages - Nixies require 180VDC
Many control pins - Each digit has its own cathode, which brings 11 digit control pins and comma control pin
Non-standard pin positions require special holder sockets

The goal of this project was to build a ‘smart socket’ that handles these problems. The designed socket has step-up 3.3V-180V converter on-board and 2 shift registers to control all the pins and rgb leds. Here is how the final design looks like:

And the schematics:

The main blocks are:

Step-up converters - this part does 3.3->180V conversion. The conversion is done in two steps: Vin->12V and 12V->180V. The Vin to 12V convertor is not as interesting, as the connection is pretty standard and done according to the datasheet. The 12V to 180V conversion circuit is a little more complex. The output voltage is set using the feedback pin and resistors R1, R11, R10, R13. 3 resistors(R1,R11 and R10) are used instead of one with the bigger value because of the max voltage for 0402 package, which is usually 150V. The same goes for the two diodes(D4 and D2). This convertor 'duo' can't deliver much current (about 4mA max), but it is enough to power one tube. Because of that, it is definitely safer than having one high power convertor for multiple tubes. The convertor 'duo' also have voltage enable pin, which turns it on.
Input interface - Just some control pins with a 500mA safety fuse. Safety fuse is a little bit redundant, assuming the step-up convertors can't deliver more than 4mA anyway, but too much safety never hurt anybody.
Nixie control transistors - high-voltage MMBTA42 transistors drive the nixie tubes cathodes. There are two nixies displayed on schematics because there are in-12 and in-17 sockets connected in parallel. Since in-17 is super tiny, its socket also has additional current limiting resistor. All the supported tubes are : In-12a, in-12b, in-15a, in-15b and in-17
Shift registers - classic 74hc595s are connected daisy-chain style and control high voltage transistors with only 3 control pins. Of course daisy-chain configuration allows connecting multiple EasyNixie modules.

Project Logs

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EasyNixie is now available for purchase!
allexoK • 12/01/2023 at 23:31 • 0 comments

The EasyNixie is finally available for purchase from Tindie and Elecrow!
First main batch is in production(500pcs)-sneak peek, better library documentation
allexoK • 10/26/2023 at 15:02 • 0 comments

A little update on how the project is going. The manufacturing process has began, here are some cool boards pics:) The first batch will mostly be distributed among Kickstarter backers, around 50 pcs will be available from Tindie and Elecrow around December.

I have also updated the github documentation with more comments and played around with Doxygen.
Just tested other nixie types(In-19b, z574m, zm1020)
allexoK • 09/16/2023 at 16:57 • 0 comments

Everything looks fine. Nixies with thin legs fit perfectly. Some digits are swapped but it is not a problem, since they can be swapped back in code.
Nixie Geiger counter
allexoK • 09/15/2023 at 15:12 • 0 comments

Today I have built a Geiger counter with nixie display using EasyNixie module.
The code is quite simple and can be found on https://github.com/allexoK/EasyNixie/tree/main/examples/Geiger_Counter
The better version of a counter that supports correct measurement units(uSv/H) can be built with some symbolic nixies(IN-15A and IN-15B). The IN-15B supports the 'S,' 'V,' and 'H' letters, while the 'u' sign is supported by IN-15A. The '/' sign can be created by rotating the '-' digit if using IN-15A by 45 degrees.
Just received another batch of Early birds/prototypes
allexoK • 09/11/2023 at 16:14 • 0 comments

This batch was manufactured by PCBWay, the quality is really good.
PCBWay also sent me some extra unassembled boards which is nice!
I have also received some nixie tubes from my supplier:
Who wants to get their own EasyNixie?
allexoK • 09/08/2023 at 15:02 • 0 comments

The Kickstarter campaign is now live, check out the early-bird reward option to get your own EasyNixie as fast as possible!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/esp32-stick/easynixie
The first mini-batch of final prototypes is here
allexoK • 09/03/2023 at 13:05 • 0 comments

I have received the first mini-batch of the prototypes. Everything looks good so far.

Checkout the comma:)

Next week the Kickstarter campaign will be launched, keep your eyes open if you want to get a super-early-bird (There will be 5 pairs of super-early-birds only)
Waiting for the final prototype
allexoK • 08/24/2023 at 15:33 • 0 comments

The final prototype/early birds should be here at the beginning of the next month. When they arrive, the mini-Kickstarter project will be launched so anyone interested can get some samples:)
Here are some older prototypes:)

View all 8 project logs

Discussions

aweb-01 wrote a day ago

Hello, are these still available, and would they work for IN-14 tubes? Thanks!

Are you sure? yes | no

jcomeara wrote 04/21/2024 at 07:20

Lovely work, but just wondering if these would be compatible for IN-16 tubes.

Are you sure? yes | no

allexoK wrote 05/03/2024 at 10:14

Hi jcomeara, sorry for the late response, must have missed you comment. I haven't tested them with IN-16, but they should work out of the box, assuming the connections are correct.(IN-16-ANODE->EasyNixie-ANODE, IN16-CATHODE-1->EasyNixie-CATHODE1, and so on)

Are you sure? yes | no

Ken Yap wrote 08/27/2023 at 04:53

Nice project. 👍 I too like the look of nixies and glowing gas in general. Have a look at #Modularnixie for another way to drive nixies that only requires one 8-bit shift register per digit.

Incidentally the film Oppenheimer has an anachronism. Nixies appear in the countdown scene but they weren't invented until the '50s.

Are you sure? yes | no

allexoK wrote 08/27/2023 at 10:06

Thanks, I have just checked it out, the nixie driving scheme is very smart! And the schematics of #Modularnixie looks neat and clean. The nixie type choise(cd71) is quite interesting, I haven't seen modules that can drive this type of tubes... Japanese tubes in general are rarer and sometimes doesn't have alternatives (like super beautiful gigantic CD47).

I also noticed that thing in Oppenheimer...

Are you sure? yes | no

Ken Yap wrote 09/04/2023 at 08:10

Actually I didn't have a choice. They were what I had lying in my parts box for many years. Recently I extracted nixies from an old Sharp calculator I saved from a flea market for $1 and they are NEC CD89s, so I have adapted the layout for that and will produce a batch of PCBs later this year. (Much as I like nixies, I will not spend money buying NOS, since what I have will keep me occupied for a while.) The PCB design needs to be adapted for each tube model. If a socket is involved that needs to be designed in too. My circuit design is only a starting point.

Are you sure? yes | no

aymen wrote 08/24/2023 at 20:43

good work

Are you sure? yes | no

allexoK wrote 08/24/2023 at 20:54

Thanks!

Are you sure? yes | no

EasyNixie

Description

Details

Project Logs

Collapse

EasyNixie is now available for purchase!

First main batch is in production(500pcs)-sneak peek, better library documentation

Just tested other nixie types(In-19b, z574m, zm1020)

Nixie Geiger counter

Just received another batch of Early birds/prototypes

Who wants to get their own EasyNixie?

The first mini-batch of final prototypes is here

Waiting for the final prototype

Discussions

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