IN-18 Blue Dream Nixie Clock available now!!!

[Dieter Waechter]

Hello Nixie Friends,
The new IN-18 Blue Dream Nixie Clock is finally available.
http://snipurl.com/224752n
I hope you like it and its great new features.
Thanks for all comments.

All the best
DIETER
http://www.nocrotec.com/

[Jeff Thomas]

On Feb 8, 12:59 pm, "Dieter Waechter" <i...@nocrotec.com> wrote:
> Hello Nixie Friends,

> The new IN-18 Blue Dream Nixie Clock is finally available.http://snipurl.com/224752n

> I hope you like it and its great new features.
> Thanks for all comments.
>
> All the best
> DIETERhttp://www.nocrotec.com/

Great Dieter,

"Easy Menu System" developed by Nocrotec. Not parameter controlled
user menu (like all other Nixie clocks), but "interactive" intelligent
user menu controlled by simple 3-button operation"

I hope this indicates you have resolved the menu assignment of your
earlier IN-18 clock model. I'd graciously repaired two IN-18 clocks
for your US customers, and they'd both commented that programming an
old VCR clock -blindfolded, was easier. ;)

Regards, Jeff

[Dieter Waechter]

Hi Jeff,
It looks like you mix it up with the IN-18 clocks sold from nixieclock.net,
right?
I never have sold a IN-18 Clock to USA.
But yes, the Menu structure is competely different and all customers who use
it tell that it is very good to use.
Dieter

[Mich...@aol.com]

Dieter,

 

Beautiful clock.

Unfortunately, spending $850 on a IN-18 clock is outside of my realm.

 

Looks great though.  :)

 

PS.  Had issues trying to actually get pricing through the website.  When I look for clock, it shows cost of $0.00.  Even reselected US dollar.  Added to cart.   Went to look for case (must buy tubes with it - uhhg), and it had shown US dollar amount, but when adding to cart (trying to find shipping amount), that it was a cart on the website, instead of the paypal cart that was used for the clock kit itself.   So, I thought the item was deleted and went back to add clock, which then had shown 2 clock kits and no case/bulb.  :(

 

I gave up realizing it was too expensive for me anyway.   Still, looks great though.

 

Michail

[Dan Hollis]

On Wed, 8 Feb 2012, Dieter Waechter wrote:
> Hello Nixie Friends,
> The new IN-18 Blue Dream Nixie Clock is finally available.
> http://snipurl.com/224752n
> I hope you like it and its great new features.
> Thanks for all comments.

Looks like a fantastic design, I especially like the fact it's direct
drive. No more ringing tubes!

But there doesn't seem to be any way to order it. There's no option to add
to cart, and price is "0,00 EUR".

-Dan

[Dieter Waechter]

Hello Michail,

> Unfortunately, spending $850 on a IN-18 clock is outside of my realm.

Check your maths....
US$197.98 + US$470.67 = US$668.65
It looks like you have calculated something wrong. (maybe incl VAT?!?!?)

> PS. Had issues trying to actually get pricing through the website. When
> I look for clock, it shows cost of $0.00. Even reselected US dollar.
> Added to cart.

No no. Where you were is the information site only.
scroll down and read how to get the right parts.

You need to order from me:
http://snipurl.com/2248nvp

and from claus:
http://snipurl.com/2248o3k

Very easy - try again.
Dieter

[Dieter Waechter]

HI Dan.

> But there doesn't seem to be any way to order it. There's no option to add
> to cart, and price is "0,00 EUR".

Where you were is the information site only.

[Mich...@aol.com]

So, I have to order from two different places.  That explains the two different "cart" issues.

 

"You need to order from me:
http://snipurl.com/2248nvp "

US$ 560.10 (incl. 19 % VAT) excl. Shipping costs<a href="http://www.nocrotec.com/shop/popup_content.php/coID/1"target=_blank">Shipping costs</a> | Shipping weight: 1.10 kg

 

and from claus:
http://snipurl.com/2248o3k

179,00 EUR
(incl. 19% tax excl. Shipping costs)

 

179e = 237dollar

 

That's $797 already.   I just figured out $50 shipping.

 

So, even with your links, I am still seeing $850

 

 

This is not a complaint.  I am just letting you know that dealing with the site, different carts put a bad taste in my mouth.  Basically a hint that when I want to buy something, I don't want to have to deal with multiple issues/sites just trying to get my cart loaded to pay.

 

Just a suggesting that it be made easier.  If I wanted my wife (so to speak) to buy it for me, she would have given up long before I did and just told me to buy it myself. 

Most people want a flat option:  product, price, add to cart, pay.

 

Michail

 

 

 

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[Dieter Waechter]

Hello Michael,

ah OK. You have added the VAT.

But VAT will not apply - since you are outside the EU, right?

Read at all my pages:

"Note: The price for this article is 19% less (no VAT) for customers outside the European Union (USA, Switzerland, Australia, Asia, ...)
Please register or log in to get the correct prices displayed at all pages! "

Now clear?

Dieter

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Mich...@aol.com

To: neoni...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 10:31 PM

Subject: Re: [neonixie-l] IN-18 Blue Dream Nixie Clock available now!!!

[Mich...@aol.com]

ok

[Dutchgray]

It looks really great, case finish is very nice, having to order
different parts of the same kit from two vendors makes this more
complicated to buy and obviously is going to double shipping costs,
and it is pretty expensive even if you have tubes already, it seems to
have every feature you could want and I like that its direct drive, I
have been waiting for a quality kit for a while as I have a set of
IN18 that need using but unfortunately I have just agreed to buy an
Omega f300 so just don't have the money to buy one currently, so I
will have to see what the funds are like in a few months and hope they
are not all sold.

[Mefistofelix]

This looks great !

 

How does it stack up against the fantastic DL1 ?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxhP6paGFFc

[Mich...@aol.com]

DL1 is an awesome clock.

 

I still have mine on order  (Hint: Lawrence!)

 

Michail

 

 

In a message dated 2/8/2012 2:56:05 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, markpe...@btinternet.com writes:

How does it stack up against the fantastic DL1 ?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxhP6paGFFc

--

[Cobra007]

I wonder where exactly the price of this clock comes from. You can buy
the Sven clock including GPS receiver for 200 euro.
http://nixiekits.eu/Sven.htm

The tubes will be a bit more expensive, but it still doesn't add up.

Michel

On Feb 9, 10:22 am, Micha...@aol.com wrote:
> DL1 is an awesome clock.
>
> I still have mine on order  (Hint: Lawrence!)
>
> Michail
>
> In a message dated 2/8/2012 2:56:05 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
>

> markpeters...@btinternet.com writes:
>
> How does it stack up against the fantastic DL1 ?
>

> _http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxhP6paGFFc_
> (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxhP6paGFFc)
> --

[jb-electronics]

Hi,

personally I think that the "IN-18 Blue Dream" and the "Sven" Nixie
clocks cannot be compared, for several reasons:

First, you already mentioned the IN-18 tubes, they are much more costy.
But this also poses a technological problem: While it is rather easy to
supply 12mA = 6 * 2mA for IN-14 tubes, IN-18 tubes are much more power
hungry. You cannot buy those SMPSs on Ebay (if you want your tube clock
to be quiet, that is).

Secondly, I think a stainless steel housing is much more expensive in
the making than laser-cut acrylic. Read the description, the surface
finish was developed exclusively for those clocks - I can only imagine
that this took quite some time to work out.

Also, Dieter's clock is battery buffered (we are talking about 10 years
here) and I did not see if "Sven" also is. For me, this will always be
the key argument for or against a clock. I do not like reprogramming a
clock every morning at the office when I turned it off the other evening.

I am not a clock-expert, I merely collect tubes, so I cannot really put
a price on clocks since I do not purchase them :-) All I can say is that
these two clocks are very different in their appearance and aim at quite
different buyers.

Best regards,
Jens

[Lucky]

I think it's a great clock stuffed full of features and would really
like one but I too think it is on the expensive side. 179 Euro (inc
tax I'm in the UK) just for the board kit + you have to buy the needed
transformer @24 Euro + the colons @19 Euro separately! Surely a
critical part (transformer) should be included in the basic kit?
Agreeing that Cobra007 is not comparing like for like the sven board
is still only 119 Euro WITH tubes or we could look at Konstantins
IN-18 board WITH tubes for 300 Euro.

I suppose Dieter has priced it to recoup his development costs
although the case is overpriced imho and I would not buy it, and as
for "the surface finish was developed exclusively for those clocks - I
can only imagine that this took quite some time to work out. " I think
you/we are getting carried away with the advertising spin after all
there is only so many finishes you can achieve and I'm sure this has
been done before somewhere. I don't mind being contradicted on the
finish but I would like to know what this "exclusive" finish is then

Nice clock, shame about the price, shame about the confusing multisite
ordering, it's impossible to even make up a barebones kit without
multiple ordering, something to consider.

[Dieter Waechter]

Hi,
yes that's right.
Note the protopype cases cost about 1000 EUR, the other parts, equipment,
programming, tools, about 4500 EUR.
I know that a acrylic case is fast, cheap and very easy to do.
But I reall NEVER would pack a IN-18 clock in a plastic case.
Dieter

[Nicholas Stock]

I'd have to disagree with you there Dieter, nothing wrong with acrylic cases for IN-18 clocks..

http://www.pvelectronics.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18&products_id=58

It wasn't cheap or easy to do either....;-)

Nick

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[Dieter Waechter]

OK, you are right, it's a matter of taste.

Dieter

[Jeff Thomas]

On Feb 9, 11:22 am, Nicholas Stock <nickst...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'd have to disagree with you there Dieter, nothing wrong with acrylic
> cases for IN-18 clocks..
>

> http://www.pvelectronics.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath...

>
> It wasn't cheap or easy to do either....;-)
>
> Nick
>

> On Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 9:27 AM, Dieter Waechter <i...@nocrotec.com> wrote:
> > Hi,
> > yes that's right.
> > Note the protopype cases cost about 1000 EUR, the other parts, equipment,
> > programming, tools, about 4500 EUR.
> > I know that a acrylic case is fast, cheap and very easy to do.
> > But I reall NEVER would pack a IN-18 clock in a plastic case.
> > Dieter
>

> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lucky" <dave.lucky.po...@gmail.com>

> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to neonixie-l+unsubscribe@**
> > googlegroups.com <neonixie-l%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com>.
> > For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/**
> > group/neonixie-l?hl=en-GB<http://groups.google.com/group/neonixie-l?hl=en-GB>
> > .

Uggh!
Sorry Nick, no disrespect intended.
That closed plastic coffin thing has been done to death.
I'd even produced something similar nine years ago with the GPSII in
all acrylic.

And while I'm on the rant; the techs who re-purpose those plastic
baseball boxes and little heirloom domes for a nixie clock cover are
in need of serious help ;)

Although I concur that Dieters work is pricey amongst the herd, he's
shown the best packaging ingenuity of the lot. Spanning the market
evolution since '04. In spite of that high cost, he obviously moves a
lot of these.

And the audiophools love a shiney blinkin' nixie display above their
shrine to thermionic emission, that requires cotton gloves to fondle.

Regards, Jeff

[Nicholas Stock]

Well, it is all a matter of taste...the pictures don't do it justice as the base is milled from a 1/2 inch block and the case rests over the base with nice cut outs on the back for the buttons and leads etc...but hey, it's not to everyone's tastes... ;-)

Nick

On Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 11:03 AM, Jeff Thomas <nixi...@gmail.com> wrote:

On Feb 9, 11:22 am, Nicholas Stock <nickst...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I'd have to disagree with you there Dieter, nothing wrong with acrylic
> cases for IN-18 clocks..
>

> http://www.pvelectronics.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath...

>
> It wasn't cheap or easy to do either....;-)
>
> Nick
>

> On Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 9:27 AM, Dieter Waechter <i...@nocrotec.com> wrote:
> > Hi,
> > yes that's right.
> > Note the protopype cases cost about 1000 EUR, the other parts, equipment,
> > programming, tools, about 4500 EUR.
> > I know that a acrylic case is fast, cheap and very easy to do.
> > But I reall NEVER would pack a IN-18 clock in a plastic case.
> > Dieter
>

> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lucky" <dave.lucky.po...@gmail.com>

> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to neonixie-l+unsubscribe@**
> > googlegroups.com <neonixie-l%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com>.

> > For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/**
> > group/neonixie-l?hl=en-GB<http://groups.google.com/group/neonixie-l?hl=en-GB>
> > .

Uggh!
Sorry Nick, no disrespect intended.
That closed plastic coffin thing has been done to death.
I'd even produced something similar nine years ago with the GPSII in
all acrylic.

And while I'm on the rant;  the techs who re-purpose those plastic
baseball boxes and little heirloom domes for a nixie clock cover are
in need of serious help ;)

Although I concurr that Dieters work is pricey amongst the herd, he's

shown the best packaging ingenuity of the lot. Spanning the market
evolution since '04. In spite of that high cost, he obviously moves a
lot of these.

And the audiophools love a shiney blinkin' nixie display above their
shrine to thermionic emission, that requires cotton gloves to fondle.

Regards, Jeff

The folks who repurpose baseball and heirloom domes for their clocks
fall into a separate category of their own ;)

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[Nicholas Stock]

You're not much of a fan of Hi-Fi Jeff? ;-)

On Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 11:03 AM, Jeff Thomas <nixi...@gmail.com> wrote:

On Feb 9, 11:22 am, Nicholas Stock <nickst...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I'd have to disagree with you there Dieter, nothing wrong with acrylic
> cases for IN-18 clocks..
>

> http://www.pvelectronics.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath...

>
> It wasn't cheap or easy to do either....;-)
>
> Nick
>

> On Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 9:27 AM, Dieter Waechter <i...@nocrotec.com> wrote:
> > Hi,
> > yes that's right.
> > Note the protopype cases cost about 1000 EUR, the other parts, equipment,
> > programming, tools, about 4500 EUR.
> > I know that a acrylic case is fast, cheap and very easy to do.
> > But I reall NEVER would pack a IN-18 clock in a plastic case.
> > Dieter
>

> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lucky" <dave.lucky.po...@gmail.com>

> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to neonixie-l+unsubscribe@**
> > googlegroups.com <neonixie-l%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com>.
> > For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/**
> > group/neonixie-l?hl=en-GB<http://groups.google.com/group/neonixie-l?hl=en-GB>
> > .

Uggh!
Sorry Nick, no disrespect intended.
That closed plastic coffin thing has been done to death.
I'd even produced something similar nine years ago with the GPSII in
all acrylic.

And while I'm on the rant;  the techs who re-purpose those plastic
baseball boxes and little heirloom domes for a nixie clock cover are
in need of serious help ;)

Although I concurr that Dieters work is pricey amongst the herd, he's
shown the best packaging ingenuity of the lot. Spanning the market
evolution since '04. In spite of that high cost, he obviously moves a
lot of these.

And the audiophools love a shiney blinkin' nixie display above their
shrine to thermionic emission, that requires cotton gloves to fondle.

Regards, Jeff




The folks who repurpose baseball and heirloom domes for their clocks
fall into a separate category of their own ;)

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[Dieter Waechter]

Thanks for your words, Jeff.
All of us in out little Nixie "family" inspire each other.
Dieter

[Jeff Thomas]

On Feb 9, 12:10 pm, Nicholas Stock <nickst...@gmail.com> wrote:
> You're not much of a fan of Hi-Fi Jeff? ;-)

Dang, you caught me...

We recently replaced the "Symphonic" brand AM/FM receiver, clad in the
finest Asian hardwood, with simulated woodgrain vinyl veneer.
:))

Seriously though, it's hard to have anything too nice that'll survive
daily use by a bunch of small kids.


Regards, Jeff

[Cobra007]

It has become apparent to me that you can not judge someone else's
design on your own taste. I think the features of the clock are
superior and there is probably nothing wrong with the electronic
design either. Just a thought, why didn't you incorporate an ambient
light sensor to automatically dim the tubes or even turn them off in
(almost) complete darkness?

The stainless case, IMO is not that great, the finish is nice but the
shape is not doing it for me. Having said that, it does look better
than the acrylic one that Nick showed us.

The costs you mention sound a bit steep to me unless you included the
hours it took you guys to develop it. If this is your way of making a
living, that is totally fair, if it is a hobby project, I wouldn't
include the developing hours into the cost price.

Anyway, it's still a nice clock to look at.

Michel

[Cobra007]

On Feb 9, 8:43 pm, jb-electronics <webmas...@jb-electronics.de> wrote:
> Hi,

>
> this also poses a technological problem: While it is rather easy to
> supply 12mA = 6 * 2mA for IN-14 tubes, IN-18 tubes are much more power
> hungry. You cannot buy those SMPSs on Ebay (if you want your tube clock
> to be quiet, that is).
>

> Best regards,
> Jens
>

I just came across this one Jens, you might be interested in it. A
very tiny and cheap 180V power supply delivering 64mA. You could drive
10 of these IN-18 tubes.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Nixie-power-supply-1363-/320831452311?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab30b7497#ht_500wt_1413

Best regards,
Michel

[John Rehwinkel]

> I just came across this one Jens, you might be interested in it. A
> very tiny and cheap 180V power supply delivering 64mA. You could drive
> 10 of these IN-18 tubes.

Those are rock solid supplies, too. Our own jt makes them. As far as I'm concerned, they're unbeatable for the size and price.

- John

[Dieter Waechter]

Michael,
I have these supplies here on my workbench.
It can not drive 10 IN-18 Nixie tubes and it rings, overheats, and the first
blew up after 20 seconds.
(Sorry John)
John was helpful solving that problems, and send a new one, but this also
rings.
So it would ablsolutely NOT work for what I had in mind when I designed the
new power supply.
BUT: John makes very good other push pull power supplies, which work,
guranteed. Noiseless and with high efficiency. But these have been too
expensive for the project, also in large quantity.
Dieter

[Terry Kennedy]

On Feb 9, 11:49 pm, "Dieter Waechter" <i...@nocrotec.com> wrote:
> I have these supplies here on my workbench.
> It can not drive 10 IN-18 Nixie tubes and it rings, overheats, and the first
> blew up after 20 seconds.
> (Sorry John)
> John was helpful solving that problems, and send a new one, but this also
> rings.

Just as another data point, the MOD-6 clock uses the horizontal
version (1364) of that supply and it can light all 15 segments of 6
B7971 tubes at the same time and runs quite cool. Granted, this clock
uses PWM drive so not all segments are actually on all the time.

I've also subjected one of the 1364's to various indignities including
shorting the output, powering it from a failing 12V wall wart and so
on, and it has behaved flawlessly.

I wouldn't hesitate to use it in one of my own future designs.

[jb-electronics]

Hi Michel,

> I just came across this one Jens, you might be interested in it. A
> very tiny and cheap 180V power supply delivering 64mA. You could drive
> 10 of these IN-18 tubes.

yes, I know it, that is why I wrote "(if you want your tube clock to be
quiet, that is)". ;-)

Jens

[Cobra007]

>
> yes, I know it, that is why I wrote "(if you want your tube clock to be
> quiet, that is)". ;-)
>
> Jens

ok, I guess I overlooked that bit in all my enthusiasm :-).

That brings me up to an interesting question. You may design a HVPS
that is quiet for human ears, but it may well be "loud" for dogs and/
or cats. Has anybody ever noticed their pet behaves differently when
the clock is switched on? Or maybe it avoids coming to close to it?

Michel

[jb-electronics]

Actually, that would be quite a nice feature - pets are known to kill
Nixie tubes for fun ;-)

Jens

[Cobra007]

Well, maybe they kill them because they find the noise very annoying!
Do they behave the same if the tubes come off a standard 50/60Hz power
source?

You could install an ultrasonic audio source close to the clock and
see if they stay away from it (or perhaps become more aggressive).

Michel



On Feb 10, 8:47 pm, jb-electronics <webmas...@jb-electronics.de>
wrote:

[Terry S]

Well my two cats live with a plethora of switching power supply noise,
from various nixie clocks and other sources, and it doesn't seem to
bother them a bit... although one has kidney disease and the other is
fat as a pig....

[Mich...@aol.com]

Strange.  You and I have the SAME two cats.

Fat one named Jurell?

I know the cats hear well, because they respond erratically simply by saying the word - Eat!

 

Nixie noise doesn't show an affect on my cats; however, each time I get a new one, my wife says, "Oh Gawd".  Fortunately for me, the effect wears off quickly.

 

Michail

[Quixotic Nixotic]

On 9 Feb 2012, at 19:06, Jeff Thomas wrote:

> And while I'm on the rant; the techs who re-purpose those plastic
> baseball boxes and little heirloom domes for a nixie clock cover
> are in need of serious help ;)

Thank you for offering Jeff, because in the UK I cannot find those
baseball boxes at a sensible price anywhere here and I sure could use
some help sourcing some cheapies. So good of you to offer. Mind you
I've not seen one in the flesh. Are they horrible styrene jobbies
with visible seam lines?

Sometimes I think it's all a matter of not what you have but how you
use it. It so happens I need some good acrylic cubes. These used to
be sold as cube picture frames, but it seems that craze ended in the
1970s. I have a few, but they are a bit big and I don't like the
quality so much. I like the chunky acrylic boxes MUJI do but nothing
they sell is quite right for a nixie clock. The quality is good and
they don't have that awful 3 degree release angle that just says
'cheap tacky injection moulded box'.

Heirloom doom, I mean dome, also appeals to me for some ideas. I
found some at a sale with horrible glass 'planes in them, which I
dremelled off as they were welded onto the top of the glass dome. Yet
to build a light-up clock inside them, but one day I might.

Generally I agree with you, a rectangular slab of whatever, whether
it be high grade machined whatever or expensive whatever, with six
tubes poking out of it does not float my boat, but some people like
and expect that so I am sure that approach remains very popular.

Personally I want to get into more organic shaped housings, but I
cannot yet afford either to have them made by Shapeways or to build a
decent enough RepRap machine to squirt them out myself. So I am
thinking scratch-build, elbow-grease, traditional plaster or silicone
moulds, GRP and other highly toxic methods.

I have Catmull-Clark subdivision surface 3D computer modelling down
to a fine art now, so I am waiting until the output technology and I
can meet somewhere where I can afford to interface with it. On my
deathbed probably.

Generally it is all good fun and nixies look so great they are a
wonder to behold, just wire those Doreens up and enjoy them. They
don't do a lot just sitting in a box and you might be dead next week.

John S

[marcin]

Certainly this one http://www.instructables.com/id/Lantern-Clock/ is
not square!