Arduino Nixie Tube Clock - Version 1.0

Intro: Arduino Nixie Tube Clock - Version 1.0

Love retrotech? Think nixie tubes are totally rad, and you want to make a thing out of them? Well, have I got news for you! You're in luck - because that's exactly what we're going to do!

You will need the following for the clock itself:

• 1x Arduino Uno (or clone like this)
• 4x Arduino Compatible Nixie Tube Modules (find them here) (or usually found here)
• Male to Male and Male to Female Wire (buy some of these if you don't have any)
• .18 AWG Wire - stranded is best, solid also works (like this)
• Header Pins - you'll need this for the .18 wire to make a solid connection to the nixie modules (like this)
• 1x 5V 2A DC Power Adapter (like this)
• 1x Terminal strip (like this)
• 1x ChronoDot RTC Module (like this)

Optionally, you can build a simple box to enclose your clock! This tutorial will not go over that - but I will give you some tips at the end.

You can find links to the code on my github project page, here.

Let's begin!

CREDIT
Original Hardware design: Yan Zeyuan

Original Library design: Weihong Guan

Initial Code Tweaks: Bob Edmiston

STEP 1: Preparing Power Supply & Wires

1. Take the 5V 2A DC Power Adapter, and strip off the ends exposing the wire.
2. Screw them into the terminal strip, clearly distinguishing between positive and negative.
3. Strip 2 .18 gauge wires on both ends. On one side, solder some male header pins. These will be used to carry enough power to our power-hungry arduino nixie modules.
4. Attach the .18 gauge wire and a male to male wire on the other side of the terminal strip for both positive and negative - so wires on the positive screw, and 2 wires on the negative screw. (see picture above).
5. Plug the DC Power Adapter into the wall, and test the voltage using your favorite multimeter. You should have ~5V. Make sure your polarity is correct.

STEP 2: Connecting Arduino Components

To avoid potential damage to your components - please be sure at this point that everything is completely unplugged from power sources, as well as USB.

• Attach wires from Arduino to ChronoDot.
  • A4 <--> SDA
  • A5 <--> SCL
  • 5V <--> VCC
  • GND <--> GND
    
• Attach wires from Arduino to rightmost nixie module
  • 13 <--> SHCP
  • 12 <--> STCP
  • 11 <--> DIN
  • 10 <--> OE

• Attach male lead wires from terminal block (the thin ones, not the .18 ones) directly into the arduino board.
  • Positive wire from terminal strip <--> VIN
  • Negative wire from terminal strip <--> GND

Reference screenshots for idea of pin-outs if you're lost.

STEP 3: Uploading Code to Arduino Components

Unfortunately, this is not a how to use Arduino tutorial. Please be sure you understand how to properly communicate with your board via the Arduino IDE. If you understand these steps, please proceed. If not - I recommend watching some youtube videos to catch up in order to proceed beyond this point.

1. Be sure to have the arduino libraries from the github repository installed. You will need NixieTube and RTClib libraries installed, as they will be used by our sketches.
2. Open both the RTC_Set_Time_ds1307.ino sketch, as well as the Nixie_Clock.ino sketch in two separate windows.
3. With power going to the arduino and the ChronoDot module (should be how you have it at this point), connect to your arduino with USB - which will turn on the board and the ChronoDot, but not the nixie modules at this time.
4. Upload the RTC_Set_Time_ds1307.ino sketch to the board. Once it has completed without errors, immediately remove the VCC and GND pins from the ChronoDot, and plug them into the 5V and GND pins on the rightmost Nixie module. This will give it enough juice to be programmed properly.
5. Open the Nixie_Clock.ino sketch, and upload it right away. You will not see the numbers yet at this point (until we've plugged in all the power). Ideally, you will have to do this within a split second of uploading the RTC sketch.
   
   The first sketch sets the time of the ChronoDot to that of the computer you're using. The second sketch is the actual logic behind the clock, and pulls the time from the ChronoDot. Do it fast enough, and you'll have a very accurate clock.

STEP 4: Connecting Everything - IT'S ALIVE!

1. Take the power and ground back out of the Nixie Tube, and put it back where you had it into the ChronoDot.
2. At this point, you're ready to plug everything in. DO NOT PLUG THINGS IN HOT. Set up all your connections first, then plug in the DC adapter.
3. Plug the positive .18 wire into the 5V pin on the leftmost nixie module (reference picture). This should be the bottom pin.
4. Plug the negative wire into the GND pin on the leftmost nixie module.
5. Your wiring should now look something like the picture above.
6. At this point, you should have no USB connections.
7. Plug in the DC adapter.

If everything has gone correctly, you should see the current time! Please note there is currently no distinguishing between AM and PM. This is standard time, not military time (i.e. the left-most tube will only say 0 or 1).

STEP 5: (Optional - Extra Credit) Build a Box!

Woodworking isn't something that comes naturally to most electronics geeks. I chose to buy some cheap oak plywood and design a simple box with finger joints using a design I drafted on graph paper. I used a scroll saw, some wood glue, clamps, a sander with fine grit (#120) and some velcro to design the box you see in the pictures above. There are tons of great tutorials on creating simple wooden boxes right here on Instructables, as well as YouTube. Good luck - and safety first!

Comments

[sackapotatoes]

What was the material cost?

[Shahid Khattak]

Good work

[esper2142]

Thanks!

[Nighter3D]

It is unfortunate that the Module itself is no longer produced. Worse is that it isn't possible to reconstruct from schematic as the schematic they share seems to be of a 12v powered one rather than the more recent 5v.

Really frustrating actually. Ive been looking at how to get 170v from 5v, but almost every 5v psu design out there is without a schematic.

[esper2142]

Here you go: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/QS30-1-SZ-8-Nixie-Module-glow-tube-display-module-kit-for-Arduino/32668080266.html

[Nighter3D]

Ouch. that is quite a bit of a high price at aliexpress. would take 240$ to get enough for a clock. I think i'll just stick to designing my own modules. ^^;

[KISELIN]

Gee,, you got lost in some corner. Most, nearly ewery constuction, requires a separate power source eg. 12V, (with req. Amp's), besides of that your microcontroller board provides, (Arduino....some 100mAp's..total), But keep in mind: them GND, (0-volt, Zero.. or whatewer you call it), needs to be in the same potention, (with an diff. if you use analog and wanna keep that separated from the potentional's),

[godfish]

I gave up on these projects because most of the time the parts are not able to be found, this one is one I want to do, and again Parts unavailable, :sad:

[esper2142]

Here you go: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/QS30-1-SZ-8-Nixie-Module-glow-tube-display-module-kit-for-Arduino/32668080266.html

[Nighter3D]

I know how you feel. Originally i wanted to also build one out of modules and such, but when it became clear that availability is problematic i instead went for designing my own modules.

Eventually i hope to share my designs on instructables.

[mrsharkit]

nixie tubes are discontinues on that site, any other? thanks

[esper2142]

Here is another site that sells them right now:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/QS30-1-SZ-8-Nixie-Module-glow-tube-display-module-kit-for-Arduino/32668080266.html

[esper2142]

They get batches in stock frequently, so be sure to keep checking. In the meantime, you can check ebay!

[SoLongSidekick]

I doubt they'll be getting more back in stock since it's labeled as "discontinued" not "out of stock".

[KISELIN]

If I was the bussinesman delievering these products, and found out that the demand is bigger than the capasity of delievre, I would force the production-line to acchive more.

[SeanS139]

I see the same. :[

[hisashime]

Those Nixies are made in china with the code QS30-1(look at the photos from DFRobots Those are chinese words) .QS30-1 / SZ-8 Nixie Module glow tube display module kit for Arduino.

[esper2142]

THANK YOU! This is a working link. I will update the tutorial.
Also this is v2.0, which is 5V instead of 12V - so it's perfect.

THANK YOU!

[BruceH44]

Great clock. I've always wanted to have one of these, but have no experience with Adreno. I have assembled electronic kits before. Would you sell me a completed kit without the enclosure ?

Thanks

Bruce

[KISELIN]

Just "LOVE" your ible. Actually they, (nixie-tubes), were the basics to what became them 7-segment displays. Them "youth" may not know about them "nixie-tubes" beeing actually "filaments" stacked vertically vs. 7-segment "just" to be flat