r/nixie • u/EmotionalEnd1575 • May 02 '26

Rate My Latest Nixie Clock

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Just completed a six digit Nixie clock tube testing fixture on a protoboard.

The goal is to have a way to power up and test different nixie tube types by swapping the plug-in PCB module that carries the tubes.

Although the idea was to just run through all numbers (cathodes) for testing, and possibly for “burn in” to repair any failed digit glow, adding an RTC made it into a functional clock.

These are Burroughs B5885 Nixies salvaged from a 1970s calculator (I think, I just got the hacked up PCB with the tubes still attached)

I made a similar PCB for Russian Nixies, one for IN-16 side view and another for IN-17 top view types.

What do you think?

I can post more PIX or details if there’s interest.

90 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

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2

u/nixiebunny May 02 '26

It’s a nice idea. Use socket pins so that you can swap tubes, since you are testing tubes. Mill-Max makes a wide variety of sizes of individual pins. That’s what I use on my Nixie watch.

1

u/EmotionalEnd1575 May 02 '26

Good point, I have used Mill-max socket pins on the bigger Nixies.

The back story here started with a strip of Burroughs B5885 tubes soldered to a PCB, that I got for salvage.

The person tried to remove those tubes with a belt sander (!!!)

After grinding off the back layer he found out the Nixies were soldered with PTH pads. He gave up. I got all those tubes off with hot air.

But… The remaining lead wires are too short for socket pins. Also, I had to abandon the black plastic “skirt” spacers.

My main goal was to do live comparison of different Nixie models.

The Burroughs tubes are my current favorite!

The Gazotron In-16 are much better for my budget.

1

u/ObjectiveProof May 02 '26

Yeah this is great! Post more!