Good point. You might also try a 'filled zone' which can connect all the gnd points together using all the remaining copper on the board. Unfortunately the autorouter has sliced it up thoroughly which may leave it in pieces but if it manages a complete margin around the edge of the board it will help. You can also fill both top and bottom surfaces with gnd, then link the two together with vias in a grid.
On Tue, Sep 23, 2025 at 9:25 AM newxito <[email protected]> wrote: > I'm not really qualified to give advice, but I'll do it anyway :-) > > If using a barrel jack, consider putting some kind of reverse polarity > protection. A simple schottky diode or better a mosfet with low Rds(on) > should do the job. If you want to be on the safe side, you can add also an > overvoltage protection but that's a bit more complicated. I use a > specialized IC for that. You have also room on your pcb for an appropiate > (resettable) fuse. > I don't know if feeding your HV module through thin traces and a via is a > good idea. You may consider using thicker 5V and GND direct traces instead. > That's an easy change on your board. > > Have fun with your project. > > Florian van der Dussen schrieb am Dienstag, 23. September 2025 um 09:11:23 > UTC+2: > >> Dear all, >> >> Thank you for the valuable information and help you’ve shared. I never >> expected so many replies. I really appreciate it! >> >> It seems I’ve sparked an interesting discussion here. >> >> First of all, David, thank you for your encouraging words. Your outlook >> aligns closely with mine: my focus is on creating a product, not just >> accumulating theoretical knowledge. What excites me most is working toward >> a tangible end result, and the learning that happens along the way is a >> byproduct I greatly value. Creating the logic gates for tiny clocks will >> devalue that goal. >> >> Leroy, thank you as well for your critical points. I do take your more >> traditional approach into account, and I understand its importance. Your 25 >> years of experience are invaluable. However, I don’t have the luxury of >> unlimited time or resources to master every tiny step in isolation. I >> realize that using a microcontroller is overkill in this case, but since I >> already have experience with MCUs, and even a stack of Picos ready to use. >> In that case it makes sense for me. That said, I will go through the books >> you suggested to strengthen my foundation and fill in the gaps I’m >> skipping. In my humble opinion as an inexperience student, never use the >> word "impossible", it's a word that shouldn't exist in an learning forum. >> It limits yourself and the ones around you for the unimportant argument of >> "realism". >> >> A few additional notes that I didn't mention in my first message: I’m >> still waiting on some nixie tubes I ordered, though they’ve proven either >> very expensive or difficult to get in the Netherlands. In the meantime, I’m >> proceeding in parallel. I have always planned with a breadboard version to >> identify shortcomings before moving further. I never expected this much >> feedback, but I did hope to learn from the wisdom of those who have already >> gone through this phase in their own projects to hopefully ease mine. >> >> I’m a young student pursuing this entirely outside of my formal studies, >> with very limited resources. From the start I knew this wouldn’t be a >> “flat” learning curve, but to me, that’s exactly what being a student >> should mean. If I avoided every challenge that seemed too steep, this >> extracurricular journey would have ended the moment I opened my first >> book/page. I understand I am cutting corners at times, but I believe that >> diving into the deep end allows me to learn more, faster, even if that >> means frying a few IC's along the way. And that is an attitude I hope to >> carry with me throughout my life. >> >> You cannot be an expert about everything in life, but I hope that I can >> still make some cool projects along the way. >> >> P.S. I might just take you guys up on the challenge about building and >> flying that helicopter :) >> >> I will keep you guys posted of the progress, >> >> Florian >> >> On Tue, Sep 23, 2025, 01:29 Adrian Godwin <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> If he wanted to fly a helicopter without training, I would stop him too. >>> >>> But he has respect for the HV supply which is the only real danger. He's >>> aware of the need for anode resistors. He might burn out a few ICs by >>> shorting some wires together but I don't see any real harm. One learns from >>> one's mistakes. Likely he'd do that with TTL too. >>> >>> Sure, an education in digital logic would be valuable, as would a >>> lightweight introduction to nixies. But I don't see any reason why you >>> can't learn on a microprocessor just as well. Thousands of people's first >>> encounter of electronics has been with Arduinos and have found them a great >>> start. The Pico is more complex but actually easier to use. >>> >>> You're not wrong, Leroy, but I think a course of action that interests >>> and enthuses him is the most important part. Personally, I'm quite >>> impressed by his efforts. There are problems, sure, but he's come asking >>> for help knowing that he doesn't know enough. What's the harm in >>> encouraging him ? >>> >>> On Mon, Sep 22, 2025 at 11:41 PM Leroy Jones <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> David Pye, >>>> >>>> That is an oversimplification. Operating nixie tubes comes with a >>>> whole universe of unique considerations. >>>> Knowing how to program a micro cannot, and will not prepare a newcomer >>>> properly for building a nixie tube clock. >>>> >>>> I am done here. Not going to waste my valuable time screaming at a >>>> brick wall. The new guy either learns or he does not. >>>> >>>> That is up to him now. I have laid down a few of the basics for him. >>>> (Hint: A PCB should not be made until the circuit has been tested and >>>> proven out.).................PCBs are for mass production. One off >>>> experiment is much better and faster on a solderless white board. >>>> Much easier to change and to learn from. >>>> >>>> But I am sure someone will want to get the last word in and certainly >>>> not allow any talk of discrete logic circuits to go unchallenged. >>>> >>>> On Monday, September 22, 2025 at 6:11:12 PM UTC-4 David Pye wrote: >>>> >>>>> My point remains. If you already know to program MCUs already, there's >>>>> no need to go down the route of 74 series counters to build a clock, >>>>> unless >>>>> you want to. You can fuse that knowledge with the fundamentals of driving >>>>> nixies. >>>>> >>>>> I certainly didn't build a clock based on because I already knew how >>>>> to use microcontrollers. >>>>> >>>>> Following your logic to it's endpoint, you'd be telling him to learn >>>>> how to build a clockwork grandfather clock before daring to build a >>>>> digital >>>>> clock. >>>>> >>>>> David >>>>> >>>>> On Mon, 22 Sept 2025, 22:55 Leroy Jones, <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Adrian, I am so glad that you brought up the complexities of digital >>>>>> design. Decoupling caps. Hefty grounds. >>>>>> These things should not ever be overlooked in ANY well designed >>>>>> circuit. I am not ready to give this young man the go-ahead >>>>>> for the processor operated clock until he builds at least a few from >>>>>> discrete logic first! Of course it is up to him how he wishes to spend >>>>>> his time. >>>>>> >>>>>> How many of you guys on here have designed and built nixie clocks >>>>>> that run on discrete logic and function properly for 25+ years without >>>>>> any >>>>>> trouble? >>>>>> Because I have done so. Many different versions. I speak from >>>>>> experience. But maybe that is of no value now. We just grab a >>>>>> raspberry >>>>>> pi and act cool >>>>>> about it and hope it works. >>>>>> >>>>>> On Monday, September 22, 2025 at 5:46:00 PM UTC-4 Leroy Jones wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> David Pye: You are missing the point of what I am trying to convey >>>>>>> here. My point is that trying to design and build a microproceeor >>>>>>> controlled nixie tube >>>>>>> clock from scratch is an ambitious project even for experienced >>>>>>> people. Ambitious for an experienced man. Impossible for a beginner. >>>>>>> That is my point. >>>>>>> It is about the same as someone who has never flown an airplane nor >>>>>>> been involved with aviation in any way, suddenly thinks they can design >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> build a working >>>>>>> helicopter from scratch and have it work flawlessly the first time >>>>>>> without having any prior experience of any kind. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The only way to do it is to learn each small thing in small steps. >>>>>>> Building a working nixie clock from scratch is a massive undertaking. >>>>>>> No >>>>>>> way around that. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I am attempting to give guidance to this young man so that he might >>>>>>> learn. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Got to crawl before walking. Got to walk before running. Folks >>>>>>> today seem to want everything to have a processor in it. >>>>>>> And made on a PCB. Lots of luck with that as a first-off effort! >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Get a solderless breadboard. Get some #24 gauge solid tinned >>>>>>> jumper wires. Get a nixie tube. Get a 170 volt DC power supply. >>>>>>> Get a 5 volt DC power supply. Connect both supplies so they share >>>>>>> a common ground. Use a 15k anode resistor for the nixie tube. >>>>>>> Get a 74141 nixie driver IC. Get a 74LS160 decade counter. >>>>>>> Learn how to operate the counter using a 555 timer IC running in astable >>>>>>> mode. >>>>>>> Connect the counter to the nixie driver IC. Turn it on and watch >>>>>>> it count. For detailed explanation and study, get these two books: >>>>>>> 1) The TTL Cookbook by Don Lancaster. >>>>>>> 2) The CMOS Cookbook by Don Lancaster. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> How the hell can anyone expect a newbie to understand what the >>>>>>> processor is actually accomplishing without having him >>>>>>> first deal personally with each binary bit? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Or are we now in such an age where fundamental understanding has >>>>>>> been relegated to the dustbin, because it is "Too Hard, and Too Much >>>>>>> Work" >>>>>>> ? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Flatten out the learning curve? Nope sorry. Not buying it. >>>>>>> ("flatten the curve".......hmmm......where have we heard THIS before?) >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Chuck >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Monday, September 22, 2025 at 5:08:27 PM UTC-4 David Pye 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/f9f50dd1-abf1-4eed-810a-95a7f50db3d1n%40googlegroups.com >>>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/f9f50dd1-abf1-4eed-810a-95a7f50db3d1n%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/7a1ae0a3-ecf3-4b3c-802a-137cee4dc38dn%40googlegroups.com >>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/7a1ae0a3-ecf3-4b3c-802a-137cee4dc38dn%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>> . >>>> >>> -- >>> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the >>> Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this topic, visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/topic/neonixie-l/1ElHfdtIMOo/unsubscribe. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to >>> [email protected]. >>> To view this discussion, visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/CALiMYrs%3Ds6P1YKRtwOwr1SKbMC89iVcPv9XoWEHcysi7u2-_gw%40mail.gmail.com >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/CALiMYrs%3Ds6P1YKRtwOwr1SKbMC89iVcPv9XoWEHcysi7u2-_gw%40mail.gmail.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/94d5b9d6-ddd2-48a0-af96-cc5f9dd76f4bn%40googlegroups.com > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/94d5b9d6-ddd2-48a0-af96-cc5f9dd76f4bn%40googlegroups.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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