Clock project with ITS1A tube

[AnubisTTP]

I just completed a clock project that uses a tube I have been wanting
to build something out of for a long time, a Soviet-era ITS1A seven
segment display.

http://www.decadecounter.com/vta/articleview.php?item=1073

I did have a few tubeless kit versions of this clock for sale for $60,
but they sold out even before I had completed typing up the article
for the project. If there is any interest I could probably have some
more of them made but I can't supply the ITS1A tube or other tubes, so
a kit would only be useful to the small portion of the Nixie community
that already has some ITS1A tubes laying about.

Richard Kline
www.decadecounter.com

[Nicholas Stock]

Richard, I commented on the TubeDB forum yesterday....I have some of the ITS1A tubes and would definitely be interested in a few of the kits if you make some more.

Cheers,

Nick

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[jb-electronics]

Amazing work, I really it. I have some of these lying around as well, I
guess I will try to drive them one of these days, thanks to your
excellent documentation!

Best regards,
Jens

[MichaelB]

I too am interested. Left a message on Brian's forum. I have some if
the ITS1A's, but I'll have to scrounge for the MTX90's. Anybody know
of any available?

[John Rehwinkel]

> I too am interested. Left a message on Brian's forum. I have some if
> the ITS1A's, but I'll have to scrounge for the MTX90's. Anybody know
> of any available?

If not, you could always just INS-1s or any other neon indicator. The circuit just switches power to them, they're not used as thyratrons.

- John

[MichaelB]

Right, however these appear to be significantly larger than the
finicky INS-1. Now, they may well be just as finicky, but I like the
larger size for this and other applications.

[AnubisTTP]

An IN-6 might be an interesting choice, though I have not tried it
myself; all of the lots of IN-6s on Ebay right now are for silly-huge
quantities that only make sense if you are going to build a dot matrix
display. I only used the MTX90's because they don't seem to get much
use in projects and it was a nice change from perpetually swirling
INS-1s.

[MichaelB]

Yeah, they look really nice and I like the larger size. I do like the
INS-1's and have had OK luck with them, but I had been looking for a
similar end view -type indicator tube, only larger. You don't happen
to have a data sheet on the tube, do you ?
I located some of these tubes here but have never dealt with these
guys before. Anybdy?

http://www.evita.lt/en/det-495-vacuum-tube-mtx-90.html

[John Rehwinkel]

On Dec 10, 2011, at 10:26 AM, MichaelB wrote:

> Yeah, they look really nice and I like the larger size. I do like the
> INS-1's and have had OK luck with them, but I had been looking for a
> similar end view -type indicator tube, only larger. You don't happen
> to have a data sheet on the tube, do you ?

Dieter has a copy on his site:

http://www.tube-tester.com/sites/nixie/dat_arch/IN-6.pdf

- John

[MichaelB]

No, I have the INS-1 stuff. Meant the MTX90. Can't seem to find one
for this tube anywhere.

[John Rehwinkel]

> No, I have the INS-1 stuff. Meant the MTX90. Can't seem to find one
> for this tube anywhere.

http://lib.chipdip.ru/273/DOC000273377.pdf

- John

[Dekatron42]

Here's an old gamma radiometer project which uses them:
http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=AD0689692
, looks like they are hooked up as binary counters to me.

A nice Russian calculator : http://www.taswegian.com/MOSCOW/rasa.html
- I especially like the rotating drum which is backlit by the
thyratrons wile it rotates! What an engineering feat!

And this data: http://www.desmith.net/NMdS/Shack/MTX-90.txt and the
datasheet here: http://www.desmith.net/NMdS/Shack/MTX-90-5.jpg it is
part of the Russian databook on Dekatrons and other cold cathode
valves.

/Martin

> > - John- Dölj citerad text -
>
> - Visa citerad text -

[MichaelB]

Awesome! Thanks Martin!

On Dec 10, 9:11 am, Dekatron42 <martin.forsb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Here's an old gamma radiometer project which uses them:http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=...

> , looks like they are hooked up as binary counters to me.
>
> A nice Russian calculator :http://www.taswegian.com/MOSCOW/rasa.html
> - I especially like the rotating drum which is backlit by the
> thyratrons wile it rotates! What an engineering feat!
>
> And this data:http://www.desmith.net/NMdS/Shack/MTX-90.txtand the

> datasheet here:http://www.desmith.net/NMdS/Shack/MTX-90-5.jpgit is

[Nicholas Stock]

If anybody needs some MTX90, I found this listing on eBay that lists them as MTH90's....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/310316254995?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2648#ht_1061wt_1180

Nick

[Greg P]

Are there any pictures of the MTX90 or IN-6 floating around where
they're actually lit?

[MichaelB]

Good Eye!! Thanks Nick!

On Dec 10, 1:19 pm, Nicholas Stock <nickst...@gmail.com> wrote:
> If anybody needs some MTX90, I found this listing on eBay that lists them
> as MTH90's....
>

> http://www.ebay.com/itm/310316254995?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid...

[Nicholas Stock]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MTH90-Russian-tiny-Thyratron-Glow-USSR-1973-year-Lot-5-RARE-/260865213720?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item3cbcc74518#ht_517wt_1328

Last one left!

[MichaelB]

It's lit here my brutha'

http://www.decadecounter.com/vta/pict14/itsclock1.jpg

[John Rehwinkel]

> Are there any pictures of the MTX90 or IN-6 floating around where
> they're actually lit?

There's this one from an eBay auction:

http://www.vitriol.com/images/tech/IN-6.jpeg

I'll try to round up one of mine, light it, and get pictures.

- John

[Tidak Ada]

Drawback is that the MTH90 is garanteed for only 5000 hours....

 

eric

---

From: neoni...@googlegroups.com [mailto:neoni...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Nicholas Stock
Sent: zondag 11 december 2011 2:25
To: neoni...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Clock project with ITS1A tube

[Nicholas Stock]

I hear you Eric, but I've heard the same about IN18 tubes and others and they appear to last a lot longer than that.....no experience with thyratrons though....

Cheers,

Nick

Sent from my iPhone

[Greg P]

Thanks guys....The IN-6 looks very interesting....John please do post
that picture if you fire one of those bad boys up.

[Nick]

likewise - I have rather of lot of MTX-90s = got them many years ago
intending to build a trigger tube clock = YAPTHHY (Yet Another Project
That Hasn't Happened Yet...)

Nick

[Dutchgray]

I would like one of these when they are made as well, as I have a few
ITS1A bought just because they were available. Would just have to find
the MTX90 or suitable alternative.

Dan.

[Nick]

On Dec 11, 5:05 pm, Nick <n...@desmith.net> wrote:
> likewise - I have rather of lot of MTX-90s = got them many years ago
> intending to build a trigger tube clock = YAPTHHY (Yet Another Project
> That Hasn't Happened Yet...)

Just checked - in 2005 they were USD 50 per 100 units, i.e. 50c each.

[Per Jensen]

On 12/12/2011, at 19.20, Hugermugger wrote:

> I have just order six IN14 nixies, PCBs from Australie and components to uild a simple clock as featured in Silicon Chip: http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_109004/article.html

Any chance that you can compile the article in a .PDF and upload somewhere for me to look at it ? I would like to see how they have constructed it.

// Per.

[Hugermugger]

There's a slight problem as I am following the articles picked up at a
pay-site.
Could someone advice the rules - can I or can't I share schematics and
instructions that are copyrighted?

Magnus

[Nick]

On Dec 12, 7:01 pm, "Hugermugger" <huggermug...@pastisch.se> wrote:
> Could someone advice the rules - can I or can't I share schematics and
> instructions that are copyrighted?

Its simple - absolutely no sharing whatsoever of copyright material
(unless you own the copyright) - this includes schematics, photos,
documentation etc. Any attempt to do so will be dealt with
immediately.

This is not at torrent site.

Thanks

Moderators

[Per Jensen]

On 12/12/2011, at 20.01, Hugermugger wrote:

> There's a slight problem as I am following the articles picked up at a pay-site.
> Could someone advice the rules - can I or can't I share schematics and instructions that are copyrighted?
>
> Magnus
>

Oh sorry, my bad, i just thought you'd need to log in, and i wouldn't want to create a user just to see the details.

I wasn't aware that it was a pay site.

// Per.

[Hugermugger]

Yepp, that's what I already knew.

The articles are available on Silicon Chip's website and they doesn't cost
too much.
The PCBs are available from this source:
http://users.tpg.com.au/rcspcb/index0.htm

I think the correct boards are the following, but I am not 100% sure:
ea 79CLA $ 10.00 1258 Crystal Clock <Mn.Bd> 1979Mar
ea 79CLB $ 7.50 1259 Clock 6 Digit Display 1979Mar
The schematic, btw is really easy and has some small bonuses like a
DC/DC-supply for HV using another chip that 555.Magnus----- Original
Message ----- From: "Nick" <ni...@desmith.net>
To: "neonixie-l" <neoni...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 8:34 PM
Subject: [neonixie-l] Re: Discrete nixie clock with IN14

Thanks

Moderators

--

[David Forbes]

Why not use the old TI design from their 1971 TTL book?

http://www.selectric.org/nixie/ticlock.gif

The wiring is best done with wire-wrap sockets and wire if you can find
it, for that authentic 1970s feel.

--
David Forbes, Tucson AZ

[Hugermugger]

Some 30 years ago, that would have been an option, but beeing old and grumpy
(well, sort of), I decided as I had an opportunity to do a swap of
components with a guy in Australia, this seemed like a good idea - no big
fuzz finding odd components (I send him a bunch of vacuum tubes for his amp
projects, and he sends me two PCBs).

Magnus

PS Did I tell you about the ZM1020 and the NS clock IC already have for yet
another project ....

>
> Why not use the old TI design from their 1971 TTL book?
>
> http://www.selectric.org/nixie/ticlock.gif
>
> The wiring is best done with wire-wrap sockets and wire if you can find
> it, for that authentic 1970s feel.
>
> --
> David Forbes, Tucson AZ
>

[Dutchgray]

Just bought a lot of 30  MTX90 myself, unfortunately they were quite a bit more expensive than in 2005.

[Hugermugger]

Some small progress.
Got the components but am missing a 32kHz Xtal (now ordered from Unicorn
together with other stuff and IC-sockets). PCBs on the way from down-under
(how to people avoid falling off the planet down there??).
Have planed some pieces of larchtree and found some Cu at my job.This will
be fun!!!

Magnus

PS I ordered one Russian supertube from eBay - a GU-72.Couldn't find a
second one for a 25W SingleEnd amp project nor sockets for this mutation.
But accidently ran into a Bulgarian ShortWave-site selling all kind of
dangerous stuff.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Per Jensen" <elektron...@gmail.com>
To: <neoni...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2011 7:47 PM

[GastonP]

And just wait for the masses to learn of its existence and see it in
those gorgeous photos of the kit... if you didn't but them before, now
you can forget about that.

My own more or less general rule is that nixies or equivalent obsolete
equipment are affordable until publicly known. If known through forums
the price rise is steep. If known through sites with nice photos...
even steeper... offer and demand plus scarcity and fetish factor can
make wonders... or nightmares :)

[Dutchgray]

That's why I have been keeping an eye out for some since this topic was first posted, now there is a kit which uses it it gives those of us that build kits a reason to buy them.
The same seller has now listed a lot of 8, this would have been better for me but I can always sell some of the spares on.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MTCH90-russian-Thyratron-8pcs-NOS-/330659681439?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item4cfcda549f