SP-252 Smart Socket based device

[Richard Scales]

If there was ever an example of over engineering then this must be it! Here we have 14 PCBs, 180 transistors, 360 resistors and 13 processors all working together to drive six SP-252 multi segment Panaplex displays using the Smart Socket circuit that was designed originally for B-7971 tubes.

It's taken quite some time to pull this all together, mostly because of all the SMD parts and my soldering skills - the resistors are 0603.

Regardless, the hardware is done, now working on the software to take advantage of 12 digits of alpha numeric neon.

Each display sits on its own PCB. Two Smart socket PCB's plug in to the back of the display board - one on top - one underneath - these then plug in to the backplane that has the power supplies, sensor and Wemos.

Time is NTP synced, at 30 seconds past each minute it will display (in a scrolling  or some other transitioning style):

The date - like" WEDNESDAY 10TH APRIL 2024"

or

Sensor Data which is temperature, humidity, pressure

or

One of 10 pre-defined text sequences

I plan to add a web gui to allow setting of the timezone and definition of the text messages to scroll at some point - Many thanks to Paul Andrews for his assistance with that. The thing now sits in a case and looks a lot more presentable - I'll get some pictures of that asap.

- Richard

[Peter Hall]

Stunning as usual..1 x Omnixie to power it all.Amazing👍

From🚨Peter Hall😁 insidiousnixies🦘Utube

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[Michail Wilson]

Nice Richard.

Too bad they aren’t easily obtainable.  ☹

 

Michail Wilson

206-920-6312

 

From: neoni...@googlegroups.com <neoni...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Richard Scales
Sent: Tuesday, April 9, 2024 10:47 PM
To: neonixie-l <neoni...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [neonixie-l] SP-252 Smart Socket based device

 

If there was ever an example of over engineering then this must be it! Here we have 14 PCBs, 180 transistors, 360 resistors and 13 processors all working together to drive six SP-252 multi segment Panaplex displays using the Smart Socket circuit that was designed originally for B-7971 tubes.

It's taken quite some time to pull this all together, mostly because of all the SMD parts and my soldering skills - the resistors are 0603.

Regardless, the hardware is done, now working on the software to take advantage of 12 digits of alpha numeric neon.

Each display sits on its own PCB. Two Smart socket PCB's plug in to the back of the display board - one on top - one underneath - these then plug in to the backplane that has the power supplies, sensor and Wemos.

 

Time is NTP synced, at 30 seconds past each minute it will display (in a scrolling  or some other transitioning style):

 

The date - like" WEDNESDAY 10TH APRIL 2024"

or

Sensor Data which is temperature, humidity, pressure

or

One of 10 pre-defined text sequences

I plan to add a web gui to allow setting of the timezone and definition of the text messages to scroll at some point - Many thanks to Paul Andrews for his assistance with that. The thing now sits in a case and looks a lot more presentable - I'll get some pictures of that asap.

- Richard

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[Nick Andrews]

Well, if you can afford or find the Panaplex units, why not?  I have just a couple salvaged from things.  Since I know what they are, so glad they didn't get thrown away like so many of the old blue calculator/adding machine display tubes...

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[Robert]

Excellent work, I want one!

Rob

On 10 Apr 2024, at 07:05, Peter Hall <hall...@hotmail.com> wrote:



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[Paul Andrew Lafranchise]

Beautiful work! What kind of case do you have in mind for it? 

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[Richard Scales]

I have made one of my regular green tint acrylic + copper coloured corners and screws type of cases.

I keep trying to post pictures but I just get 'Message has been deleted' errors ?

If anyone would like to make one of these then I do have a small number of kits available with displays - please send me a PM.

 - Richard

[Richard Scales]

For some pictures see here: http://www.panaplex.co.uk/untitled-page-2023-08-29-045409/

 - Richard