[neonixie-l] Re: Raspberry PI controlled Nixie display

2017-04-08 Thread gregebert
I have an FPGA as my 'Plan B', in case the there isn't enough predictability in the Pi to display time down to the second. It wouldn't be much work to modify the Verilog code I did for my previous clock to allow the Pi to handle daylight savings, insert text messages, and possibly correct for t

Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Rare tubes on eBay..

2017-04-08 Thread GastonP
Well, I could think that money (or more precisely lack of it) is a good enough reason but there is space for disagreement there :-) On Friday, April 7, 2017 at 8:58:56 AM UTC-3, Alic wrote: > > Yeah, it's really beyond me why anyone would pay money for anything else > than the famous trio (zm104

[neonixie-l] Re: Constant current source design

2017-04-08 Thread GastonP
Yes... JFETs are extremely variable on their parameters so circuits using them need trimming of the external components if one needs a certain degree of precision. That, or negative feedback. On Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 12:02:25 AM UTC-3, gregebert wrote: > > My concern with current limiters

[neonixie-l] Re: Raspberry PI controlled Nixie display

2017-04-08 Thread GastonP
On Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 4:02:13 AM UTC-3, gregebert wrote: > > UPDATE: I have my RasPi Zero W running nicely as a headless system w/ > Raspian. > > I'm satisfied to the point I wont pursue Arduino anymore. > Having a $10 Linux-based platform that I can log into wirelessly & > remotely is

[neonixie-l] Re: Raspberry PI controlled Nixie display

2017-04-08 Thread gregebert
I'm just using C, and so far I have not chosen a development tool. The info I found on sparkfun mentions Geany (and it's included in the current raspian image), so I will try that first. There are sample programs included in the wiringPi distro for I2C and SPI. Have not tried either yet, but wi

[neonixie-l] Datasheet - µPD549C

2017-04-08 Thread HuggerMugger
Having ended up with some µPD549C but no clue how they are configured, I wonder if someone has a a datasheet for that IC. It's a PMOS driver for 7-segment VFD-displays, that's all I know. /Magnus --- Detta e-postmeddelande har sökts igenom efter virus med antivirusprogram från Avast. https:

[neonixie-l] Re: Constant current source design

2017-04-08 Thread Tomasz Kowalczyk
I'm afraid all active current limiters will change with temperature, just some will be affected more and some less. But small changes (0,1mA or less) won't be critical in a nixie clock, I think. So if a circuit will be stable enough to provide desired current +-0,1mA in temperature range of 0°C

Re: [neonixie-l] Re: Constant current source design

2017-04-08 Thread Paul Andrews
Totally agree. This is one reason I like to actually try these things out. > On Apr 7, 2017, at 11:02 PM, gregebert wrote: > > My concern with current limiters that rely heavily upon the datasheet specs > (Vgs for Depletion-mode regulator; Vbe for current-mirror) is that > variations due to

[neonixie-l] Re: Raspberry PI controlled Nixie display

2017-04-08 Thread Mitch
I'd like to give this a try, too. Greg, what IDE and language are you using? C++? Are I2C and SPI libraries available? Can more I/O be added without too much trouble? Better debug tools would be great. Starting with an environment reasonably similar to Arduino would make an easier and more co

[neonixie-l] Re: Raspberry PI controlled Nixie display

2017-04-08 Thread gregebert
UPDATE: I have my RasPi Zero W running nicely as a headless system w/ Raspian. WiFi range seems adequate, especially considering the antenna is integrated into the PC board. I run VNCserver on the Pi, and connect from one of my systems (no monitor or keyboard on the Pi) Power consumption w/ AC