Re: low power nixie tubes?

[Nick]

On Monday, 26 November 2012 19:59:12 UTC, bryan wrote:

Just curious to see if anyone from this group knows if there are any low power nixie tubes like IV-9 Numitron tubes that only needs 1V-12V? Not more than 100V?

Hi - IV-9s are not nixies - they are numitrons which have incandescent filaments like old light bulbs - a completely different technology. They operate off 4.5V taking about 19mA per segment.

The technology in nixies requires the gas in the tube to ionise to get that orange glow round the shaped cathodes - there are basic constraints laid down by laws of physics that determine the energy required to do this, thus the voltage that is required to start ionisation. The voltage at which ionisation starts (the striking voltage) is typically around 160 to 180VDC; once struck, they maintain at a lower voltage (e.g. 120VDC) - the striking voltage for a given tube is determined by physical factors such as gas mix in the tube, pressure, presence of ionising radiation etc.

All nixies work this way which is why we use step-up (boost) converters to change low voltages up to typically around 180VDC.

Nick

[bryan]

Nick,

Thanks for giving me details about numitron tubes and nixie tubes work. 

Bryan

[Terry Kennedy]

On Nov 27, 5:22 am, bryan <bryan...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks for giving me details about numitron tubes and nixie tubes work.

You might also want to look at VFD's. These require a low filament
voltage (usually 1.2V to 5V) and a slightly higher voltage to activate
the segments - something like 20V to 35V. These tubes range in size
from fingernail to soda-can size, and even the largest can be tested
with just a few batteries, like 3 9V batteries in series, as well as
whatever is needed for the filament.

Here's one of the larger types: http://www.decadecounter.com/vta/articleview.php?item=1071

And if you want something truly bizarre and high-voltage, there are
devices like the ITS1A, which uses 50V, 100V, and -300V supplies, but
the segments are directly controllable with TTL logic!

[Jonathan Peakall]

Any ideas on where to buy these tubes? Very cool. Bet I can't afford 'em
anyway.

Jonathan

[John Rehwinkel]

>> And if you want something truly bizarre and high-voltage, there are
>> devices like the ITS1A, which uses 50V, 100V, and -300V supplies, but
>> the segments are directly controllable with TTL logic!

> Any ideas on where to buy these tubes? Very cool. Bet I can't afford 'em anyway.

Vitaly might have some, or you can check eBay. I bought some there, 4 for $26.

- John