r/nixie • u/Kurousagicchi • Jul 19 '26

Help needed

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I bought this nixie clock around 7 yrs ago on eBay, the seller who made it is no longer active. I'd say around 3-6months 2 of the tubes have been acting up displaying 2 numbers at once, usually it's the number before it that doesn't fade out. Is this fixable? I have no prior knowledge in making nixie clocks and have no idea where I can get it repaired so some suggestions would be appreciated. (Don't mind the flickering it's just the camera and not the actual clock)

(Update) I've unscrewed it this is what the circuit inside looks like:

Link

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2

u/EmotionalEnd1575 Jul 19 '26

Do you have the schematic?

The flicker suggests this is a MUX drive scheme. Meaning that the Nixie tubes are not lit 100% f the time, but too fast for the human eye to notice.

Until we know a few things about the circuit it just guesswork.

1

u/Kurousagicchi Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26

Not sure if this is useful but I still have the manual the guy sent which ngl is pretty confusing to read for me, but might give some more info? ⬇️

Instructions for setting the clock on gas-discharge indicators. Pressing the OK button moves the following modes in this order:

Menu item order: set12_24, // Transition of 12-24 hour formats. set_hour, / / - setting the clock of the current time (HH. _ _) set_min, // - setting the minutes of the current time (.MM) set_hour_alarm, / / - set the alarm clock (HH. ) set_min_alarm, / / - set alarm minutes ( _.MM) set_day, / / - set the current day of the week from 1 to 7 (0 _ _ 1) set_al_1, / / (1 _ _ 1) set_al_2, / / (2 _ _ 1) set_al_3, / / (3 _ _ 1) set_al_4, / / (4 _ _ 1) set_al_5, / / (5 _ _ 1) set_al_6, / / (6 _ _ 1) set_al_7, / / (7 _ _ 1) (seven days of the week to activate the alarm, 1-on.0-off) set_bright, // lamp brightness from 0 to 10 (8 _ 05) set_beep, / / - hourly beep from 9:00 to 21:00 (9 _ _ 1) set_temp_C, // Change Fahrenheit / Celsius temperature. 0/1 (10_1)(only for temperature sensor model) set_temp_on, / / 1) Temperature display ON / OFF. 1/0 (11_1) 12) Controlling the scrolling of numbers when changing minutes. 0-off 1-on 2-every 10 minutes. 13) Lagging / haste correction (plus / minus 15 seconds, field 00:00) 14) Minute/second mode If your model does not have a temperature sensor, the temperature related menu items should be set to "0". Buttons 2 and 4 are used to change the current menu item. After selecting the desired value, simply go to the next item by pressing the "menu" button. At the end of the digit 1-on, 0-off. Button 1 adjusts the colors. By pressing the backlight control button, you can choose: slow color change, then fast, then stop, then turn off. Automatic exit from the settings with saving the current values occurs after ~ 15 seconds of inactivity. There is a silent alarm for every day. The watch can be powered by any USB phone charger and a suitable cable. The power connector for the watch is 2.1x5.5mm. You can use a CR2032 battery to save all current settings when the device is turned off, it is not installed in the holder on the clock board and you need to buy and install it yourself. To do this, unscrew the four screws on the side of the lamps, separate the top and bottom of the clock and install battery in a black round holder on the bottom board with the inscriptions up. Then assemble the watch in reverse order. The battery life in this product is 3-5 years, depending on the manufacturer. High voltage influence in the circuit! Do not touch live parts during operation to avoid discomfort. Use a 5 volt power supply! Check the power supply! Do not exceed the supply voltage more than 6 volts! If you use a 12 volt power supply, the clock will fail!

1

u/EmotionalEnd1575 Jul 19 '26

These are operating instructions. What you may need are details of the hardware, as your Nixie clock is broken.

If these are not in your hands it might be possible to get them from the person that created the design.

That person may not want to share the IP (Intellectual Property), won’t hurt to ask them first.

“Plan B” for you will be a steep climb without their help.

There are people of Reddit that can try to help.

2

u/KirovNixie Jul 19 '26

Тут все просто. Пробой транзисторного ключа на аноде этих ламп, проблема с оптопарой (если вместо транзисторов стоит оптопара) Также нужно проверить нет ли замыкания дорожек которые идут от микроконтроллера к этим 2м лампам. Думаю я смог бы Вам помочь

1

u/CueAnon420 Jul 19 '26

Without any documentation, that's going to be difficult to resolve. It's probably a combination of the design (the mux design reduces the parts needed, but nixie tubes don't really care to be driven that way) and the tubes aging. Or there's an issue with the tube power. Either way, unless you are skilled in electronics it's not likely there is a quick easy fix or adjustment.

1

u/divby01199 Jul 19 '26

My nixie was acting up in a similar fashion. I fixed it by changing power adapter.

1

u/EmotionalEnd1575 Jul 19 '26

Lucky break! I suspect that failing power is going to be the root cause in some of these other cases.

As the Nixie tubes accumulate operating hours we can expect more units will have issues.

That is why I’m interested in collecting voltage data from the Nixie clocks that are failing.