8971/7971 clocks

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Nicholas Stock

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Mar 30, 2019, 4:51:36 PM3/30/19
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Gratuitous Nixie Porn.

IMG_0402.jpg

The wireless PIR is great.

Nice job Carl and Michael, lovely clocks.

Kevin A.

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Mar 30, 2019, 6:13:52 PM3/30/19
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Agreed!

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gregebert

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Mar 31, 2019, 12:34:19 AM3/31/19
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7971_2.jpg

7971_3.jpg

7971_1.jpg

Some poor-quality photos....Every 30 seconds, the day and the date are displayed for a few seconds each. Since there are 8 tubes, the day is displayed as WEDNESDY.
Time permitting, I will add a snarky message-of-the-day.

The case is handmade from pine and cedar, then buffed to a shiny appearance. (ie, no stain or finish), and a PIR sensor activates it for 100seconds. Controlled by a RaspberryPi, it automatically gets date/time info from the internet.

There's a short video of it while it was under construction, when it had 6 tubes operating, and no colons, posted here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjQeW67viXw 



Bill Notfaded

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Mar 31, 2019, 1:25:51 PM3/31/19
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I really like those 8971's... Never see those anywhere.

Greg P

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Mar 31, 2019, 7:32:05 PM3/31/19
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Nice pic Nick!  

Carl and Michael did do a fantastic job on these pieces.  I'm enjoying mine and really loving the Black Emerald.  Nice to finally see the 8971's lit up.

I have 4 clocks tied to my Wireless PIR.

Bill Notfaded

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Mar 31, 2019, 7:39:11 PM3/31/19
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I'm still waiting for my black emerald 7971... But it's neat seeing the 8971 on the base.  I'll put my black emerald next to my V2 8-08 and retire it's GPS extender to storage.  I suppose the new wireless PIR I'm getting won't work with my older mod-six will it?  I know the GPS will work with both Michael told me so.  I'm not sure about the PIR though?

Really love those smaller alpha numerics though!  Nice find on those bulbs!  I read you going them in New York right?

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Greg P

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Mar 31, 2019, 10:33:54 PM3/31/19
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Which version of the CPU board is on your V2 MOD-SIX?  Pretty sure you need to have the revision without the PS/2 connector installed and a version of the firmware that added PIR functionality. 

I'm sure Michael or Carl can confirm.



On Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 7:39:11 PM UTC-4, Bill Notfaded wrote:
I'm still waiting for my black emerald 7971... But it's neat seeing the 8971 on the base.  I'll put my black emerald next to my V2 8-08 and retire it's GPS extender to storage.  I suppose the new wireless PIR I'm getting won't work with my older mod-six will it?  I know the GPS will work with both Michael told me so.  I'm not sure about the PIR though?

Really love those smaller alpha numerics though!  Nice find on those bulbs!  I read you going them in New York right?

On Sun, Mar 31, 2019, 4:32 PM 'Greg P' via neonixie-l <neoni...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
Nice pic Nick!  

Carl and Michael did do a fantastic job on these pieces.  I'm enjoying mine and really loving the Black Emerald.  Nice to finally see the 8971's lit up.

I have 4 clocks tied to my Wireless PIR.




On Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 4:51:36 PM UTC-4, Pramanicin wrote:
Gratuitous Nixie Porn.

IMG_0402.jpg

The wireless PIR is great.

Nice job Carl and Michael, lovely clocks.

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Nick

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Apr 1, 2019, 2:22:34 AM4/1/19
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Nice Stirling engine too...

Nicholas Stock

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Apr 1, 2019, 10:28:17 AM4/1/19
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:-)

I finally broke down and bought a piece from Wayne Strattman....lovely 4 ft plasma tube. I do love some physics based ‘toys’...

The sterling engine is from Bohm....they make really nice kits, but a little pricey.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 31, 2019, at 23:22, Nick <gerbilp...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Nice Stirling engine too...
>
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Paul Andrews

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Apr 1, 2019, 11:23:07 AM4/1/19
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Wow. His stuff is like Chihuly, but with life!


On Monday, April 1, 2019 at 10:28:17 AM UTC-4, Pramanicin wrote:
:-)

I finally broke down and bought a piece from Wayne Strattman....lovely 4 ft plasma tube. I do love some physics based ‘toys’...

The sterling engine is from Bohm....they make really nice kits, but a little pricey.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 31, 2019, at 23:22, Nick <gerbilp...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Nice Stirling engine too...
>
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Nicholas Stock

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Apr 1, 2019, 11:34:25 AM4/1/19
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I had to look him up....what a talent!

Sent from my iPhone
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gregebert

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Apr 1, 2019, 11:54:35 AM4/1/19
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Strattman authored a good book on neon design (Neon Techniques); recommended reading.

Terry Kennedy

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Apr 1, 2019, 5:40:58 PM4/1/19
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On Sunday, March 31, 2019 at 7:39:11 PM UTC-4, Bill Notfaded wrote:
I'm still waiting for my black emerald 7971... But it's neat seeing the 8971 on the base.  I'll put my black emerald next to my V2 8-08 and retire it's GPS extender to storage.  I suppose the new wireless PIR I'm getting won't work with my older mod-six will it?  I know the GPS will work with both Michael told me so.  I'm not sure about the PIR though?

The wireless PIR requires firmware V9 to work. However, firmware V9 can be installed on any MOD-SIX CPU that has an RF module (everything except the very first CPU). Note that V9 firmware removes support for hardwired PS/2 GPS receivers.

There can be some interactions when operating the wireless PIR with multiple clocks on the same channel, baud rate, and address. The "ack" that the clock sends back to the wireless PIR will probably be garbled by additional clock(s) sending acks at the same time. However, the wireless PIR doesn't really care about those acks (if configured for LED flashes on transmitted and ack-ed packets, you'll probably get red flashes instead of green due to the garbled acks). However, it is recommended to turn off all LED display on the wireless PIR to extend the lifetime of the coin cell battery.

Which reminds me - I really should finish the updates to the manual 8-}

Bill Notfaded

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Apr 1, 2019, 11:44:13 PM4/1/19
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I could live without the ps2 port on mine.  I may have to you'd it to v9 after I get my new clock... It's shipped Michael sent the USPS tracking number Sunday night so it's coming really soon!

Hey I got Jin Jin's single digit B-7971 clock.  I've been playing with it a little.  I need to put a battery in it so it doesn't lose it's settings when I unplug it.  It's got different digit fades, fonts, RGB LED and color effects like breathing.  Pretty cool for a single digit clock.  If he'd just add some text it'd be way cool.



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Kevin A.

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Apr 5, 2019, 10:40:25 PM4/5/19
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Finished the enclosure for my 7971 clock today, thought I'd share. Nixie eye candy! 

On Sat, Mar 30, 2019, 4:51 PM Nicholas Stock <nick...@gmail.com> wrote:
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Kevin A.

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Apr 5, 2019, 10:41:10 PM4/5/19
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Close up
20190405_174443.jpg

Bill Notfaded

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Apr 5, 2019, 10:54:36 PM4/5/19
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How did you make that cover?  I still need a new one for same type clock like yours with the knob on the side... Just curious that looks great!

Bill

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Kevin A.

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Apr 5, 2019, 11:14:34 PM4/5/19
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The cover is made from 1/4" thick cast acrylic. The interior dimensions of the box are 19.25" length, 3.0" width, and 6" high (I used 1/2" high standoffs for the boards). This should fit around the standard MOD-SIX circuits with a little wiggle room. I would measure myself just to be safe. 

Each of the 5 sides are first laser cut from a larger sheet. The edges are flame polished, then welded using acrylic cement. This gives the edges a clean look when assembled. I don't have the tools at home to do this nice of a job, so I had the box made professionally, then milled out the slots myself for the knob and power connection. 

The company I used is https://www.shoppopdisplays.com. I supplied them with the interior dimensions and wall thickness, and they did a really nice job making the box and packaging it. It costed a few bucks but it was done clean and right, the first time. Maybe when I can afford a big ol' laser cutter I'll be able to crank my own out! 

MichaelB

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Apr 6, 2019, 10:58:44 AM4/6/19
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Kevin, Like the look of the beefy Acrylic base! Maybe some sexy little cap nuts on top of those studs?

On Friday, April 5, 2019 at 7:41:10 PM UTC-7, Kevin A. wrote:
Close up

On Fri, Apr 5, 2019, 10:40 PM Kevin A. <ka...@scarletmail.rutgers.edu> wrote:
Finished the enclosure for my 7971 clock today, thought I'd share. Nixie eye candy! 

On Sat, Mar 30, 2019, 4:51 PM Nicholas Stock <nick...@gmail.com> wrote:
Gratuitous Nixie Porn.

IMG_0402.jpg

The wireless PIR is great.

Nice job Carl and Michael, lovely clocks.

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Kevin A.

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Apr 6, 2019, 11:57:46 AM4/6/19
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Thanks Mike! That's a good idea; all about the little details right? 

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