Nixie tube clock 1950's cold war replica
Teti
Pioneer hoarder
Maybe a little bit. I have test it yet. In fact it might even amplify clicking via resonance to the chassis
It's rather loud at the moment.
Teti
Pioneer hoarder
Thank you, surely, you must find something lame on this project!
We'll be sure to let you know
Thank you, surely, you must find something lame on this project!
Maybe that I didn't think of it first...
Teti
Pioneer hoarder
First second assembly is working, IC's are 4017 decade counters
Clock with Second and Minutes assembly, working so far. Switches at the bottom of the picture are 20s transient display on, display onoff and display bright/dim
Detail of hours module. 24 hours are reset with output from 2 and 4 to 2N222 NPN transistors
Seconds and minutes assembly are same hours have 0,1,2 hours. These pressed paper PCB's are cheap and cheerful, but I wouldn't use them in my next projects.
Clock with Second and Minutes assembly, working so far. Switches at the bottom of the picture are 20s transient display on, display onoff and display bright/dim
Detail of hours module. 24 hours are reset with output from 2 and 4 to 2N222 NPN transistors
Seconds and minutes assembly are same hours have 0,1,2 hours. These pressed paper PCB's are cheap and cheerful, but I wouldn't use them in my next projects.
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Teti
Pioneer hoarder
Hi Mike,
I think it would be real shame to (and I'm sorry for this expression) ruin this vintage piece of equipment. Better restore it and use it? I'm pretty sure, someone would be interested.
I wish I could get some vintage gear one day. Nice Agilent or Heathkit, but it's to expensive here in the UK.
Martin
rave0035
Disassemble first, ask questions later.
Thanks Martin. We'll see where we end up... 9.8 times out of 10 I'm in the "restore" vs. "repurpose" camp, but this particular unit has the odds stacked against it. It functions, and is in the ballpark, but isn't accurate enough to be useful for anyone as-is. It's far too complex for me to service, and even in tip-top condition isn't a piece of gear I would use much, if at all. Most folks who are using a frequency counter regularly require reliability and dead-nuts accuracy, neither of which this thing is ever going to provide someone. I feel like this unit would have a really happy second career being appreciated, enjoyed, and powered up regularly, rather than languishing on a bench.
I won't hijack your (awesome) thread anymore, but happy to continue this conversation elsewhere if you're interested.
Mike
Teti
Pioneer hoarder
You definitely have a point Mike. It's just a little bit shame to scavenge it and use the tube and enclosure only. But hey, at least you give it a new lease of life
Teti
Pioneer hoarder
I definitely agree
Teti
Pioneer hoarder
Motherboard assembly is finished
Switches inputs for reseting seconds, master reset.
Setting minutes and hours
LED for pulse indication and switch pulse hold
Pulse input / output (with DPDT relay, NC for internal, NO for external) External pulse will be used for GPS disciplined oscillator or OCXO
with LM7805 +5V regulator, I have added a heatsink
Motherboard assembly - bottom side
Alarm assembly with LM386 mono amplifier module - £1 on ebay
4 inputs from minutes and hours
+5V,GND input
Alarm ON/OFF switch
Alarm Silent / Loud switch switching 555 timers and LM386 amp module
Alarm ON LED
Alarm flashing LED operated by 2N222 NPN transistor
Alarm runs for one minute or as long as all 4 inputs are in high state, signal runs via rotary selectors from decade counters. Output from rotary selectors triggers 74LS21N AND gate IC. First 555 IC switches on off in intervals and second 555 IC generating square wave signal, this is running to LM386 amplifier via 103 cap to filter DC to 3″ speaker on side if the chassis.
Alarm assembly - bottom side
Switches inputs for reseting seconds, master reset.
Setting minutes and hours
LED for pulse indication and switch pulse hold
Pulse input / output (with DPDT relay, NC for internal, NO for external) External pulse will be used for GPS disciplined oscillator or OCXO
with LM7805 +5V regulator, I have added a heatsink
Motherboard assembly - bottom side
Alarm assembly with LM386 mono amplifier module - £1 on ebay
4 inputs from minutes and hours
+5V,GND input
Alarm ON/OFF switch
Alarm Silent / Loud switch switching 555 timers and LM386 amp module
Alarm ON LED
Alarm flashing LED operated by 2N222 NPN transistor
Alarm runs for one minute or as long as all 4 inputs are in high state, signal runs via rotary selectors from decade counters. Output from rotary selectors triggers 74LS21N AND gate IC. First 555 IC switches on off in intervals and second 555 IC generating square wave signal, this is running to LM386 amplifier via 103 cap to filter DC to 3″ speaker on side if the chassis.
Alarm assembly - bottom side
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Teti
Pioneer hoarder
All assembly modules are finished and working, time to start working on enclosure.
Relay Assembly change to vertical position to further reduce depth of the enclosure from 42 to 32 cm (4" less)
This also reduce construction complexity as I would have to put them on 100mm posts, wiring to nixie tube assembly wasn't long enough. I use 12V / 30W LED switch mode PSU for the clock, this is more than enought even for powering clock + OCXO or Rubudium frequency standard should this be required in the future. Total consumption is about 10W with Bright tube display setting.
Relay Assembly change to vertical position to further reduce depth of the enclosure from 42 to 32 cm (4" less)
This also reduce construction complexity as I would have to put them on 100mm posts, wiring to nixie tube assembly wasn't long enough. I use 12V / 30W LED switch mode PSU for the clock, this is more than enought even for powering clock + OCXO or Rubudium frequency standard should this be required in the future. Total consumption is about 10W with Bright tube display setting.
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