That's the one. Thanks Martin. I've spoken to Richard about getting more
PCBs made (I have some MM5314's that need a good home) but he can't locate
the board files.

On Tue, Mar 7, 2023 at 7:54 AM Dekatron42 <[email protected]> wrote:

> A quick Googling of MM5314N and Numitron finds this webpage:
> http://www.tuberadios.com/numitron/ with schematic that is said to be
> compliments of Westdave.
>
> /Martin
>
> On Tuesday, 7 March 2023 at 16:41:24 UTC+1 Nicholas Stock wrote:
>
>> If I'm not mistaken, the clock kit that Martin is referring to is this
>> one..
>>
>> http://rrsignal.com/projects.htm
>>
>> I have the schematic at home somewhere and will dig it out. There is a
>> dimming mod using a transistor/pot that works quite nicely. Mine has been
>> running for about 8 years now with no issues..... it uses the MM5314 clock
>> chip, so no software to be seen and is mains referenced, but keeps
>> remarkably good time over long periods (it sits next to a few GPS
>> disciplined clocks).
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Nick
>>
>> On Tue, Mar 7, 2023 at 7:18 AM Batareyka <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> There are two ways to solve this problem.
>>> 1. Software, but as the author of the topic, there is no software and
>>> the possibility of editing it (I
>>>   I think so), then method number 2 remains.
>>> 2. The 4511 chip has a wide power supply range from 3-16 volts. Put the
>>> power regulator and turn it up to 4 volts, which will change the output
>>> power of the lamp filaments accordingly.
>>> Checked more than once.
>>>
>>> вторник, 7 марта 2023 г. в 17:02:08 UTC+2, [email protected]:
>>>
>> Martin,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> How did you do that? (schematic)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Problem with a pot (or any resistor) is that you would need one for
>>>> each element (7 per tube) since you cannot put one in the common line. Each
>>>> filament draws about 22mA, so depending on the number displayed, the
>>>> current would be anywhere between 44 and 154 mA. This would result in
>>>> different voltage drops depending on the number displayed. It would result
>>>> in uneven light output. Same reason why you could not use a single current
>>>> regulator pre tube, but one per filament would be needed. A voltage
>>>> regulator (such as a simple diode) does not have that disadvantage.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Bill v
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *From:* [email protected] <[email protected]> *On
>>>> Behalf Of *martin martin
>>>> *Sent:* Tuesday, March 07, 2023 9:09 AM
>>>> *To:* [email protected]
>>>> *Subject:* Re: [neonixie-l] Re: IV-9 numitron lifespan
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> How about this clock I built in the early 80s? 5314  clock chip.  I
>>>> used a 1k pot for dimming.  Has been running for  many moons now!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ~
>>>>
>>>> *[email protected]*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Mar 7, 2023 at 5:55 AM gregebert <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Under "normal" circumstances, I agree that individual current
>>>> regulators add a lot of circuitry. The reality is that most tubes are no
>>>> longer manufactured, so their numbers are dwindling as the price increases,
>>>> essentially irreplaceable. You wouldn't believe the lengths I went towards
>>>> protecting NIMO tubes in the clock I'm still working on.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I've debated about building a numitron clock, and the route I think I
>>>> will go with uses LED 'filaments' that are used in retro light bulbs.
>>>> Filaments scare the heck out of me because they will fail from thermal
>>>> cycling, but there is no alternative for NIMO and VFD displays.
>>>>
>>>> On Monday, March 6, 2023 at 11:35:22 AM UTC-3 [email protected]
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Using a current limiter sounds like a LOT of circuitry, 7 times the
>>>> number of tubes? I simply use a forward biased diode to drop the voltage,
>>>> about 0.7 for a standard silicon diode, and about 0.3 for a Schottky. That
>>>> requires only one or perhaps two diodes for the whole set of tubes. Perhaps
>>>> not as accurate, but definitely a whole lot simpler.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *From:* [email protected] <[email protected]> *On
>>>> Behalf Of *gregebert
>>>> *Sent:* Monday, March 06, 2023 8:13 AM
>>>> *To:* neonixie-l <[email protected]>
>>>> *Subject:* Re: [neonixie-l] Re: IV-9 numitron lifespan
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Very good info, Moses.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> From that, I would target the  operating current well-below 20mA to
>>>> prolong the life of the display. You could use an NPN current-limiter
>>>> (driver) driven from 5V TTL logic. Let me know if you need circuit details,
>>>> but it's a very simple design (1 NPN + 1 emitter resistor). As a starting
>>>> point, a 270 ohm emitter resistor will limit current to 16mA.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Do you hear any noise with your PWM running at 1600Hz ?  If not, I
>>>> would stick with PWM and not use the NPN driver, as it's not necessary. As
>>>> long as the PWM cycle-time is shorter than the thermal time-constant of the
>>>> filament (probably a few milliseconds), you should be fine. I think you can
>>>> measure the thermal time-constant of the filament with a phototransistor
>>>> and a scope. Starting at a low PWM frequency, the phototransistor will show
>>>> fluctuations in the bulb's intensity. As the frequency is increased, you
>>>> should see the amplitude decrease towards zero. I've never actually done
>>>> this but I'm pretty sure it will work. You have to use a phototransistor
>>>> (or photodiode); a CdS photosensor will have too-slow of a response time.
>>>>
>>>> On Monday, March 6, 2023 at 2:37:45 AM UTC-3 Moses wrote:
>>>>
>>>> The TI CD4511B datasheet lists the lists the *minimum* high level
>>>> output (at 5v VDD) of 4.1v but typical is 4.55v, maybe others are 
>>>> different?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/cd4511b.pdf
>>>>
>>>> At 4.55v the segment current on the IV-9 is going to be about 25ma.
>>>> Typical IV-9 segment current is about 20ma I believe, so that would be a
>>>> 25% overdrive.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I've put up a drive voltage vs segment current table on my site, maybe
>>>> it's useful to someone: http://www.neonixie.com/IV-9-6D-RR/#tech
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I settled with powering the tubes in my designs in one of two ways..
>>>> 5.0v direct with a recommended PWM of about 65% (the 165 (out of 255) value
>>>> in the table) OR 5v through a regular silicon diode, dropping the voltage
>>>> to about 4.2v at the tube and PWM that to 76%. Both result in a segment
>>>> current of 20ma. Don't know if one or the other is better in regards to
>>>> lifetime, I was not able to find any official sources of information. I
>>>> experimented with driving them using a 3.3v regulator.. but at that voltage
>>>> they were a bit dim.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> NOTE: The IV-9 datasheet does mention to avoid running the tubes at a
>>>> frequency between 105 and 1000 Hz, presumably to avoid mechanical
>>>> resonance. I elected to run them at 1600 Hz.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I looked through some of my testing data.. at a segment current of 3mA
>>>> the segments are visible, 2mA they are "barely visible" and at 1mA I noted
>>>> them as not visible. Keeping the unlit segments warm with a slight current
>>>> seems to make the most sense to me. It's all software on my clock so maybe
>>>> an option for the next revision.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> That's all I know so far.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Regards,
>>>>
>>>> -Moses
>>>>
>>>> On Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 5:52:05 AM UTC-8 [email protected]
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi Chris,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The numitrons are driven by a 4511 decoder, and according to their data
>>>> sheets the max. output at that voltage is 4.1 V, so that is well within
>>>> specification for the tube. Yes, I agree, lowering the voltage even further
>>>> should increase lifespan.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Bill v
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *From:* [email protected] <[email protected]> *On
>>>> Behalf Of *Chris
>>>> *Sent:* Saturday, March 04, 2023 8:19 AM
>>>> *To:* neonixie-l <[email protected]>
>>>> *Subject:* [neonixie-l] Re: IV-9 numitron lifespan
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> While i am not sure for the IV9 numitrons have a look at the DA2300
>>>> lifetime expectancy,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Basically reducing the voltage increases the life expectancy
>>>> exponentially.
>>>>
>>>> So i usually run my numitrons at 4.5V or lower and have had no issues
>>>> so far.
>>>>
>>>> On Friday, March 3, 2023 at 8:05:48 PM UTC+1 [email protected] wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I seem to recall there was some discussion on the life expectancy of
>>>> IV-9 numitrons some time ago.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> In 2015 I built a number of clocks with these tubes, and they started
>>>> failing last year. The clock in the picture is on my bench now, the three
>>>> good tubes were replaced in November last year. So today all 6 tubes will
>>>> be replaced. I have replaced all 6 tubes on a few other clocks also. One or
>>>> more segments will no longer light up, and I do not see any blackening of
>>>> the glass tube (The black you see in the picture is my permanent marker, s
>>>> I will not replace the wrong tube when I disconnect the power).
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The tubes are driven directly from a 4511 chip on a 5V power line.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> There does not seem to be any order in which they fail, so I do not
>>>> have the feeling that any of the tubes are significantly impacted by
>>>> thermal stresses from flashing on and off. I would say based on my
>>>> experience with them, the expected lifespan is about 7 years of continues
>>>> use.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Bill v
>>>>
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