My first nixie clock with 5092 tubes has been running since 2011. I use +340VDC for the anodes, and of course the anode resistors are appropriately increased to give the optimum 2.2mA of current.
So, why did I choose 340VDC when the mains here in the US are 120V RMS ? This clock has no transformer, so either I would use approx +170VDC from rectifying the line directly and risk being too close to the minimum voltage, or just use a voltage-doubler and deal with the slightly higher wasted energy. On Sunday, October 8, 2023 at 1:02:27 PM UTC-7 Audrey wrote: > I thought I had heard/read that lower voltage was better, though a cursory > search suggests that the rate of sputtering is nearly directly proportional > to current, so that makes sense, the only reason aside from arcing that I > could think of would be making the internal wires glow > > On Sun, Oct 8, 2023, 3:52 PM liam bartosiewicz <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Another note about firing voltage is that in general, using higher >> voltages for nixies, ie. >200V increases lifespan, assuming the proper >> anode resistor is used. >> >> On Oct 8, 2023, at 11:13 AM, Nicholas Stock <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> I've noticed a few 7971's needing a couple of hours to fully illuminate >> after which they're apparently very happy in the long term if in operation. >> Is this sign of a very small leak or something else? I'm not sure what to >> make of the 'gassy' term to be honest....were 7971's doped with Hg? >> >> Nick >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On Oct 8, 2023, at 10:42, Paul Andrews <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> I’ve had some of these tubes that require a higher than normal voltage to >> even trigger. Most people drive nixies at 170V, but this can be a marginal >> trigger voltage for some tubes and completely insufficient for others such >> as the GR10G https://www.nixies.us/bwg_gallery/gr10g/ >> >> Shining light on a tube ionizes the gas inside, the brighter the light, >> the more ions. Tubes used in dark environments can take longer to light up. >> Once they are lit, the number of free ions in the gas is usually enough to >> keep it going. Several approaches were used to circumvent this. Some tubes >> have an extra cathode driven with a very low current that is always on. >> Some tubes were doped with Krypton 85, a radioactive gas, e.g. >> https://www.nixies.us/bwg_gallery/122p224/ >> On Sunday, October 8, 2023 at 12:13:47 PM UTC-4 gregebert wrote: >> >>> Can you do some bench-testing to see if the segments fully light with a >>> bit more voltage ? >>> I collected current-voltage (I-V) data on all my 7971's so I can check >>> them for aging effects. >>> >>> On Sunday, October 8, 2023 at 6:01:55 AM UTC-7 [email protected] >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Hello Jim, >>>> >>>> If you have a source of UV-light, that will do a good job. >>>> Maybe an UV-Led beneath the tube will do the trick.... >>>> >>>> BR/ >>>> Guus >>>> >>>> Op 07-10-2023 19:26 CEST schreef Jim KO5V <[email protected]>: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> I have a B7971 that doesn't want to light up - the ends of some >>>> segments will glow, but none will illuminate along their entire length. I >>>> have had tubes in the past that were probably a bit gassy, and they >>>> cleaned >>>> up after running for a few minutes to a few hours. >>>> >>>> So, I put it into the "10 second" position of my Mod 6 clock, and ran >>>> it over night with no improvement. However after I had been up an hour or >>>> so, I noticed that the tube's segments were lighting up along about 3/4 of >>>> their lengths, and also that the low morning sun was shining on the clock. >>>> This state lasted for as long as the sunlight was on the tube - sometime >>>> after light moved off of the clock, the tube went back to it's wounded >>>> state. >>>> >>>> This morning I watched as the sunlight moved toward the clock, and as >>>> soon as the light hit the clock, the tube immediately recovered, and >>>> performed like it did yesterday. However, that state lasted for about >>>> 3-1/2 >>>> hours after the sunlight moved away. I then shined a flashlight on the >>>> tube, and it recovered as long as the light was there. >>>> >>>> I guess this is some kind of photo-voltaic effect. I have a bit of >>>> education in basic physics (for engineering), and this baffles me - but >>>> it's cool! >>>> >>>> I have a reading lamp that puts out a full spectrum, so I will put that >>>> on the clock today and see what happens. I may also set up a test to run >>>> the tube at a bit higher voltage (180-ish V). It may never recover >>>> completely, but I think this is a fun exercise. >>>> >>>> Anyway, and ideas are welcome. I may not be able to save the tube, but >>>> I might actually learn something. Thanks. Jim >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> 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 [email protected]. >>>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/d2784c4a-c76f-4ae6-b0b1-86f14185bb22n%40googlegroups.com >>>> >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/d2784c4a-c76f-4ae6-b0b1-86f14185bb22n%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 [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/84ecf40e-cfbd-4d8b-a287-8be443d1cf08n%40googlegroups.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/84ecf40e-cfbd-4d8b-a287-8be443d1cf08n%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 [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/A2B96120-7BE5-46F4-859B-01C0715D6D8D%40gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/A2B96120-7BE5-46F4-859B-01C0715D6D8D%40gmail.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 [email protected]. >> > To view this discussion on the web, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/F0506BFC-9BD4-47F0-A824-13F4643C190F%40gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/F0506BFC-9BD4-47F0-A824-13F4643C190F%40gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. 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