I usually drive the filaments non-multiplexed from 74HC595 shift registers (technically slightly out of spec, but have always worked fine), and use the output enable line to PWM all of the displays at once for brightness control. I run a separate PWM on each filament that's off, keeping it warm to just below the level of visibility.
I use a six entry look-up table for the PWM values, to create subjectively similar steps in brightness. Most people seem to run my clocks at level 3 or 4 (10/32 or 18/32 duty cycle, respectively). at level 6 (100% duty cycle), the tubes see about 4.3 volts due to the drop across the -595 outputs. I was a regular at Burning Man for quite a few years, but last went in 2017. Now that it's happening again, I think we'll go back next year. Glad you had a great time! ~~ Mark Moulding On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 5:55:57 PM UTC-8 mo...@neonixie.com wrote: > Mark, > > Going to try these posts again, not sure why they are getting deleted. > Hope this makes it through. > > Good to hear on the IV-9 durability.. I've never ran them other then > briefly on the bench. The specs on the IV9 show 3.15v and 20ma or so for > the segments, which I believe may be underdriven already just looking at > the color. They look pretty good at at 3.3v. What do you run yours at? > > Burning Man is awesome! My first burn was this year! Fun times! > > Regards, > -Moses > > On Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 12:06:29 AM UTC-8 Mark Moulding wrote: > >> I've built quite a few devices using the IV-9 tubes, and found them to be >> extremely durable. (I probably wouldn't be interested in a clock kit, as I >> have about 3500 tubes in stock...) If operated below their maximum >> operating parameters (dimmed a little, and soft-started filaments), they'll >> run essentially forever. The DTF-104Bs are even better, and are really >> fantastic-looking tubes. They're also extremely rugged mechanically. I've >> built Burning Man Mutant Vehicle dashboards using these, and the rather >> extreme conditions of that application didn't faze them at all. I've also >> had clocks running for nearly a decade with exactly zero failure due to the >> tube burning out. Impact with flying objects is another matter, but in >> fact a tube survived for a minute or two even with its outer glass envelope >> completely shattered. Again, if operated within their specified >> environment, their lifespan is essentially unlimited. >> ~~ >> Mark Moulding >> >> On Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 10:04:59 PM UTC-8 William Lee wrote: >> >>> Hi there. I'd be potentially interested in a numitron kit! >>> >>> On Wed, Nov 16, 2022 at 5:26 PM Moses <mo...@neonixie.com> wrote: >>> >>>> Hi Everybody, >>>> >>>> I seem to have enough IV-9 tubes to where I can produce a batch of 100 >>>> or so 6 digit numitron clocks. Thinking ESP32 powered like my last one >>>> (Thank you to all those who gave suggestions, the kit came out great!). >>>> I'm >>>> thinking maybe try for a full through-hole solder kit with some shift >>>> registers. >>>> >>>> I know nixies are more popular.. but anyone interested in a numitron >>>> clock kit? >>>> >>>> Oh, one question I do have, anyone have long term experience (ie, >>>> years?) running this particular tube? How do they fare? >>>> >>>> Thank you! >>>> >>>> Regards, >>>> -Moses >>>> >>>> -- >>>> >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "neonixie-l" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to neonixie-l+...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/f461a854-20da-49f2-bf35-b8d5f50922cen%40googlegroups.com >>>> >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/f461a854-20da-49f2-bf35-b8d5f50922cen%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to neonixie-l+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/27e0f306-50a4-4e5c-961f-974c15c6aebbn%40googlegroups.com.
