Recommendations for a Nixie tester/cathode de-poisoner?

[J.C. Wren]

Greetings.  It's been a long time since I've participated in the neonixie-l group. Having retired and having free time on my hands, it's time to do something with the stash of tubes I've been sitting on for years.  My intention is to put those tubes in a few clocks I'll design, but before I do, I'd like to go through and test them all. 

What's the latest and greatest Nixie tester that supports cathode de-poisoning? I've seen a couple on eBay that seemed a little more basic than I'd like, and the one from nixietester.com that's no longer available. I'm not particular if it's a kit or fully assembled. It would be nice if it has a smart de-poisoning algorithm, such as the one described for the bi-quinary tubes by Mark Smith. In a perfect world, it would datalog the current and voltage for each segment.

The tube models I'd like to test are IN-18, ZM-1040, NL-840, 1970-0009, B-5092, B-7971, and NL-5859CS. The first three are the critical ones, as they're my favorite tubes :)

Any and all recommendations appreciated!

Thanks,

--jc

[gregebert]

I wouldn't build  a separate depoisoner; just build-in to your clocks.

I've had very few issues with IN-18 poisoning. If your tubes have been sitting around unpowered for years, they shouldn't be poisoned and should be ready-to-use. My IN-18 clock runs about 16 hours per day, and at night it runs a 1-hour depoisoning routine that cycles thru the unused digits at a rate of once persecond. Tubes that display 0-9 (such as unit seconds) are left off, because they get uniformly used during the day; tubes that cycle 0 thru 5, such as tens-seconds and tens-minutes, are cycled 6-9. The remaining 10 tubes ( hours, month, day, year) are cycled 0-9 because they are essentially static.

You would think the year tubes would have poisoning problems, but they dont, so the 1-hour cycling seems to be enough. I dont run them at elevated current for depoisoning. The most-troublesome tube  is for the unit months, and it can take a few days at the beginning of certain months to fully clean-up.

I've never seen a 5092 show signs of poisoning; they are outstanding tubes. They are used in my first nixie clock, run 24/7, and have no depoisoning algorithm.

My 7971 clock runs a 24/7 depoisoning algorithm when the display is idle (based on a PIR sensor), and runs 1 segment of 1 tube for about 0.3 seconds, cycling thru all 15 segments and all 8 tubes repeatedly. Never saw even a hint of poisoning.

[Mac Doktor]

On Jan 9, 2024, at 6:25 PM, J.C. Wren <jcw...@gmail.com> wrote:

What's the latest and greatest Nixie tester that supports cathode de-poisoning? I've seen a couple on eBay that seemed a little more basic than I'd like, and the one from nixietester.com that's no longer available.

There is a newer model available. It uses interchangeable sockets for different tubes, no fooling around with loose wires all of the time (site is slow to load):

https://nixietester.com/project/pro-nixie-tester/

The build quality is a bit flimsy but it works. You can always roll your own using the schematics.

I'm not particular if it's a kit or fully assembled. It would be nice if it has a smart de-poisoning algorithm, such as the one described for the bi-quinary tubes by Mark Smith. In a perfect world, it would datalog the current and voltage for each segment.

This unit isn't that fancy but it does have connections for external voltmeters and ammeters. I've yet to get around to building a meter panel for it.

The tube models I'd like to test are IN-18, ZM-1040, NL-840, 1970-0009, B-5092, B-7971, and NL-5859CS. The first three are the critical ones, as they're my favorite tubes :)

All supported. No 5971s?

Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The Mac Doctor”

https://www.astarcloseup.com

“And if a message comes from Balaam’s ass, analyze the message. Don’t worship an ass.”—Dr. Gene Scott, circa 1985

[J.C. Wren]

The Pro Nixie Tester is also not available. That's actually the one I had been looking at.  I could roll my own from the schematics, although I'm not sure what transistors he's using. IIRC, I had used MPS42A's in a MSP430-powered NL840 design I had done at one time. There might have been a couple of other parts in the schematic that are a little vague but could be worked out.

I need to go through the tubes again and verify it against my spreadsheet. I'm pretty sure I had entered everything I had, and I don't think I have any 5971's.  But I do like those :)

--jc

Save a life; adopt a shelter animal.

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[HikariFaith]

My recommendation would be to order a PCB of something that's already been made. The clock I'm currently working on is based off the design shared by CNLohr which is really compact, simple, and low in part count. Personally, if I were to make the design into a more universal tube tester and cathode de-poisoner, I would make the pinout a separate interchangeable module that can be plugged into the base driving board. That way any pin configuration could be accommodated. If there's interest in it more generally, I would be happy to modify my own variant of the design into something barebones that can be used for this exact purpose. I'm sure there's others out there who are looking for an affordable tube tester/de-poisoner.

[Mac Doktor]

On Jan 9, 2024, at 11:20 PM, J.C. Wren <jcw...@jcwren.com> wrote:

The Pro Nixie Tester is also not available.

Well, crap. Out of stock (both colors).

That's actually the one I had been looking at.  I could roll my own from the schematics, although I'm not sure what transistors he's using. IIRC, I had used MPS42A's in a MSP430-powered NL840 design I had done at one time. There might have been a couple of other parts in the schematic that are a little vague but could be worked out.

They're MPS42s. I can identify the other parts.

I need to go through the tubes again and verify it against my spreadsheet. I'm pretty sure I had entered everything I had, and I don't think I have any 5971's.  But I do like those :)

I snagged four on eBay recently. They sold out quick.

Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The Mac Doctor"

https://www.astarcloseup.com

"Would you like to see the relevant data?"—343 Guilty Spark, Halo 2

[Mac Doktor]

On Jan 10, 2024, at 4:59 PM, Mac Doktor <themac...@gmail.com> wrote:

On Jan 9, 2024, at 11:20 PM, J.C. Wren <jcw...@jcwren.com> wrote:

The Pro Nixie Tester is also not available.

Well, crap. Out of stock (both colors).

Just received an email from Marcin:

"After a very long break and inactivity, most projects should be available in February."

Terry Bowman, KA4HJH

"The Mac Doctor"

https://www.astarcloseup.com

"I wouldn't join any club that would have me as a member."—Groucho Marx

[Peter Hall]

This in18 ,Healer and tester works well,for the price...Spark Tube,aka Ukrainian Gifts,Ebay.

Link below-

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/223870481224?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=xqt38tCwReS&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=wD1q8GOQTfG&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 I also have a MS Pro nixie,ect in Kit form..But is the version with a in18 socket on top.I believe the latest,have his Smart socket,on top...

Would you like it?

From🚨Peter Hall😁 insidiousnixies🦘Utube

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