I built the neon tube clock 24 years ago. It worked a few years ago, but I haven't run it lately. I guess i should, it's sitting on a shelf above my computer.
On Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 1:00:03 PM UTC-7 gregebert wrote: > Converting that Berkeley counter into a clock was quite an undertaking. > That video was 16 years ago; curious if it still works. > > I've torn-down a few of them because they were such a nightmare of tubes > and wiring. There were so many tubes that the power transformer had 2 > windings for the filaments; I think one was 12 amps, and the other 15 amps. > After a few minutes of operation, it felt like a small toaster oven. I wish > I kept one of the counter modules, though I did snip-out all of the neon > bulbs. I recall 2 versions, one with the 0-9 numerals in a vertical line, > and another where they were staggered a bit, so they would zig-zag during > counting. There was another version that had an electroluminescent panel > with 7-segment displays. Sadly, the E-L displays wear-out and get too dim > to read. > > Now that I have access to a laser cutter, I've thought about making LED > versions of the numeric displays for a clock. > > > > On Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 10:09:35 PM UTC-8 J Forbes wrote: > >> Reminds me also of the Berkeley/Beckman counter...and the clock I made >> from one... >> >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM9TW6GcCQE >> >> >> On Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 2:20:54 PM UTC-7 Dekatron42 wrote: >> >>> Just my two cents. The build quality looks far from that price, solder >>> flux not cleaned properly, cut wire just standing there straight up, poor >>> wooden cornering, wood splinter on foot, screw holes with no screws >>> covering them, different colored Nixie sockets, a few top mounted sockets >>> whereas most bottom mounted, one tube with tape label, most Triodes are >>> Russian types and not the Audiophile coveted ECC-series, many tubes looks >>> like used ones and not unused ones, heavier components hanging from wires >>> prone to moving around when transported plus the top panel needs cleaning >>> as well as the inside needs vacuuming. Not like other clocks sold by this >>> seller! >>> >>> It just looks sloppy and untidy, more like a prototype and I like the >>> Friedhelm Bruegmann a lot more as it looks like it came from the era. >>> Component wise I guess it will set you back €3000-4000 and perhaps €1000 >>> for mounting materials and of course it will take you some time to build. >>> >>> There have been a few similar ones like the Friedhelm Bruegmann built >>> over the years and some have been built to hang on the wall with either >>> front view Nixies or the Nixies has been put in a recess at the top of the >>> front panel. There have also been a few types with different displays like >>> E1T with only valves. >>> >>> Putting on my flame retardant suit! :) >>> >>> /Martin >>> >>> On Wednesday, 8 January 2025 at 20:51:01 UTC+1 Mac Doktor wrote: >>> >>>> >>>> On Jan 8, 2025, at 12:13 PM, gregebert <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> SO many tubes.....reminds me of the Berkeley/Beckman universal counter >>>> >>>> http://www.softwareandmind.com/museum/mlist.htm >>>> <http://www.softwareandmind.com/museum/mlist.html>l >>>> >>>> >>>> I have an HP 521A. I have a line on someone who can restore it but I >>>> can't focus on that project right now. >>>> >>>> >>>> Terry Bowman, KA4HJH >>>> "The Mac Doctor" >>>> >>>> https://www.astarcloseup.com >>>> >>>> "If only you could see what I've seen with your eyes."—Roy Batty, *Blade >>>> Runner* >>>> >>>> -- 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, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/0e565ca3-4494-4203-a75d-7907fd902eddn%40googlegroups.com.
