Very, very informative find and excellent write-up. Thanks!!!!
RobG <mailto:[email protected]>
October 23, 2016 at 7:56 AM
One of the most requested features on my clock was the separator, so I
have decided to add two INS-1.
Once I got my tubes, I tested large batch of them and discovered that
some of the tubes start to flicker after about 15 minutes.
My first thought was that those tubes are going bad, after all, they
are old and the quality is... well, just look at the lens with
magnifying glass.
Since this "effect" is similar to flicker flame, where low current
makes neon unstable, I figured I have to increase the current.
My default was 0.6mA (220K @ 180V,) so I bumped it to 0.75mA (180K.)
That did not help, it made it little worst I think, so I figured
that's not it.
I tried to go the other way and decreased the current to 0.3mA (470K)
and then to 0.15mA (1M.) That helped, flicker became slower, which
might be unnoticeable when tube is used in a separator. Another
advantage was that the glow was not as strong as @0.6mA and now it
matched glow of other Nixies (digits.)
Just for fun, I reversed polarity. Flicker was gone and the glow was
brighter. However, I will not suggest using them in reverse.
Then I decided to do an experiment. I connected flickering tube in
reverse without current limiting resistor (however, my power supply
limits current to 15mA.) The tube started flashing white, blue, red
for about 2-3 seconds and then turned bright orange (normal operation
but very bright.) I kept it on for another 2 -3 seconds and turned it
off. Now, when connected the right way, tube no longer flickers. I did
that with several tubes and they all became flicker free (kept them on
for couple of hours.) Only one tube started flickering again, but the
flicker goes away after several seconds (flicker starts slow, then
faster, and then stops.) I will keep them on for few days and report back.
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TheJBW <mailto:[email protected]>
October 4, 2016 at 11:15 AM
Gene,
It is possible, although I somewhat doubt it. The supply source is a
12V cheapo amazon 2A unit driving a Tayloredge 1364 module on a
Tayloredge 1355 backplane (along with 6 IN12As).
The 12V supply is driving several other modules (an IN13 module that I
built -- which is powered by an independent 1364 taking 12V input), a
raspberry pi, an amp, and some low current incandescent indicators.
While these obviously will load the power supply randomly over time,
peak draw is on the order of 750mA and all of this hardware was
installed weeks before the flickering began.
In any case, definitely strange and maybe a unique case, but perhaps
worth using a test rig on any INS-1s that are unstable but might be saved.
-Bill
On Monday, October 3, 2016 at 6:10:01 PM UTC-7, Gene Segal wrote:
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Gene Mark Segal <mailto:[email protected]>
October 3, 2016 at 6:09 PM
Bill, thanks for reporting! That's very useful information. Looks like
it went stable ultimately. It's strange that it was stable for the
first two weeks; if there was a "burn in" I would think the lamp would
act up right away. Maybe voltage fluctuated in the device?
Gene
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TheJBW <mailto:[email protected]>
October 3, 2016 at 6:01 PM
Gene (and anyone else tracking this),
It's been another six months and the INS-1 in question is still
soldiering on flicker-free and fully bright. If it ever goes bad
again, I'll make a point of picking this thread back up.
-Bill
On Monday, March 28, 2016 at 7:37:11 AM UTC-7, Gene Segal wrote:
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Gene Mark Segal <mailto:[email protected]>
March 28, 2016 at 7:37 AM
Bill, excellent observation! I almost didn't recognize my own post
from 2011, thanks for digging that up!))
I'm curious if that INS-1 you reported about, which went stable, will
stay stable long-term. Please do report.
Best regards, Gene
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