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Warm Tube Clock 

Assembly Instructions for the „IN-16 Nixie shield“ 

Document Version: 2011-01-05 

www.elektronika.ba 

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Warm Tube Clock 

Assembly Instructions for the “IN-16 Nixie shield” 

Introduction 

Congratulations on your purchase of OSH Nixie Tube Clock. In this document you will see all steps 
you need to follow in order to successfully assemble the “IN-16 Nixie shield” of this device. 

Before we start, please make sure that you have all required parts that come for the “IN-16 Nixie 
shield”: 

Qty 

Value 

Device 

Parts 

2x6 MALE PIN HEADER 

PINHD-2X6 

PIN_MAL_1, PIN_MAL_2 

3k9 

R-EU_0204/2V 

R3 

10k 

R-EU_0204/2V 

R4 

10nF 

C-EU025-024X044 

C3 

47uF/16V 

CPOL-EU-HORI 

C1 

100nF-1uF 

C-EUC0805 

C2 

910k 

R-EU_0207/10 

R1, R2 

IN-16 NIXIE TUBE 

IN-16-X-NEW-NODOT 

NIX1, NIX2, NIX3, NIX4 

LED 1210 COMM ANODE 

LED-TRICOLOR 

LED1, LED2, LED3, LED4 

NIXIE-DOT 

NIXIE-DOT 

NIX-LDOT, NIX-UDOT 

TLC59401 

TLC59401 

IC1 

TLP627 SMD 

TLP627V1 

OPT1, OPT2, OPT3, OPT4 

List of all parts for the “IN-16 Nixie shield” board 

All parts should be assembled in correct order, starting from SMD components to low profile 
components and finally to high profile ones. Component locations are not marked on PCB because a 
“clean look” of the shield is very important. So, component (Part) locations are in the following image 
and their values are in the above table. 

 

Note: The assembly of this shield PCB implies that you have already successfully assembled the 
“main board” of the Warm Tube Clock. 

 

Summary of Contents for IN-16

Page 1: ...25 024X044 C3 1 47uF 16V CPOL EU HORI C1 1 100nF 1uF C EUC0805 C2 2 910k R EU_0207 10 R1 R2 4 IN 16 NIXIE TUBE IN 16 X NEW NODOT NIX1 NIX2 NIX3 NIX4 4 LED 1210 COMM ANODE LED TRICOLOR LED1 LED2 LED3 L...

Page 2: ...d PCB so you can skip this step or read it FYI and see how easy it is to solder complicated SMD parts at home 1 Make sure the PCB pad where IC goes is clean from grease Rub it with some alcohol just i...

Page 3: ...ers gently place the component in its position Push it all the way to the PCB so it kind of glues itself Make sure it is centred and placed correctly 5 It looks something like this before hot plating...

Page 4: ...d solder so don t worry that is normal The end of the soldering process is when the solder paste fully melts just like in the following picture 10 Now it is time to remove the PCB from the hot plate I...

Page 5: ...e common Anode is marked on the PCB as you can see the upper right corner has a white mark The first pin on this RGB LED is actually a Cathode of the RED LED part so by following the IC marking conven...

Page 6: ...Warm Tube Clock Assembly Instructions for the IN 16 Nixie shield Document Version 2011 01 05 www elektronika ba 6 4 Your finished work should look like this...

Page 7: ...ument Version 2011 01 05 www elektronika ba 7 Step 3 Now find the 103 C3 capacitor 10nF 0 01uF It is used to filter voltage spikes for the TLC59401 IC It must run flawlessly since every flicker will b...

Page 8: ...ided to the RGB LEDs and also to the opto couplers for more information about this LED current see the TLC59401 datasheet The 10k resistor is simply a pull up resistor for the BLANK line of the TLC594...

Page 9: ...d the shield board so make sure they get soldered correctly 1 Put these into the female pin headers on the main board all the way in Now place the shield board on top of the main board like in the pic...

Page 10: ...g But what if it doesn t work properly 1 Turn off the DC power supply 2 Make sure you have Atmel AVR placed in its socket on the main board 3 Make sure your Atmel AVR has a valid firmware programmed f...

Page 11: ...ll four of TLP627 SMD opto couplers OPT1 OPT2 OPT3 and OPT4 1 Even though these are SMD they are pretty big and easy to solder 2 Place them correctly and in proper orientation and while holding with t...

Page 12: ...Warm Tube Clock Assembly Instructions for the IN 16 Nixie shield Document Version 2011 01 05 www elektronika ba 12 4 Now solder all pins of every opto coupler to complete the work...

Page 13: ...ion 2011 01 05 www elektronika ba 13 Step 8 Now get the remaining two 910k resistors R1 and R2 These will provide GND to two Nixie dots from two NPN high voltage transistors from the main board 1 Plac...

Page 14: ...Version 2011 01 05 www elektronika ba 14 Step 9 Now take the 47uF electrolytic capacitor C1 It is used as a power storage capacitor for the LEDs and the TLC59401 1 Bend it like in the picture 2 Place...

Page 15: ...C2 It is used to filter out the supply voltage for the TLC59401 IC together with the 103 capacitor C3 Since those RGB LEDs draw pretty much current it is a good idea to provide the TLC59401 with a st...

Page 16: ...th more current So for more orange glow increase value of those 910k resistors You can experiment here 2 For the IN 16 Nixie tube you should solder the lower dot at a distance of 12 65mm from the PCB...

Page 17: ...r the IN 16 Nixie shield Document Version 2011 01 05 www elektronika ba 17 4 Now solder the upper dot behind it It should go around 21 3mm from the top of the PCB 5 Now take a minute to relax because...

Page 18: ...the way to the glass but only the piece that sticks out of the plastic bottom This way we can re use these dots sometimes in future when and if you ever decide to disassemble the IN 16 Nixie shield P...

Page 19: ...Warm Tube Clock Assembly Instructions for the IN 16 Nixie shield Document Version 2011 01 05 www elektronika ba 19...

Page 20: ...Clock Assembly Instructions for the IN 16 Nixie shield Document Version 2011 01 05 www elektronika ba 20 Tests This assembly requires no further tests You have tested all your work in the upper assem...

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