Nixie Tube Clock?

[BmWr75]

I've always been intrigued by the nixie tube clocks or displays, but have been hesitant to buy a device that uses a hard to get tube now. Plus nixie tubes in a clock that is always on probably is not a good idea. Anyone seen one of these LCD reproductions in person? They look cool, just wondering if they are well made.

IPS

Imagine a clock that captures the charm of vintage Nixie tubes — but powered by modern technology within.

atomicvoyage.com

 

[Aerobat]

I bought this one https://www.pvelectronics.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34&products_id=310

It's a kit so you need to be able to solder.

 

[bob smog]

Look at Numitron clocks. Cheaper, lower voltage

 

[JP]

A friend in the UK has one though maybe not that model, I was impressed with how realistic it looks. It uses rather high resolution images of nixies, so the “depth” of the digits is simulated quite well. From a distance of a few feet it didn’t register to me that they weren’t real tubes.

I‘ve two B-7971 clocks, a PV design that uses Dalbor‘s tubes, and around four IN-18 clocks. I run PIRs on most now, but I’ve had clocks run over a decade 24-7 with no tube issues as long as they do the cathode cleaning routine. High voltage but very low current, so not much to worry about.

The problem now, at least for larger tubes, is supply. The last case of IN-18 I bought were half bad and that was six years ago. Personally, I’d rather have one of those larger IPS clocks than a small-tube nixie.

 

[Lavane]

My wife bought me a small one. They aren't really pixies though.
But blue fluorescent tubes. Still kind of cool though.

 

[Blitzen]

They're great fun, interesting to build and a real attention-getter. I've built six so far, and plan to build more. The real "problem" is not the tubes, but the case design for the electronics. If you go with a kit, you can probably build one in a few hours easily. My cases have all been custom, such as a small Hammond box for the smallest tubes, up to a hand-hammered all-copper case for IN-18s. That IN-18 clock has been running for 14 years now on the same tubes, only blanking them for six hours at night. The tubes are robust!
A real nixie tube has formed numbers in neon gas. Numitrons and fluorescent displays don't cut it next to them, in my opinion.

 

[Lavane]

They're great fun, interesting to build and a real attention-getter. I've built six so far, and plan to build more. The real "problem" is not the tubes, but the case design for the electronics. If you go with a kit, you can probably build one in a few hours easily. My cases have all been custom, such as a small Hammond box for the smallest tubes, up to a hand-hammered all-copper case for IN-18s. That IN-18 clock has been running for 14 years now on the same tubes, only blanking them for six hours at night. The tubes are robust!
A real nixie tube has formed numbers in neon gas. Numitrons and fluorescent displays don't cut it next to them, in my opinion.

I agree. I wouldn't have bought the fluorescent tube nixie clock for myself.
The really cool clocks are those built using old CRT's. Some even have two.
One smaller to deeply the date.

 

[arts]

For a Nixie clock, you can always switch the HV to the tubes for increased lifespan. Or use one of those cheap IR motion sensor pcb's that they sell for cheap on amazon.

 

[THD+N]

In the early 70's I saw my first nixie tube display at my dad's work at the hospital on the Navy base. It was a piece of lab equipment in the medical section. I was hooked.

 

[Mumbles]

I've always been intrigued by the nixie tube clocks or displays, but have been hesitant to buy a device that uses a hard to get tube now. Plus nixie tubes in a clock that is always on probably is not a good idea. Anyone seen one of these in person? They look cool, just wondering if they are well made.

IPS

Imagine a clock that captures the charm of vintage Nixie tubes — but powered by modern technology within.

atomicvoyage.com

The one shown in the link isn't a true Nixie tube clock, but rather a digital clock which resembles a Nixie. Nixie tubes have multiple filaments in them.

From the link: 'Imagine a clock that looks like an old Nixie tube screen, but with modern technology inside.'

 

[onanysunday]

Here's my Nixie QTC clock kit build using fine-mesh nixies. Still going strong 6 years later of daily use without a single hiccup.

 

[sellis40]

Bought one a bit less than 3 years ago. It has a motion sensor built in, so the tubes are only lit when I am in the room.

 

[Aerobat]

 

[63pontiacgp]

I had one until I sold it to @MRL_Audio (Mike) some years ago. I've been thinking about getting another.

Mike

 

[BmWr75]

The one shown in the link isn't a true Nixie tube clock, but rather a digital clock which resembles a Nixie. Nixie tubes have multiple filaments in them.

From the link: 'Imagine a clock that looks like an old Nixie tube screen, but with modern technology inside.'

I'm aware the one in the OP is LCD technology. That is OK with me. Just wondering if anyone has seen one in real life and can comment on the build quality.

 

[onanysunday]

Here's another I wanted to try encased in glass and very three-dimensional, almost a sculpture.

https://www.dhgate.com/product/tabl...xie/1015046627.html?skuId=1288981769211469865

 

[Lavane]

Here's another I wanted to try encased in glass and very three-dimensional, almost a sculpture.

https://www.dhgate.com/product/tabl...xie/1015046627.html?skuId=1288981769211469865

View attachment 3446730

Very cool. It reminds me of the skulls that they take all the separate bone in the skull apart and mount then like an exploded view machine.

 

[SS904]

Some of the consoles for equipment I worked while in the navy had NIXIE displays for own ship and target data etc. One system in particular had rows of them. They'd occasionally loose a segment or two, but considering they were on pretty much on all the time for months at a time, they are pretty reliable. I went with a small kit from a seller out of Ukraine a few years ago. He was on eBay. Runs off a 5V phone charger. It'll probably last forever. No problem going with real NIXIE tubes IMHO.

One of these days I'll build a cool case for it...

 

[init4fun]

Built this one from a kit a bunch of years ago (maybe getting close to 10 years now ), found a model car display case it fit perfectly into, and it's been fine all these years. Most good NIXIE kits will have a brightness control, just don't run em on the bleeding edge of bright and they'll last a good long time.

(I know you specifically asked about "imitation" NIXIES, but if you run the real thing on the conservative side of brightness there is no reason to fear the real thing's longevity)

 

[BmWr75]

Ordered one of the repro clocks in the OP. Even though the company "About" info says they are in Delaware, I suspect the unit is coming from China based on the payment processing. We shall see..........