How long does a nixie tube clock last?
Average longevity of Nixie tubes varied from about 5,000 hours for the earliest types, to as high as 200,000 hours or more for some of the last types to be introduced.
Why are Nixie clocks so expensive?
The reason is that nobody is making nixie tubes on a commercial basis nowadays. As old tubes get used up, they also become more expensive. The tiny tubes used in watches are especially rare because they were rarely used in the nixie display age. The thing is that tubes were not popular in clocks until recent years.
How much power does a Nixie clock use?
Although the voltage is high, the amount of current flowing is very small, so the clocks do not use much power. They only consume about 3 to 4 Watts of power, and consequently generate almost no heat. The tubes are not hot or even warm to the touch.
Do nixie tube clocks use a lot of electricity?
Where are Nixie tubes made?
Czech Republic
Nixies return after a 30-year wait. The last nixie tube was made in the early 90s, when this beautiful technology was replaced by lower-cost alternatives. But production has now resumed in the Czech Republic.
What does Nixie mean?
noun. a letter or parcel that is undeliverable by the post office because of a faulty or illegible address.
Are Nixie tubes expensive?
Small nixie tubes are rare. Nixie tubes can be expensive when buying from eBay sellers. A few years ago whole boards from some 60ties device with 8 or more of them went for 1 – 2 eur at local flea market..
What is Nixie tube poisoning?
Nixie tube cathode poisoning can be detected by monitoring the on-voltage and current through the Nixie tube while igniting the digit. As described by www.tube-tester.com, if a nixie tube is operated without exciting all the digits, the unused digits will often become coating by a highly resistive sputtered material.
Can you make a Nixie tube clock?
Introduction: Make Your Own Retro Nixie Clock With an RTC! That means I will show you how you can control nixie tubes with a high voltage DC power supply and then I will combine 4 nixie tubes with an Arduino, a Real Time Clock (RTC) and a custom 3D printed enclosure in order to create the nixie clock.
Are Nixie tubes efficient?
Efficiency ranges from around 65% for 3.7V in, up to around 80% for 5V and 12V.
Do Nixie clocks get hot?