How do I install tubes with wire leads?

[Mac Doktor]

I received ten NOS IN-14s from eBay recently ($13.84 apiece for those keeping track). I now face a problem I haven't encountered before: how to install them.

What length do they need to be? How do you snake them into the holes/socket pins? The strain relief fell off of one I was playing with and I can't even figure out how to get that back on.

Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The Mac Doctor"

https://www.astarcloseup.com

“...the book said something astonishing, a very big thought. The stars, it said, were suns but very far away. The Sun was a star but close up.”—Carl Sagan, "The Backbone Of Night", Cosmos, 1980

[Nicholas Stock]

Cut the legs in a spiral fashion so they're all slightly different in length, then feed the legs one by one....lot easier.

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[Mac Doktor]

On Aug 25, 2022, at 3:56 PM, Nicholas Stock <nick...@gmail.com> wrote:

Cut the legs in a spiral fashion so they're all slightly different in length, then feed the legs one by one....lot easier.

How big of a step between leads? I need to install several different tubes into sockets with limited depth, not solder them to pads and snip the ends. A bit trickier.

I realize that this is probably like riding a bicycle. Once you catch on it's easy.

[Nicholas Stock]

Someone must have a picture to share. Minimal cut, you want to leave the last lead with enough meat on it obviously. I'd post a picture, but at work at the mo...

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 25, 2022, at 13:13, Mac Doktor <themac...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[David Pye]

What kind of sockets are you using?   I've always soldered the IN14s directly to the PCB, so curious to see what you're using.

David

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[chuckrr]

I have some chinese tubes with long wire leads.   Those got soldered to a 14-pin DIP header.   Then plug those into a DIP ic socket.
 

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[David Forbes]

I have installed thousands of Nixie tubes with wire leads into sockets. 

The first step is to use tweezers to bend the leads so that the ends are where they need to be to plug into the socket. I usually do this using the plastic lead spacer as a guide. I cut the leads just enough longer than the spacer to match the installed height desired. 

The next step is massaging the leads to each be in just the right place. This is where patience and practice come into play.

Finally, insert the tube into the socket. Hopefully you can see the leads as they make contact with the socket, and push sideways on any strays with the tweezers to coax them into the holes.

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[Mac Doktor]

A big thanks to everyone who chimed in. I'm still digesting everything.

On Aug 25, 2022, at 5:01 PM, David Pye <davi...@gmail.com> wrote:

What kind of sockets are you using?   I've always soldered the IN14s directly to the PCB, so curious to see what you're using.

Marcin Saj's socket system:

https://nixietester.com/project/nixie-sockets/

Here's the IN-19x socket with an IN-14 for scale:

The inner ring of holes has solder pads and the outer ring has socket pins. Soldering the tube in place would be better in the long run as it won't be able to work loose right as you're showing it off.

Has anyone shot a sequence of photos or a video of this process? Given the rising value of these precious tubes I don't want to make a move until I have it all sorted out. More to the point, I don't want to make a costly mistake. This is scary.

A big shout out for Marcin. This off-the-shelf system isn't perfect but it has saved me a lot time and trouble with more travails to come.

Here's a wider shot of the box containing half of the socket boxes...

...except for socket #3. There's a second box full of them.  o_O

Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The Mac Doctor"

https://www.astarcloseup.com

Q: Should car stereo speakers be pointed to the rear for more thrust or up for more traction?

A. On long trips, the 20- to 30% improvement in gas mileage you might get with speakers pointing to the rear is certainly worthwhile. On the other hand, if you drive on snow or ice, the extra traction of speakers pointing upward gives you added control.

Don Lancaster