On Fri, 6 Feb 2026, 16:19 Richard Scales, <[email protected]> wrote:
> How about now! > > On Fri, 6 Feb 2026, 15:19 newxito, <[email protected]> wrote: > >> There seems to be a problem with the pictures... >> >> Richard Scales schrieb am Freitag, 6. Februar 2026 um 10:17:39 UTC+1: >> >>> I discovered the Smart Socket design for B7971 tubes almost 10 years ago >>> and I built a couple of devices using them. >>> At the time I made up a bunch of spare boards for future projects but >>> never really did anything with them. >>> Since then I have developed a number of methods to ease the process of >>> linking the smart sockets together, each one an improvement (IMHO) on the >>> previous one. >>> Winding the clock forward to today - I now have a modular system that >>> links the original sockets (if it ain't broke, don't fix it!) together in >>> pairs, making it relatively easy to create a device with any even number of >>> tubes. >>> The first board is the 'controller' which has space to mount two smart >>> sockets and it provides the following features: >>> >>> - *Dual led tube underlighting (for those that like it)* >>> - *5V and HV power supplies (NCH6300HV from Omnixie)* >>> - *Wemos micro controller* >>> - *12V power socket* >>> - *PIR socket * >>> - *eeProm for word storage* >>> >>> The second (and subsequent) board(s) include the tube underlighting and >>> space for an additional HV module if needed. >>> >>> I currently have this configured as a FLW clock though plan to extend it >>> to 8 or more tubes as time (and tubes) permit. >>> >>> >>> In the pictures, the top layer is made up of the regular B7971 Smart >>> Sockets whilst the bottom layer shows the 'controller' board on the left >>> and the 'extension' board on the right - these two boards link together >>> using either wired connections or 90 degree pin/sockets as desired. >>> All electronics on these two boards in 'underneath' with the exception >>> of the APA-106 LEDs. >>> I appreciate that there are many other ways to drive these tubes but I >>> have done a lot with 'smart sockets' over the years and I already had 20 >>> made up which is how I arrived at this solution. >>> >>> - Richard >>> >> -- >> 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/tSyZ7dNakDY/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/ace4a785-9017-4768-9a5f-b23b83102971n%40googlegroups.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/ace4a785-9017-4768-9a5f-b23b83102971n%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/CA%2B9r3s-eFX%3D5WbVfwDA-bqcQVgEcE9q2fxKNcXyErOhdumUmNA%40mail.gmail.com.
