I agree with David : it depends where you're starting from. In addition, there are many pitfalls in building with TTL logic - such as proper decoupling and ground impedance - which will not be encountered when the more complex logic is embedded in a ready-made processor board such as a Pico.
On Mon, Sep 22, 2025 at 10:08 PM David Pye <[email protected]> wrote: > While I agree with some of this, I don't necessarily agree entirely. > > There are lots of things about the PCB that could be improved (eg using > ground planes/fills) and simple starting experiments - eg a trial > single-digit-nixie is a good place to start, to work out where the gaps in > your understanding are, and you can then incorporate what you learn into > the clock. > > What I don't necessarily agree with is starting by a clock using discrete > ICs and not a microcontroller. *IF* you come from the generation where > arduino/rPi Pico are more familiar to you than large numbers of chained > 74-series ICs (like me), then you might well find it easier to use an MCU > to drive your clock. If you're 'old school' and MCUs are also new to you, > then sticking to that should flatten out the learning curve a bit. > > David > > On Mon, 22 Sept 2025 at 20:38, Leroy Jones <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> For a 21 year old guy with no previous electronics experience, in my >> humble opinion, you are jumping in far far deeper >> than your present skill level is capable of producing any meaningful >> results. >> >> First of all, you have NEVER even fired up a nixie tube yet. Nor have >> you studied and worked with logic gates. >> If you want success, the first thing to do is get a nixie tube and a 170 >> volt DC power supply and a 15k anode resistor, then start >> experimenting lighting the tube digits. Next, get a 74141 or a 7441 >> nixie driver IC, and connect it up to an appropriate 4-bit switch of come >> sort >> so that you can feed it binary bits at the 5 volt level, and light the >> tube digits. Next thing then is to switch those bits using a counter such >> as 74LS160. >> >> As for a nixie clock, I would strongly suggest making one that uses no >> processor of any sort. Use TTL or CMOS logic to run counters that drive >> the 74141 nixie driver ICs. A very nice nixie clock can be made using >> about 16 to 20 ICs. >> >> Learning electronics and learning to use digital ICs and nixie tubes >> requires many, many practical tests and experiments. >> Jumping right in cold, with no prior experience right away thinking that >> a complex PCB can be designed and a clock made to operate >> without doing any experiments to prove the fundamental concepts is THE >> classic recipe for failure. >> >> I can help with book recommendations, parts lists to experiment with, and >> experiments to do. >> Take it slow. Stay down at the level of reality. >> >> -Chuck >> >> On Monday, September 22, 2025 at 3:02:23 PM UTC-4 Adrian Godwin wrote: >> >>> Also, put 100n capacitors between supply (5v or 3v3) and gnd near >>> each and every IC. >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Sep 22, 2025 at 8:00 PM Adrian Godwin <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> Thanks for the pdf. Yes, the schematic wasn't usable. >>>> >>>> The first problem I've found is that SCLK and SDATA are connected to >>>> 3v3 and then have resistors in line. I'm pretty sure you had the right idea >>>> but made an error on the wiring, but if it's not obvious the resistors >>>> should be between 3v3 and the clk/data lines. >>>> >>>> You will likely need a pullup resistor on the light sensor., unless the >>>> Pi has one internally that can be enabled on analog inputs. They normally >>>> just measure voltages and you want to measure resistance. >>>> >>>> Overall, it's pretty good for a first try ! >>>> >>>> >>>> On Mon, Sep 22, 2025 at 7:48 PM Mac Doktor <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Sep 22, 2025, at 2:43 PM, Florian van der Dussen < >>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Current schematic: >>>>> >>>>> The schematic is too small to read. Please share a larger copy. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> 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/33D10011-0F75-49D6-81B7-8049459EDE45%40gmail.com >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/33D10011-0F75-49D6-81B7-8049459EDE45%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, visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/022b559a-12fd-4b3c-ac21-73224c815c0dn%40googlegroups.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/022b559a-12fd-4b3c-ac21-73224c815c0dn%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, visit > https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/CAOQ6x0F0SW2VBfrn_faayVgjODgXE%2BHNaOBrXhF_vB4xH79GVg%40mail.gmail.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/CAOQ6x0F0SW2VBfrn_faayVgjODgXE%2BHNaOBrXhF_vB4xH79GVg%40mail.gmail.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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