Modern Nixie tube drivers
Jens Boos
well, I have had it with the Russian driver ics... Have only about 20
left, and for my next project I would be needing quite a lot of these.
And what I really dislike about these is that you can only select one
output at a time. So I was thinking it might be time to move on ;-)
I read on Mikes website (http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/
nixie_sources.html) that the Supertex chips are quite nice, and I know
that many others use these chips in their clocks, as well.
But I am quite confused. Which chip is the one for me? I can not
solder SMD, so I need the 44 pin PLCC versions that can easily be used
with a socket in 2.54mm format.
But other than that, there are sooo many HV driver ics. Is there a
chip that you can recommend? (I'd like to drive primitive IN-14 at
180V or so).
Best regards,
Jens
M.J.Sangster
5 volt supply chip that is available in a 28 pin DIP package. It has
20 outputs, so it can drive 2 tubes in direct mode, or 6 tube (2 X 3)
multiplexed. Also, it uses a lot less power than the nixie TTL driver
IC's.
It works well. I have a schematic of my multiplexed design at:
http://www.coldwarcreations.com/nixieclk3.html at the bottom of the
page under "how it works".
- Michael Sangster
will
solder.
On Feb 14, 9:31 am, "M.J.Sangster" <mjs...@coldwarcreations.com>
wrote:
Adam Jacobs
freehanded with the samples. :) Doesn't cost anything to try out their
parts and see what you think.
-Adam
will
Adam Jacobs
the drawer that I sampled at one point and have never even looked into
seriously using. The fact that they are SPI is really exciting, since my
preferred uC is the ATTiny2313. Even a direct-drive clock would be
possible on the ATTiny2313, no shift register IC's required. :)
-Adam
David Forbes
I find that the TI SN75468 or the Toshiba TD62084 Darlington driver
arrays work just fine. They cost about 1/4 the price of a Supertex chip,
and come in DIP form so they're easy to use.
They need a Zener diode and resistor to hold the commutator diode pin at
~50V.
--
David Forbes, Tucson AZ
http://www.cathodecorner.com/
will
samples. However, since I have a legitimate potential production
usage, I was able to get some.
Neil Stainton
> Interesting... That's why Atmel is my favorite.
I've found Atmel one of the worst. They immediately passed my requests
to a distributor to handle.
I don't bother with samples much, but both Microchip and TI seem to have
a much better attitude.
will
I use them exclusively, no PICs or propellers or anything. I've looked
at the microchip and TI sample programs, I seem to remember that
microchip required a corporate email address and TI had nothing useful
available in DIP (it may have been the other way around).
On Feb 15, 10:32 am, "Neil Stainton" <neil.s.mailingli...@imap.cc>
wrote:
Jens Boos
thank you all for your ideas. I think I might go for the HV5812 (20
channels) or HV9708 (32 channels) from Supertex, they are both very
neat chips indeed, although quite pricy. (I prefer these chips over
mere driver chips since they have a shift register built in.)
It is not so easy to get these, are there other sources than Mouser?
Best whishes
Jens
Adam Jacobs
Jens, if Supertex won't sample you any (because you live in faraway parts), I will be happy to send you some of mine. They've been doing nothing but sitting in a drawer waiting for a good use. I have 5 HV5522PJ's in PLCC & 5 HV5812P's in DIP. Let me know.
-Adam
jb-electronics
just checked the HV5812 datasheet and it says maximum current is 1mA. Is
that really enough? I mean, most Nixie tubes suck at least 1.5 to 2mA..
Jens
will
flow is if the HV5812 pin is pulled low, the important specification
is Isink, which is rated at 3.5mA. Remember that we are using the
HV5812 to pull the cathodes to ground to turn on a number.
On Feb 21, 2:45 pm, jb-electronics <webmas...@jb-electronics.de>
wrote:
jb-electronics
that makes sense, but I guess you would still run into trouble when
trying to drive ZM1040 at 4.5mA.. I guess the HV9708 is a better choice
in that case.
Jens
Adam Jacobs
Sure, Jens. I'll email you directly with the postage/paypal information.
-Adam
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Adam Jacobs
I think that the HV518 is another source driver (designed for driving VFD's). As I've mentioned before, I know nothing about these chips.. I'm very excited to hear the results from all of this experimentation.
I'm actually most interested in the HV5182 as a VFD driver. My usual chip, the MAX6921 is only available in PLCC & SOIC.. a DIP package would be much appreciated. Also, Will, sparkfun makes some dandy SOIC & SSOP breakout boards. Not the ideal solution, but it can keep you from needing to reject a part based on package.
-Adam
The 5522 only comes in SMD though. How about the HV518? I can't seem
to find that specification, and I ordered some. It's nice because it
comes in DIP and has 32 channels.
will
Also, I think you are right, most of these chips were intended as
source drivers, but I imagine they will probably work for sinking at
the low currents we need.
I'll probably build a VFD clock with spare parts at some point here,
so having some of these supertex drivers around could be handy.
will
to find that specification, and I ordered some. It's nice because it
comes in DIP and has 32 channels.
> It looks to me like the HV5812 is really designed to be a HV source driver
> (Like for VFD's?), whereas the HV5522 is a sink driver. (Disclaimer: I know
> nothing about these chips apart from what I've gleaned of the datasheets in
> a handful of minutes.) :D
>
> Sure, Jens. I'll email you directly with the postage/paypal information.
>
> -Adam
>
jb-electronics
well, I will check the drivers with a small tube (like IN-17, or IN-16)
and then I will also try to drive larger ones (ZM1040), since that is
really of interest I guess. (But I know the HV9708 has to work with
ZM1040 because Dieter uses that chip in his clocks with ZM1040 tubes)
But I have to admit, I never really thought about these drivers so much.
I always figured they were open collector (or open drain which is
basically the same idea), so they were simple "switches" that enabled
current to flow from the +HV to GND. So these are "sink drivers" in this
terminology.
What is the main difference compared to source drivers? Can these
actually supply the HV? I.e. the sink drivers basically short the
circuit (build a connection) but the source drivers provide +HV on an
active pin? In this case, they should work as Nixie tube drivers, but
inverted, given the high voltage supplied on the driver's pin is higher
than the supply voltage minus ignition voltage of the Nixie tube.
Because if the pin was at GND potential, fine, the Nixie tube glows, and
if it is at HV (more than supply voltage minus ignition) the tube does
not ignite.
And what about these push/pull drivers? Looking at the block diagrams it
appears they are some sort of combination of these two. They can
actively sink but can also supply HV.
Did any of that make sense? ;-)
Best regards,
Jens
Am 22.02.2011 07:13, schrieb will:
> Those PLCC to DIP adapters are pretty expensive!
>
> Also, I think you are right, most of these chips were intended as
> source drivers, but I imagine they will probably work for sinking at
> the low currents we need.
>
> I'll probably build a VFD clock with spare parts at some point here,
> so having some of these supertex drivers around could be handy.
>
> On Feb 21, 11:29 pm, Adam Jacobs<a...@jacobs.us> wrote:
>> The HV5522 is available in PLCC package, you can buy DIP sockets for PLCC.
>>
>> I think that the HV518 is another source driver (designed for driving
>> VFD's). As I've mentioned before, I know nothing about these chips.. I'm
>> very excited to hear the results from all of this experimentation.
>>
>> I'm actually most interested in the HV5182 as a VFD driver. My usual chip,
>> the MAX6921 is only available in PLCC& SOIC.. a DIP package would be much
>> appreciated. Also, Will, sparkfun makes some dandy SOIC& SSOP breakout
Adam Jacobs
will
DIP adapters seem to cost around $20 or more.
On Feb 22, 10:21 am, Adam Jacobs <a...@jacobs.us> wrote:
> 62 cents?
>
> http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/3M-Electronic-Solutions-Division/...
Adam Jacobs
version, you're right.
Here is the .1" version (63cents):
On 2/22/2011 8:44 AM, Adam Jacobs wrote:
> Trust me, I've used these sockets. It is a through-hole component
> suitable for vectorboard. I don't know how it will work on breadboard,
> but vectorboard (.1") is fine.
>
> -Adam
Adam Jacobs
suitable for vectorboard. I don't know how it will work on breadboard,
but vectorboard (.1") is fine.
-Adam
On 2/22/2011 8:31 AM, will wrote:
will
may have to use that at some point.
How long did your samples from supertex take to arrive?
threeneurons
> > component suitable for vectorboard.
http://portal.fciconnect.com/Comergent//fci/drawing/54020.pdf
Plug your PLCC in the top of the socket, and insert the socket in the
a 0.1" pitch grid of holes.
I have used them myself in the past. My 1st experience with surface
mount, on PCBs*, was around 1985. Before that, the highest pin count
was the 40-pin DIP. Motorola had the 68000 in a 64-pin DIP for a
while, but that didn't last. PLCCs and PGA (pin grid array, not
programmable gate array) came in to address the higher pin count. PGAs
were thru-hole, while PLCC was surface mount. But shortly thereafter,
sockets that could accommodate the PLCC, but plug into a PGA footprint
appeared. These are those sockets; still available.
*Surface mount technology was used on 'hybrid circuits' long before
someone decided to stick one directly onto a PCB. I've seen chip
capacitors mounted onto a ceramic hybrid substrate as far back as
1973, and that was on an obsolete reject assembly, so it was probably
used as early as the 60s.
will
How long did it take you to receive your supertex sample units?
Adam Jacobs
However, most samples seem to arrive in the 1-2 weeks timeframe..
As I mentioned earlier, if the IC you're wanting to use is not available in PLCC or DIP, you can still pick up one of the nifty breakout boards that Sparkfun offers for a few bucks each. I've used them before on things like the AD725 and FM25640 where the only package is SOIC or SSOP.
I do _all_ of my hobby electronics on vector board, so everything needs to get to a through-hole mount for me to use it. Someday I plan to figure out the PCB printing end of the hobby (I even have a copy of "Build Your Own Printed Circuit Board")... Just haven't managed to shoe-horn that sub-hobby in between the amateur radio (with its own sub-hobbies.. tube transceiver repair especially) and the photography (with its own sub-hobbies... you can't imagine how many hours I spend in a darkroom) yet.. but someday I'm sure I will get to it.
http://www.sparkfun.com/categories/20?sort_by=price_asc&per_page=50
-Adam
will
the chemicals, board, equipment, etc. that I would need to start
printing PCBs, I would probably lack the time and the attention span
to get it done (at least without sacrificing something else I'm
already doing). I wish I had a long holiday, I can get an amazing
amount done in a few free days.
Rick
Hash: SHA1
On 2/22/2011 8:52 AM, Adam Jacobs wrote:
> Oops (red face of shame)... I accidentally linked the .05" pitch version, you're
> right.
> Here is the .1" version (63cents):
>
> http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/ADAM-TECH/PLCC-28-AT-SMT/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMs%2fSh%2fkjph1tvt1%2fmEPT%2fXom%252bJvDjmkkq8%3d
>
>
> On 2/22/2011 8:44 AM, Adam Jacobs wrote:
>> Trust me, I've used these sockets. It is a through-hole component suitable for
>> vectorboard. I don't know how it will work on breadboard, but vectorboard
>> (.1") is fine.
>>
>> -Adam
>>
I've used these and they work fine - problem is, not much I'm interested
in is available in PLCC. Picked up a bunch of obsolete Xilinx CPLDs in
a PLCC44 package but they're really not good for much.
And all modern FPGAs and a lot of the more advanced processors are in
BGA format which is hopeless for home manufacture :-(
- Rick
r...@ece.pdx.edu
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will
showed me that he had countless PLCC adapters he had planned to use
for classes that used FPGAs (I guess the students soldered the boards
or something?), but they were just sitting around because they got a
grant for a bunch of Xilinx Virtex-5s, which of course simply have
tons of BGA pins.
On Feb 22, 11:31 pm, Rick <r...@ece.pdx.edu> wrote:
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
>
> On 2/22/2011 8:52 AM, Adam Jacobs wrote:
>
> > Oops (red face of shame)... I accidentally linked the .05" pitch version, you're
> > right.
> > Here is the .1" version (63cents):
>
> > On 2/22/2011 8:44 AM, Adam Jacobs wrote:
> >> Trust me, I've used these sockets. It is a through-hole component suitable for
> >> vectorboard. I don't know how it will work on breadboard, but vectorboard
> >> (.1") is fine.
>
> >> -Adam
>
> I've used these and they work fine - problem is, not much I'm interested
> in is available in PLCC. Picked up a bunch of obsolete Xilinx CPLDs in
> a PLCC44 package but they're really not good for much.
>
> And all modern FPGAs and a lot of the more advanced processors are in
> BGA format which is hopeless for home manufacture :-(
>
> - Rick
>
> r...@ece.pdx.edu
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
> Version: GnuPG v1.4.11 (MingW32)
JohnK
Ball Grid Arrays don't have to be useless for home . If time isn't an issue
and money is or it is just some fun,,, [or it is only avail BGA etc] just
flip the pack and glue it down. Treat it like COB [chip-on-board] and wire
each dot with solder-thru enammeled copper wire. Mount on vector or a
carrier etc. Slime it with neutral-cure if you are likely to trash the
connections.
John K
Australia
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick" <r...@ece.pdx.edu>
......clip.....
Rick
Hash: SHA1
Sounds interesting - is there a pic of this?
Thanks,
- Rick
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JohnK
JohnK
http://koti.mbnet.fi/jahonen/Electronics/Stuff/BGA_rework.jpg
jk
----- Original Message -----
From: "JohnK" <yen...@internode.on.net>
....clip....
See that version with BIG wires.
...clip....
jb-electronics
display ;-)
http://www.jb-electronics.de/images/elektronik/digital/d_lauf3/bild4.jpg
Jens
David Forbes
> I've used these and they work fine - problem is, not much I'm interested
> in is available in PLCC. Picked up a bunch of obsolete Xilinx CPLDs in
> a PLCC44 package but they're really not good for much.
>
> And all modern FPGAs and a lot of the more advanced processors are in
> BGA format which is hopeless for home manufacture :-(
>
> - Rick
PLCCs are rather obsolete. I use TSSOPs and QFPs, since they can be
soldered at home with a standard 1mm tip soldering iron and
water-soluble flux.
Xilinx and Altera still make FPGAs in QFP packages up to 200 pins. I'm
currently designing a couple boards using the Spartan 3E series. I will
solder all the FPGAs myself.
My newest and most exotic PC board design is a flex board with tiny QFN
parts, but it will be assembled by machines. 60,000 LEDs on an overcoat.
Should attract a bit of attention.
--
David Forbes, Tucson AZ
http://www.cathodecorner.com/
will
mjrippe
colors make troubleshooting a LOT easier 8-}
Mike
On Feb 23, 8:00 am, jb-electronics <webmas...@jb-electronics.de>
wrote:
> display ;-)
>
> http://www.jb-electronics.de/images/elektronik/digital/d_lauf3/bild4.jpg
>
> Jens
>
> Am 23.02.2011 13:00, schrieb JohnK:
>
> > Oops ! Sry bout that- here is the link.
>
> >http://koti.mbnet.fi/jahonen/Electronics/Stuff/BGA_rework.jpg
>
> > jk
>
chuck richards
Tisk. Tisk.
Chuck
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