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  • Pa3fwm Neonclock2 Schematic PDF

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    tékahef Huideusep
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    This document describes the circuit design of a Nixie clock that uses MTX90 trigger tubes as logic elements. The circuit uses the trigger tubes arranged in a ring counter configuration to sequentially activate the Nixie tubes, displaying the time. When the hours reach 24, one trigger tube acts as a relaxation oscillator until the hours reset to 00. Basic coupling circuits between stages use diodes and capacitors to pass the firing signal to the next stage.

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    This document describes the circuit design of a Nixie clock that uses MTX90 trigger tubes as logic elements. The circuit uses the trigger tubes arranged in a ring counter configuration to sequentially activate the Nixie tubes, displaying the time. When the hours reach 24, one trigger tube acts as a relaxation oscillator until the hours reset to 00. Basic coupling circuits between stages use diodes and capacitors to pass the firing signal to the next stage.

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    23 views1 page

    Pa3fwm Neonclock2 Schematic PDF

    Uploaded by

    tékahef Huideusep
    This document describes the circuit design of a Nixie clock that uses MTX90 trigger tubes as logic elements. The circuit uses the trigger tubes arranged in a ring counter configuration to sequentially activate the Nixie tubes, displaying the time. When the hours reach 24, one trigger tube acts as a relaxation oscillator until the hours reset to 00. Basic coupling circuits between stages use diodes and capacitors to pass the firing signal to the next stage.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 1

    Nixie clock using MTX90 trigger tubes as logic elements

    (c) 2020, Pieter−Tjerk de Boer, pa3fwm@amsat.org − version 20201227


    https://www.pa3fwm.nl/projects/neonclock2/

    +300V +300V +300V +300V

    100k 100k 100k 100k

    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 hours 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 minutes
    ten hours ten minutes

    100k 330k 100k 330k 100k 330k 100k 330k


    10n 10n 10n 10n

    47n
    0V

    10n

    3M3
    +300V
    3M3 1M 470k 0V
    47n

    0V 10M
    10n 10n

    10M
    47n
    3M3
    0V
    47n 0V

    Most current goes through the nixie, not through the 330 k.
    Nixie stabilizes voltages across the 100+330k, making
    circuit rather insensitive to supply voltage.
    Nixie’s anode resistor determines Nixie current / brightness.
    When hours indicates 24...29, the anode voltage
    of this tube rises high enough for it to trigger,
    acting as a relaxation oscillator until the
    hours indicate 00. Hold magnet near one of these reed−relays for setting the time:
    this feeds 1 Hz to one of the later counter stages.

    2x47n
    10n
    47n
    180k 100k 100k
    10n Connecting trigger electrode to cathode +300V
    150k 1/60 Hz
    lowers striking voltage from about 250 V
    100k
    to about 150 V. 47n
    180k 3M3
    +300V
    25 Hz
    47n
    10n
    47n 1/2 Hz
    +300V 150k
    10n
    50 Hz 100k
    10n 10n
    150k

    100k 100k 100k

    1 Hz

    +300V 10M
    150k
    150k
    3M3 3M3 3M3
    +300V 1M 1/10 Hz 47n
    0V 47n
    5 Hz 0V 0V 0V

    Basic stage coupling circuit.


    100mA T Diodes allows this (and only this) lamp, when it ignites, to quickly pull the anodes of
    the next stage low via the 47 nF capacitor. Later the capacitor is slowly discharged
    230V +300V again via the 3M3 resistor, without disturbing the ringcounter.
    470 22uF 1M Earlier, less robust versions are found elsewhere in the circuit:
    0V Schematic is as built, not necessarily as best!

    One basic ring counter circuit.


    Dangerous!! The clock is connected to the mains! Principle: Assume one lamp is lit. Current through it develops a voltage across its anode
    Use isolation transformer and much care during testing! resistor, which charges 10 nF coupling capacitor to next lamp. Next, assume negative pulse
    Only try building something like this if you know what you are doing! on anodes (via 47 nF) extinguishes lamp. Diode prevents discharge of 10 nF capacitor.
    When anode voltages rise again, the next lamp has extra high anode potential due to the
    charged 10 nF and therefore ignites first.
    Diodes: 1N4007 A little known problem with these ring counter circuits is that when a lamp
    Trigger tubes: MTH−90 ignites, all coupling capacitors get charged a bit, which may produce counting
    Nixies: IN−12A errors (depending on spread of lamps’ striking voltages). The 10 M resistor
    lets the spurious charge "bleed away" between two counting steps.
    I only installed it where needed, i.e., if a counter didn’t work quite correctly.

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