On Oct 27, 6:08 am, Shane Ellis <[email protected]> wrote:
> I moved up to a larger PICAXE, all is going well, except, I went to
> two tubes, and the new tube is...well... sickly looking.  I double,
> and quintuple checked the connections, but as you will see in the
> attached photos, something is wrong.  Half the digits light up fine
> 0-4, but 5-9, well, look terrible.  they half light, and have bright
> blue spots at several points on the digit.  Bad tube?  Internal short
> in the tube?
> Thanks everyone, and sorry if I post too much, my desire for
> illuminated tubes is great!
> Shane
>
> http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm286/mimewar/Nixie%20and%20progra...

Two possibilities: cathode poisoning, and seal failure (very slow
atmospheric intrusion). Unfortunately I suspect the latter is more
likely. However, attempting depoisoning of the afflicted digits will
cost nothing but time and a little electricity, whether it works or
not.

BTW, on a related note, what is the origin of the term for failed
tubes/valves: "outgassed"? Since the vast majority of them are sealed
at well below atmospheric pressure, physics tells us that a more
accurate term would be "ingassed"!

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