IN-18 Nixie tubes with cathode poisoning

Petro Vodopyan

unread,

Feb 17, 2016, 2:56:38 PM2/17/16

to neoni...@googlegroups.com

Hello,

I have a few sets of six IN-18 nixie tubes with different level of cathode poisoning. Since some of you might be interested in buying them i decided to post this message here before listing them on ebay. I think that comparing to current prices, 230 USD per 6 tubes is a fair price. If anyone of you is interested and knows how to restore them - please PM me. I will be happy to provide you more photos.

A pair of pictures and demo video are attached. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyy1_lyFdUM

I apologize for posting advertisement message.

Thanks,

Petro

DSC_0051.JPG

DSC_0052.JPG

gregebert

unread,

Feb 17, 2016, 4:10:49 PM2/17/16

to neonixie-l

If it was cathode poisoning, wouldn't some digits illuminate properly ? The video shows all digits with issues, except a few '7'.

I seem to recall earlier postings about reliability issues with IN-18's manufactured in 1982.

In my junkbox, I have a few 5031 nixies that don't illuminate properly, and despite running them with higher current in an attempt to 'clean' them, they showed no improvement. I assumed mine were slowly leaking, because they are earlier-generation Burroughs tubes that preceded the legendary 5092's, which are very reliable.

Nicholas Stock

unread,

Feb 17, 2016, 4:18:04 PM2/17/16

to neoni...@googlegroups.com

Having tried to rejuvenate a couple of IN18's with cathode poisoning myself, it's not a given that'll it work....sometimes when a tube is done, it's done...

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to neoni...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/03a16f14-b6aa-49ff-be5a-998c1820fe89%40googlegroups.com.

For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

Greg P

unread,

Feb 17, 2016, 4:25:52 PM2/17/16

to neonixie-l

Even if they're not leaking, there's a LOT of hours of rejuvenation time, to get those back to normal.

Michael Seaton

unread,

Feb 25, 2016, 10:29:49 PM2/25/16

to neonixie-l

Yes, that's what I've seen. It can take hours or days to fix cathode poisoning and it can darken the glass. I'm not sure that in18's are worth the trouble, to me.

Unfortunately,some tubes don't seem to be fixable no matter how hard you try. I guess they're the leaky tubes or have a bad gas mixture.

Reply all

Reply to author

Forward