FS: Shameless Plug Time - Dekatron Spinner Kits

[threeneurons]

I just had a bunch of PCBs made up. They are for variable speed
dekatron spinners. You can either buy the bare boards:

eBay #150727518045
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150727518045

Or kitted with all the parts, less the actual dekatron:

eBay #150727504026
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150727504026

Prewired for the OG-4. Use a neon bulb relaxation oscillator, to
cadence the speed. On-board LM393 based switching supply, so input
voltage is a safe 12V (AC or DC).

Here's the official link to all the kit's particulars:

http://threeneurons.wordpress.com/dekatron-stuff/variable-dekatron-spinner-kit/

[Michail Wilson]

Does the kit work with 6802?

Sent from my iPhone

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[Dennis]

Thanks! I have just the home for one of these.

---

From: threeneurons <threen...@yahoo.com>
To: neonixie-l <neoni...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 5:35 PM
Subject: [neonixie-l] FS: Shameless Plug Time - Dekatron Spinner Kits

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[threeneurons]

On Dec 28, 7:32 pm, Michail Wilson <micha...@aol.com> wrote:
> Does the kit work with 6802?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>

Yes, it does. If look towards the end of the page, you'll see a spot
on the board that's to hold two 8 pin connectors, J2 & J3. If left
alone, the connections between these two, are "pre-wired" for the
OG-4. The connections are made thru "vias" (feedthru holes). That "pre-
wiring" can be disconnected by drilling out the plating inside those
connecting "vias". Then you can reconnect J2 to J3 according to the
tube type you have. The connections for a 6802 (same as a GC10B,
GC10/4B, & Z303C), are shown in a couple of those drawings.

BTW: that via/feedthru "jumper" trick goes back to the 70's, and was
common on older computer boards. Mostly pre-IBM PC. Yes, there were
PCs before IBM. Can anyone say CP/M ?

[Dennis]

Ok you got me. Should know but what is CP/M?

---

From: threeneurons <threen...@yahoo.com>
To: neonixie-l <neoni...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 9:57 PM
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: FS: Shameless Plug Time - Dekatron Spinner Kits

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[threeneurons]

On Dec 28, 10:01 pm, Dennis <daddyvan2...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Ok you got me. Should know but what is CP/M?
>

Its an old computer operating system, sold by a company named Digital
Research. Around 1980, when IBM was trying to get into the "personal
computer" market, most of those computers ran on CP/M. What about
Apple? Yes, as a single company, they had the largest market share,
and ran their own proprietary OS. Still they only accounted for about
20% of the market. There were dozens of companies that made small
computers at that time. Most were built using S100 form factor boards,
and used the OS CP/M. Digital Research owned the OS market. IBM
approached them to provide CP/M for the PC they intended to make.
Digital Research balked. Bill Gates was going to lose big, since he
was going to sell his programming languages to IBM. To keep the deal
afloat, he bought a small OS, from a local developer, and presented to
IBM as PC-DOS. He also structured the deal, to allow him to sell same
OS, to potential clone makers, as MS-DOS. When the IBM PC became a
hit, and clone makers turned out product faster than IBM anticipated,
Bill Gates and Microsoft were on the road to top of the computer
world. Digital Research and CP/M became a forgotten footnote.

Only now is the Microsoft/Intel software/hardware grip on the
computing world beginning to loosen. The growing markets are new
products like smartphones and tablets. These devices use ARM
processors, instead of Intel product, and most use Android as the OS.
Intel and Microsoft aren't going to die, but the computing market is
growing in new areas, that they don't control. In time, if they may
become irrelevant, but its up to them, and its still years, if not a
decade or two away.

[Tidak Ada]

Hasn't CP/M something to do with DR-DOS ?? (Assuming 'DR' comes from Digital
Research).

Is the Spinner also to use for Elesta EZ10B (1MHz) and Sylvania 6879 7-pin
miniature dekatrons ?

eric

-----Original Message-----
From: neoni...@googlegroups.com [mailto:neoni...@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of threeneurons
Sent: donderdag 29 december 2011 8:11
To: neonixie-l
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: FS: Shameless Plug Time - Dekatron Spinner Kits

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[Dylan Distasio]

At the risk of veering off topic, you can still build your own CP/M based system relatively easily!   I've built a few of these recently, and it was a lot of fun  http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/page/4200908/FrontPage .

Back to the topic of the spinner, thank you, I can't wait to hook mine up!

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[Dutchgray]

Plug is OK by me, I just got myself a cheap GC10B so have been looking for something to plug it into.
On the subject of ARM processors my school still had a few Acorn Risc machines among the hoards of PC's until about 1999, They were good and I miss OS that boot from memory.

[Charles MacDonald]

On 11-12-29 04:11 AM, Tidak Ada wrote:
> Hasn't CP/M something to do with DR-DOS ?? (Assuming 'DR' comes from Digital
> Research).

A long and tortuous process. with no straight lines ... marrd with much
legal rambling and dirty tricks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DR-DOS

Try googling

SCO
"dos is not done till lotus wont run"
Dr. Gary Kindal (i think)
dr-dos

--
Charles MacDonald Stittsville Ontario
cm...@zeusprune.ca Just Beyond the Fringe
http://users.trytel.com/~cmacd/tubes.html
No Microsoft Products were used in sending this e-mail.

[Terry S]

Special pricing for NeoNixie menbers?

On Dec 28, 7:35 pm, threeneurons <threeneur...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I just had a bunch of PCBs made up. They are for variable speed
> dekatron spinners. You can either buy the bare boards:
>

> eBay #150727518045http://www.ebay.com/itm/150727518045

>
> Or kitted with all the parts, less the actual dekatron:
>

> eBay #150727504026http://www.ebay.com/itm/150727504026

>
> Prewired for the OG-4. Use a neon bulb relaxation oscillator, to
> cadence the speed. On-board LM393 based switching supply, so input
> voltage is a safe 12V (AC or DC).
>
> Here's the official link to all the kit's particulars:
>

> http://threeneurons.wordpress.com/dekatron-stuff/variable-dekatron-sp...

[Dennis]

Ah yes. I remember it now. Great write. I was unaware of all the rangling going on with Bill Gates at the time but it seemed as though everyone had their own software and hardware to get out there.

Back to spinners. Can't wait to get mine. I've got a nixie clock just begging for some added attractions.

---

From: threeneurons <threen...@yahoo.com>
To: neonixie-l <neoni...@googlegroups.com>

Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 11:10 PM

Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: FS: Shameless Plug Time - Dekatron Spinner Kits

[Larry]

And it was written in the PL/M language. I think I have a copy of the
compiler somewhere.

[threeneurons]

> Is the Spinner also to use for Elesta EZ10B (1MHz) and Sylvania 6879 7-pin
> miniature dekatrons ?
>
> eric

I have to check the EZ10B signal level. Its a one guide dekatron. I
have one, so I can try it out.

As for the 6879 (or GC10/2P), the signaling should work.

Its up to you to rig the smaller socket to it. Please make it pretty.

[threeneurons]

> At the risk of veering off topic, you can still build your own CP/M based
> system relatively easily!   I've built a few of these recently, and it was
> a lot of fun  http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/page/4200908/FrontPage.
>

For more off topic stuff. CP/M (the 8-bit version) ran mostly on the
Z80. That processor was still commanding over 90% of the CPU market as
late as 1992. 486 processors, and early pentiums were already out by
then. Those Intel parts sold around $200 each, while the Z80 was
selling under a buck, back then. That 90% was in dollars, so just
guess what the actual unit-to-unit ratio was. The Z80 hasn't died
either. You won't see it as an individual chip anymore, except maybe
in hobby circles, but they made 'macros' of it. Macros for FPGAs. So
who knows what modern pieces of gear have a Z80, or two, or a dozen,
running in them, in disguise.

[threeneurons]

> Special pricing for NeoNixie members?

I thought those were special prices. People don't seem to think I'm
sticking to them, since they seem to selling quickly. As a matter of
fact a little too quickly. I may have to make another buy soon.

I usually price stuff so I can keep up with it comfortably. In this
case I may have underpriced them. But maybe not. A lot of this is just
the initial surge. I'll have to wait until things settle down, to see
if its really priced correctly. Plus I only sell what I have on hand.
You can read other posts about taking the money first, then getting
parts, then getting in trouble. I refuse to fall in that trap.

[threeneurons]

> And it was written in the PL/M language.  I think I have a copy of the
> compiler somewhere.
>

Gary Kildall wrote both PL/M and CP/M. He was basically Digital
Research, though the company did grow, and had a staff by the time of
the IBM incident. You can read more about him here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Kildall

Around that time CP/M sales were about $5 million (10^6), and
accounted for 80% of the OS market. That shows you how small the
personal computer market was ~1980. It was still largely a hobby
market, with a few adventurous people actually using them for work. By
2000, Microsoft owned abut 90% of the OS market, and I think their
sales at that period was somewhere between 15 to $20 billion (10^9, as
not to confuse the international people, where 10^9 is a 1000 million,
and a billion is 10^12; a trillion here in the US).

[Rick]

On 12/28/2011 5:35 PM, threeneurons wrote:
> I just had a bunch of PCBs made up. They are for variable speed
> dekatron spinners. You can either buy the bare boards:
>

> Prewired for the OG-4. Use a neon bulb relaxation oscillator, to
> cadence the speed. On-board LM393 based switching supply, so input
> voltage is a safe 12V (AC or DC).
>
> Here's the official link to all the kit's particulars:
>
> http://threeneurons.wordpress.com/dekatron-stuff/variable-dekatron-spinner-kit/
>

Can I expect this to work with the OG-3? I took a look at the
particulars and didn't see any mention. It's octal but I've found it
harder to get to work right.

Thanks,

- Rick

[threeneurons]

> >http://threeneurons.wordpress.com/dekatron-stuff/variable-dekatron-sp...

>
> Can I expect this to work with the OG-3? I took a look at the
> particulars and didn't see any mention. It's octal but I've found it
> harder to get to work right.
>
>  Thanks,

An OG-3 is a 3-guide dekatron, while the OG-4 only has 2. I have a
DK-23 working right now, and it is also a 3-guide dekatron. So I
suspect it will work. I'm tying the 3rd guide (G3) to the main
cathodes, so it pretends to be a 2-guide tube, with extra fat 'main'
cathodes. Not ideal, but then we're not clocking them at 20KHz. I'll
add rewiring guides for other tube types, as I try them out, and get
the time. If you want a purple tube without rewiring, get an OG-7. It
has the same pinout as an OG-4. The anode resistor may need to be made
smaller, since it runs on higher current.

Right now, I'm playing mailroom packing clerk. I've got a bunch of
kits to throw in shipping boxes, label, and head off to the post
office.

[Frederick Heald]

I've got a couple of A101s that I don't know what to do with -
Nixiesand VFDs I can sort of figure out, but so far I don't really get
thejumping current thing.
Would these work with an A101?

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[threeneurons]

On Dec 31 2011, 10:33 am, Frederick Heald <justf...@obtainium.org>
wrote:

> I've got a couple of A101s that I don't know what to do with -
> Nixiesand VFDs I can sort of figure out, but so far I don't really get
> thejumping current thing.
> Would these work with an A101?

The circuit will work, but the A101 13-pin base is clearly not
compatible with an octal (8-pin) socket. You can use Molex 0.093
socket pins and solder/crimp them short lengths of wire (insulated &
stranded, 22 to 18 gauge). Cover up most of the pin and a bit of the
wire (past the insulation) with heat-shrink tubing. Make 13 of these
and use them as a make-shift socket. There are 5 signals types on your
standard 2-guide dekatron (an A101 is such a tube). Anode, G1, G2, K,
and NDX (aka K0). On a A101 the Anode is pin 8, G1 pin 5, G2 pin 10,
NDX pin 1, and all the other pins tied to K. Leave no pins
unconnected. Here's a link on extra dekatron stuff:

http://threeneurons.wordpress.com/dekatron-stuff/auxiliary-dekatron-stuff/

and on showing the "Molex pin" trick:

http://threeneurons.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/skt_pins093_1.jpg

Again, socket is octal, but tube here, is duo-decal.

BTW: All parts are in, kitted, and kits relisted:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150732297763

Enjoy.

[Mich...@aol.com]

Yeah!!!

 

I want two.

 

Can you pre-setup for 6802?  :)

 

Michail

[Tidak Ada]

Did you alreday found out the EZ10B will work too ?

I think to make adapters from old octal tube bases.

eric

-----Original Message-----
From: neoni...@googlegroups.com [mailto:neoni...@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of threeneurons

Sent: vrijdag 6 januari 2012 22:39
To: neonixie-l
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: FS: Shameless Plug Time - Dekatron Spinner Kits

http://threeneurons.wordpress.com/dekatron-stuff/auxiliary-dekatron-stuff/

http://threeneurons.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/skt_pins093_1.jpg

http://www.ebay.com/itm/150732297763

Enjoy.

--

[threeneurons]

On Jan 6, 2:17 pm, "Tidak Ada" <offl...@zeelandnet.nl> wrote:
> Did you alreday found out the EZ10B will work too ?
>

Yes, it will, with a couple of changes. The EZ10B is spec'd for a
minimum supply of 500V, but I found it will work if the supply is a
solid 450V or higher. So measure the "450V" to see that its at least
that voltage. 460V or 470V even better. R10 (the anode resistor) must
be made smaller. Change it (from 560K) to 100K. The EZ10B has a 300V
drop across it, whereas most dekatrons have a drop ~200V. Also it
needs 1.5mA of current, as opposed to 350uA. If its not a solid 450V,
make R8 (7.5K provided) smaller, to 6.8K, or make R7 (680K) larger. Do
Not exceed 500V. The EZ10B likes it but the diodes and caps don't.

Here is data on this tube, from Dieter's sight:

http://www.tube-tester.com/sites/nixie/datdekat/ez10b/ez10b.htm

The tube's base has 10 outer pins, and three inner ones. The outer
ones are all main cathodes. Tie those to the 'K' spot, and maybe one
of them to 'NDX' (optional). The anode is the one inner pin that has
an insulated oxide coating on it. The two remaining inner pins are the
guides. Tie both together, and then to G1.

Where did I get my socket to test this tube ? I didn't. I used the
'socket-pin' and 'heat shrink' trick. Only here using female pins
butchered from a D-connector.

[Tidak Ada]

Thanks Mike,

That's verry usefull info. Now waiting untill your stuff arrives here...

May be I will buy suitable capacitors and diodes for the higer voltage.
Any hints for the diodes??

eric

-----Original Message-----
From: neoni...@googlegroups.com [mailto:neoni...@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of threeneurons
Sent: zaterdag 7 januari 2012 7:32
To: neonixie-l
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: FS: Shameless Plug Time - Dekatron Spinner Kits

http://www.tube-tester.com/sites/nixie/datdekat/ez10b/ez10b.htm

--

[Dutchgray]

Got mine this morning and a couple hours soldering later have a GC10B spinning nicely. Just need to case it and get a power supply as its not very practicable running it from a bench supply. Very nice little kit.

[threeneurons]

On Jan 7, 2:23 am, "Tidak Ada" <offl...@zeelandnet.nl> wrote:
> Thanks Mike,
>
> That's verry usefull info. Now waiting untill your stuff arrives here...
>
> May be I will buy suitable capacitors and diodes for the higer voltage.
> Any hints for the diodes??
>
> eric
>

For actually changing the supply to 500V, the components used, need to
be rated over 250V. The supply 1st makes 250V, then enters a doubler,
to get 500V. Q1 needs to be a 300V, or 400V FET. An IRFD320, rated at
400V, is provided, so no need to change this one. C2 thru C4, are 1uf,
250V, which should be swapped for 350V rated caps. D1 thru D3 provided
are BAV21s which have 250V ratings. Change these to the MUR140, which
is rated for 400V. UF4007 will work, too. Make sure its a UF4007, not
a 1N4007. Two entirely different parts. Eric, I know, you know the
difference, but someone else reading this may not. If R8 is made a
6.8K (instead of the 7.5K provided), the output should be around 500V.
With R8 kept at 7.5K, but R7 raised to 820K, the output will be
~550V.

Buy your parts at reputable dealers. Its already been shown, that some
eBay sellers, just restamp their diodes with whatever part number is
in demand.

[Tidak Ada]

Great work Mike !

Of course I know a lot, but not all. My experience with dekatrons is not
great and I know others even less so it's nice you keep it clear.
I hope the EZ10B's I have are not out gassed. Hydrogen is obvious, together
with helium, the Houdini under the gasses...
Actually that's what I want to test.
If it works I will try to make a clock divider stage down from 4 Mc/s to
drive a meter clock driven by dekatrons and relays. A thrilling challenge.
Hopefully I get enough support from Miss Fortune...

Thanks,

eric

-----Original Message-----
From: neoni...@googlegroups.com [mailto:neoni...@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of threeneurons
Sent: zaterdag 7 januari 2012 16:54
To: neonixie-l
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: FS: Shameless Plug Time - Dekatron Spinner Kits

--

[Tidak Ada]

Hi Mike,

The spinner kit arrived today. Thanks for quick dispatch.
Quite complete kit, however I have to wait for the UF4007's and 1µF 400V
capacitors that are ordered at Mouser by a friends in San Jose

About the modification for the EZ10B rose me the question if the print is
suitable for the high tension. I am afraid for the pads for R7 and R8 are
quite close to each others. The same could apply for the pads of the
pin-changer pad.
Further I am concerned about R8 and R10 in this case. they should be able to
dissipate 0.5 Watts, because of the EZ10B's higher current. Also the small
modern resistors aren't able to withstand the high voltages. May be it helps
to replace them by two resistors connected in series.
Am I right in this ?
Any suggestions from you?

Regards,

eric

-----Original Message-----
From: neoni...@googlegroups.com [mailto:neoni...@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of threeneurons
Sent: zaterdag 7 januari 2012 16:54
To: neonixie-l
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: FS: Shameless Plug Time - Dekatron Spinner Kits

--

[Frederick Heald]

Thanks - ordered! If I can get it to work I'll (post pictures and)
order a couple more - I think I have four or five 101 tubes I'd like
to drive.

Thanks for the links, that helps a lot!

[William Lee]

I finally got my OG-4s in today from across the pond!  w00t!  I'll be soldering together my kit as soon as I have time and will report back my results.  In case you can't tell, I'm very excited, as I haven't done anything dekatron related yet (unless you count buying a few A101s that are still looking for a purpose in my goodies pile).

[Dennis]

You'll be happy with it. I got my OG-4s the other day and put mine together. Took it to work to show off. People can't help but stop and ask "what is that?" I want to do some experimenting with the trigger pulse to drive a clock after I get the timing down. I did notice that one of the dekatrons worked right off but the other is being stubborn. I'll change R14 and see what happens.

---

From: William Lee <inte...@gmail.com>
To: neoni...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 6:36 AM

Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: FS: Shameless Plug Time - Dekatron Spinner Kits

I finally got my OG-4s in today from across the pond!  w00t!  I'll be soldering together my kit as soon as I have time and will report back my results.  In case you can't tell, I'm very excited, as I haven't done anything dekatron related yet (unless you count buying a few A101s that are still looking for a purpose in my goodies pile).

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[Mich...@aol.com]

I normally get the questions...

What is it for?

What does it do?

 

I wanna reply, "Just look at it.  Isn't it obvious?"

 

Michail

 

 

In a message dated 2/1/2012 5:28:28 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, daddyv...@yahoo.com writes:

"what is that?"

[Joe Croft]

When I was a kid my dad made boxes with flashing neon bulbs. He was always asked the same thing. He called them nothing boxes because they did nothing :)

It were those little puppies that got me fascinated with electronics and things that glow from a very early age :)

-joe

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[Dennis]

Yes, me too. But it does give me the opportunity to talk about it. When you explain that this was "state of the art" to someone very young they give you this special look. This is a fun hobby. :)

---

From: "Mich...@aol.com" <Mich...@aol.com>
To: neoni...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 5:50 PM
Subject: Re: [neonixie-l] Re: FS: Shameless Plug Time - Dekatron Spinner Kits

--

[Mich...@aol.com]

Reminds me of an old friend that has long since passed.  

 

He always said,  "Flashing light technology"

 

Now, I walk in a server room and it always reminds me of the term.... Flashing light technology.

 

Michail

[Dennis]

I got interested in electronics at age 12 when I checked out a book from the school library. The Boy's Second Book of Radio and Electronics by Alfred Morgan. I built the photo tube relay that's in there and entered it in the science fair. I still have it. One of these days I'll see if it will still power up.

---

From: Joe Croft <cro...@gmail.com>
To: neoni...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 6:22 PM

Subject: Re: [neonixie-l] Re: FS: Shameless Plug Time - Dekatron Spinner Kits

[Dylan Distasio]

It's alive!  The build went off almost without a hitch...In my excitement, I soldered the IRFD320 in backwards, despite the drain orientation being clearly marked in the directions!  Anyways, since I had ordered two kits I used the one from the second kit as a spare instead of attempting to salvage the one I desoldered (not pretty).  I will order another IRFD320 with my next parts order, so luckily no biggie.

My dekatron is now spinning beautifully!  Thanks to threeneurons for a very fun kit!

[David Forbes]

On 2/1/12 8:05 PM, Dennis wrote:
> I got interested in electronics at age 12 when I checked out a book from
> the school library. The Boy's Second Book of Radio and Electronics by
> Alfred Morgan. I built the photo tube relay that's in there and entered
> it in the science fair. I still have it. One of these days I'll see if
> it will still power up.

I think I had that book checked out continuously for 6 months in 4th
grade. In fact, the odds are excellent that it's the book that I'm
reading on the floor in this photo. My brother is reading Charlotte's
Web on the couch.

http://www.nixiebunny.com/famscans/jimdav1970.jpg

--
David Forbes, Tucson AZ

[Dennis]

Good photo David. Upon thumbing through this book I just might have to build something out of here. Maybe that two stage tube amp. Glow is glow right?

---

From: David Forbes <dfo...@dakotacom.net>
To: neoni...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 7:27 PM

Subject: Re: [neonixie-l] Re: FS: Shameless Plug Time - Dekatron Spinner Kits

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[Quixotic Nixotic]

On 2 Feb 2012, at 03:27, David Forbes wrote:

> I think I had that book checked out continuously for 6 months in
> 4th grade. In fact, the odds are excellent that it's the book that
> I'm reading on the floor in this photo. My brother is reading
> Charlotte's Web on the couch.
>
> http://www.nixiebunny.com/famscans/jimdav1970.jpg

Don't ever change David.

John S

[Jeff Thomas]

+1, a wonderful time capsule of memories.

Regards, jeff

[Tidak Ada]

Hi Mike,

Finally I received my UF4007's. Now they packed them in ESD protecting foil.
Are these diodes really so sensitive for ESD or is that 'overkill nonsense'.
I am used to receive and store my diodes (except tunneldiodes and other
specials) in a simple plastic component drawer in the stock rack

eric

-----Original Message-----
From: neoni...@googlegroups.com [mailto:neoni...@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of threeneurons
Sent: zaterdag 7 januari 2012 16:54
To: neonixie-l
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: FS: Shameless Plug Time - Dekatron Spinner Kits

--

[David Forbes]

On 2/4/12 10:09 AM, Tidak Ada wrote:
> Hi Mike,
>
> Finally I received my UF4007's. Now they packed them in ESD protecting foil.
> Are these diodes really so sensitive for ESD or is that 'overkill nonsense'.
> I am used to receive and store my diodes (except tunneldiodes and other
> specials) in a simple plastic component drawer in the stock rack
>
> eric

Every electronic component is packaged in ESD safe packaging these days,
even connectors.

The reason is that although the UF4007 itself is a high voltage device,
a component near it may be very sensitive to ESD.

So, in order to ensure compliance for the entire system, every part must
be compliant.

[Tidak Ada]

Thanks, there is a gap in my knowledge about that, because of other
activities last decennia.

eric

-----Original Message-----
From: neoni...@googlegroups.com [mailto:neoni...@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of David Forbes
Sent: zaterdag 4 februari 2012 18:23
To: neoni...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [neonixie-l] Re: FS: Shameless Plug Time - Dekatron Spinner
Kits

--

[threeneurons]

> Hi Mike,
>
> Finally I received my UF4007's. Now they packed them in ESD protecting foil.
> Are these diodes really so sensitive for ESD or is that 'overkill nonsense'.

Its easier that way, too. Don't make your packing people think too
hard. Hell, I pack my kits, in electrostatic (proof) bags !

A little story that happened about 25 years ago. I had built a
homebrew ISA IO card, that plugged into a 286 computer. It, in turn
had a ribbon cable that broke out to connectors on a fancy protoboard
jig. That way I could check out computer controlled circuits, in a
similar fashion that Arduinos are used now. Well, it was in a carpeted
room. One hot dry summer day, I walked in and the first thing I
touched was "the jig". Zap ! Nice spark came off my finger and toasted
most of the ICs on that ISA card. Good thing the chips were all in
sockets, so the repair was quick.

[Dave]

I got my two spinner boards and they look great.
I had to order an OG series Dekatron, since I only had 101's.
The boards are through hole plated with an extensive silk screen.
Excellent kit !
Thanks.

[Mich...@aol.com]

They are great.  Finally found a use for some of my 6802s.

Fortunately I hadn't donated them all to the members here.

 

Michail

[Wayne de Geere III]

On 2011 Dec 28, at 21:57 , threeneurons wrote:

BTW: that via/feedthru "jumper" trick goes back to the 70's, and was
common on older computer boards. Mostly pre-IBM PC. Yes, there were
PCs before IBM. Can anyone say CP/M ?

In fact in high school (early 1980s) I worked at a family owned computer store in Irvine, California and I sold Epson QZ-10 CP/M dekstop computers and at home I had an Apple //e with a Microsoft CP/M "language card" so I could run Apple DOS, Apple's ProDOS and CP/M. That was the era where a computer had 16k, 48k or 64k of RAM and my Apple 5.25" floppy discs held 143kbytes on them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epson_QX-10

[Joseph Bento]

I finally got around to building my spinner tonight. What a fun
little kit! I have four OG-4's that arrived from the Land of the Bear
a couple weeks ago. All spin nicely. Thanks for a great project.
I'm considering the idea of using this circuit as a power supply for a
nixie clock and use the Dekatron as a pendulum of sorts. I like the
simple power supply using an LM393 rather than a finicky chip designed
for switchmode use.

I have one issue with one of the OG-4 tubes in that it is very loose
in its base. What type of cement or glue do you guys recommend to fix
it in place? I have read in the past that super glue shouldn't be used
to repair tubes since it allows for no expansion, therefore risking
cracking the glass.

Joe, N6DGY