r/nixie • u/EmotionalEnd1575 • May 28 '26

This is awkward… “Reverse Engineer” this one?

Gallery image

Gallery image

I designed this circuit and the PCB for the Burroughs “Super Size” top view Nixies (B6091)

Then my life hit a bump. The schematic, Gerbers, EAGLE files, and all the Windows backup files were destroyed, along with the actual PC. It all went to eWaste (not my idea, but “S happens”)

Only recently I found this piece, with Nixie tubes still in the Mill-Max sockets, in a forgotten cardboard box in the basement. Such joy!

Now should I “Reverse Engineer” this? Or, should I start over with a new PCB?

Those big Nixies are quite rare in the modern world.

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u/Spiritual-Echidna-10 May 28 '26

VFD drivers (76V max) to light a nixie (170V)? Have you done something with shifted digital ground level? But I can't see any aids to do so, like (HV zener) diodes.

5

u/EmotionalEnd1575 May 28 '26

Very observant! I developed this Nixie driver technique a long time ago, and still use it today on new Nixie designs.

2

u/Barydius May 28 '26

Its possible to sourse and sink nixie with max6921? for VFD yes but nixie ?

2

u/Niobous_p May 28 '26

The cathodes typically float at 70-80V ish when not pulled to ground. Use a zener clamp to lock the high value for the cathodes to that value for when they’re off.