IN-18 versus Z5660M Nixie Tubes

[Dman777]

I am trying to decide between Z5660M and IN-18 tubes. I am new to all this and I was wondering if I could get some opinions, please:

1) I see by the measurements the size difference isn't very significant. Which are considered more attractive? And why?

2) Which are considered more rare/hard to find?

3) Are the Z5660M less prone to failure? 

[Nicholas Stock]

Ooh...that'll open up some discussion.

Here's my 2 cents having built clocks with both of them.

The IN-18's are larger but not by too much and have more elongated numerals. They are also a little cheaper than the Z5660M as far as I can see at the moment, but still around 35 to 40 dollars a tube! The Z566/5660M are a little rarer and some would argue that the digit shape is more aesthetically pleasing. With regards to failure, I've had more issues with Z566's than IN-18's but I don't think there's any significant difference between the two. I think the datasheet for IN-18's says 5 or 10,000 hrs lifetime, but I've ran tubes for a lot longer than that without any sign of degradation (make sure the clock you use has some form of cathode poisoning prevention, digit cycling etc).

Were you buying a kit to put these in or building a clock from scratch?

Nick

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[Dman777]

I was going to buy a kit for sure, I don't have the tools or room(1 room efficiency apt) to build one from scratch. 

I spoke to this one guy and he said that he had more failures with the IN-18 than the Z566, so that is why I asked question #3. 

Also, this other person told me that IN-18 have date stamps on the back of the tubes. Is this true? Seems like a good way to verify the date if I bought a IN-18. 

Thanks,

-Darin

[Nicholas Stock]

Yep, the IN-18's have date stamps. You'll probably pay a little more for those that are date coded in the late 80's early nineties...I think the 'youngest' IN-18's I've seen is 1992 and the oldest 1974. Apart from the Hg doping in the later date codes (no idea when that started), there's really no difference that I can tell...others on this list (Dieter!) will know a lot more about that...

There are some good kits out there for the larger tubes. PM me if you want any recommendations.

Nick

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[Dieter Waechter]

HI!

Yes, Nick ;-)

I'm already in contact with Darin.

I would say:

IN-18 and Z5660M are both wonderful and perfect Nixie tubes.

I like the IN-18 more - these are the best ever made (in my opinion).

And  they nearly last forever.

Yes, the older tubes before 1989 need a longer CP prevention. But they are also very very very good.

I have some running for about 10 years in continuous operation, and they are still bright as at the first day.

The reason is because they have sputtering windows. And the sputtering windows of the 10 year old tubes are heavily mirrored already.

Unfortunately my stock of high datecode tubes runs out soon.....

All the best

Dieter

 

 

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[Dalibor Farný]

Hi Dieter,

do You have more information about "sputtering windows"? I hear it for
the first time. I know that any hole significantly bigger then anode
screen holes let the sputtered particles to go through and deposit on
the glass (ZM1040/42 have small "window"), but I dont know whether it
has any real effect on lifetime of the nixie. Apart from that it
allows You to estimate (roughly) its age..

Can You compare deposit of mercury doped IN-18 and non-doped IN-18
after years of usage?

Thanks a lot,

Dalibor

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[Dieter Waechter]

Hi!

> do You have more information about "sputtering windows"? I hear it for
> the first time. I know that any hole significantly bigger then anode
> screen holes let the sputtered particles to go through and deposit on
> the glass

Yes, that's it.
See my first picture here:
http://www.tube-tester.com/sites/nixie/data/in18.htm
There you see the sputtering windows very good.
And these avoid darkening on the front of the tubes as you already wrote.
That's all.

> Can You compare deposit of mercury doped IN-18 and non-doped IN-18
> after years of usage?

All of these have been doped. All have giver pills. all have getters.
I think the amount of mercury is the same aswell since all show the same
bluespot ghost light with low Vkk.
MAYBE that means: They probably have changed the gas mixture. Not sure if I
am right with this thought.
But I did not care about that so much.
Dieter

PS: For all people of the group who wrote me and I did not answer: I'm very
sorry, at the moment I have no time to work on Nixie projects - I build a
house at the moment.... so very very little spare time.