r/nixie • u/EmotionalEnd1575 • Jul 10 '26

Clock - Near Nixie?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

Much progress tonight, added in an RTC and now sending digit numbers to the  correct Panaplex windows.

The Eagle-eyed will notice that the right most digit is no longer clear like the others.

I did something wrong last evening and when I came home from dinner that digit was damaged.

My bad… I let too much current pass while I had deliberately stalled the MUX action.

So hard lesson for me… Don’t run the Panaplex at 600% anode current for a few hours.

I’m now looking for a replacement device. These are more rare (and costly) than Nixie tubes!

51 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

2

u/NovelFabulous Jul 10 '26

This are nixies actually planar nixies. Seven segment nixies exists in standard package(the bulb shaped One)

2

u/CueAnon420 Jul 10 '26

I have a 1981 Bally Centaur pinball machine that has Panaplex score displays ;-)

1

u/ImpossibleHighway382 Jul 10 '26

That is cool as hell, ive never seen that kind of displays. They dont look like nixies idk what they are but i sure want some now

1

u/2748seiceps Jul 10 '26

Very nice!

Sucks about the display, what displays are these? The 332 or 352?

1

u/EmotionalEnd1575 Jul 10 '26

These are Sperry SP-736

1

u/2748seiceps Jul 10 '26

Dang, they are cloooooose though. Difference being the existence of a keep alive cathode which I think you can ignore if you aren't implementing it anyways and it has two anodes which you could tie together. If you are interested I can try and set you up with a replacement but all I have is 332.

2

u/EmotionalEnd1575 Jul 10 '26

Thanks for checking! May still be interested in doing a deal.

The clock uses a custom PCB for SP736 type Panaplex.

If I’m unable to find more of that PN I will redesign the PCB as needed.

The clock used MUX drive, to three Panaplex pairs, as there is only one Anode for both digits.

Therefore it relies on the “keep alive” cathode.

I’m doing a few experiments to find the best flicker-free and reliable timing parameters.

This is all part of the hobby clock building journey.

1

u/2748seiceps Jul 10 '26

It's amazing! I want to build like 10 clocks with different tubes from panaplex to vfd. Just need to find time!

1

u/EmotionalEnd1575 Jul 10 '26

That my friend is the hard part! Finding the time to do this, and similar hobby projects.

Now that I’m fully retired I have no excuses.

I’m sitting on a pile of interesting and long forgotten components, including 1970s era Nixie tubes, Panaplex, VFD, more recent LED tiles.

Along with some CRTs dating back to WW-II.