On 13-02-01 10:44 PM, allen lutins wrote:
This is a simple device, with the positive side of a 170V power supply
connected to the anode and the negative side switched between digit
cathodes. I am not using a driver IC, and here is my primary question:
What is the main purpose of a driver IC?>
the main purpose of the driver IC is to decode a BCD (or otherwise)
value to the 10 (or more) cathodes of the Nixie. It also does some
shifting from the 5V range of digital IC logic to the Higher voltage of
the Nixes.
will i shorten the life of my nixie by supplying it
continuously with 170V?
Is you supply CURRENT limited? Nixies work like Neon Bulbs. (they are
basicaly a fancy Neon lamp)
Once they fire, the current flow will increse, and the drop across the
tube goes down to the maintaining voltage. The standrd trick is to have
a resistor. Beofore the current starts to flow, the resitor having no
current will pass the entire voltage, once the current starts it will
take the "difference" between the Starting voltage and the maintaining
voltage. Without it the current will increase and the tube will
disaapte a lot more power then it was intended to handle.
Find a copy of the "GE Glow lamp Manual" (sometimes seem online) for a
full discussion of the principles.
--
Charles MacDonald Stittsville Ontario
[email protected] Just Beyond the Fringe
http://Charles.MacDonald.org/tubes
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