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User manual – Glass Clock Design #3 

rev 1.2

Table of Contents

 1 Glass Clock Design #3...........................................................................................................................4
 2 Introduction to Nixie Tubes...................................................................................................................5
 3 Clock Features........................................................................................................................................7
 4 Unpacking and setting up the Clock......................................................................................................8
 5 Setting the Clock....................................................................................................................................9

 5.1 Clock diagram................................................................................................................................9
 5.2 Setting the time and date..............................................................................................................10
 5.3 Set time mode...............................................................................................................................10

 5.3.1 Setting the time - hours.........................................................................................................10
 5.3.2 Setting the time – minutes....................................................................................................11

 5.4 Set date mode...............................................................................................................................11

 5.4.1 Setting the date – month.......................................................................................................12
 5.4.2 Setting the date – day............................................................................................................12
 5.4.3 Setting the date - year...........................................................................................................12

 5.5 Setting the Alarm Time.................................................................................................................13

 5.5.1 Enabling the Alarm...............................................................................................................13
 5.5.2 Set Alarm time mode............................................................................................................13
 5.5.3 Setting the time - hours.........................................................................................................14
 5.5.4 Setting the time – minutes....................................................................................................14

 5.6 Changing clock options................................................................................................................15

 5.6.1 Option 1 – 12/24 hour mode.................................................................................................15
 5.6.2 Option 2 – Date format display option.................................................................................16
 5.6.3 Option 3 – Display option, time/date/temperature, crossfade..............................................17
 5.6.4 Option 4 – Temperature units, F or C...................................................................................18
 5.6.5 Option 5 – Brightness level..................................................................................................19
 5.6.6 Option 6 – Anti-cathode poisoning function........................................................................20

 5.7 Setting the display ON/OFF times...............................................................................................21

 5.7.1 Entering the OFF/ON set time enable..................................................................................21
 5.7.2 Setting the OFF time.............................................................................................................22
 5.7.3 Setting the ON time..............................................................................................................23
 5.7.4 Disabling OFF/ON time.......................................................................................................24

 6 Maintenance and Care..........................................................................................................................25

 6.1 Cleaning........................................................................................................................................25
 6.2 Use................................................................................................................................................25

 7 Warranty...............................................................................................................................................26
 8 Specifications.......................................................................................................................................27

Page 2 of 27

Summary of Contents for Glass Tube Clock 3

Page 1: ...Glass Nixie Tube Clock 3 User s manual Cold War Creations 2010...

Page 2: ...User manual Glass Clock Design 3 rev 1 2 Page 1 of 27...

Page 3: ...ling the Alarm 13 5 5 2 Set Alarm time mode 13 5 5 3 Setting the time hours 14 5 5 4 Setting the time minutes 14 5 6 Changing clock options 15 5 6 1 Option 1 12 24 hour mode 15 5 6 2 Option 2 Date for...

Page 4: ...ly used these Nixie tubes The case is all optically clear Simax glass and clear acrylic support pieces to complement the glass vacuum tube construction of the Nixies 3 or Glass Clock Design 3 is the t...

Page 5: ...and were discontinued A Nixie tube display which should really be called a gas indicator tube works like a neon bulb A neon bulb works by a high voltage ionizing neon gas causing the gas to glow with...

Page 6: ...Unlike the U S Tubes they were manufactured well into the 1980 s Since the collapse of the Soviet Union these tubes became available on the surplus market possibly from old warehouses of obsolete ele...

Page 7: ...ionally be displayed in either mm dd yy or dd mm yy format Temperature can optionally be displayed in either Degrees F or Degrees C Power loss time backup will not lose the time if power fails and no...

Page 8: ...s complete the display will read 00 00 00 Then each digit will go blank one at a time starting with the leftmost digit This completes the self test The clock has to buttons On the left is a black func...

Page 9: ...tion describes how to set the clock This includes setting the time and date plus all the display options Setting the Nixie clock features is accomplished by using the red mode button and the black fun...

Page 10: ...If the clock loses time first setup or without power for an extended period of time the time displayed will be all zeroes 0 00 To cancel setting the time value at any point press and hold the red mod...

Page 11: ...is set Now that the time is set the clock will go to the set date mode 5 4 Set date mode When the clock is in the set date mode the current date will be displayed with the days 2 leftmost digits blink...

Page 12: ...mber 2 middle digits will be blinking Use the black function button left side to change the day value 01 31 Once the day value is set to the proper value press the red mode button momentarily The cloc...

Page 13: ...present turning the switch OFF will cancel the alarm When the time equals the alarm time the alarm output will go on for 30 seconds unless canceled by the Alarm Enable Switch 5 5 2 Set Alarm time mode...

Page 14: ...fternoon Once the hours are set to the proper value press the red mode button right side momentarily The clock will then go to the minutes set mode 5 5 4 Setting the time minutes When the minutes midd...

Page 15: ...12 24 hour mode Option 2 Date format option mm dd yy or dd mm yy Option 3 Display option time date temperature digit cross fade Option 4 Temperature units F or C Option 5 Brightness level auto or fixe...

Page 16: ...yed in the 2 middle digits indicating the selected date display format To change the format press the black function button left side Press the red mode button right side when the desired display form...

Page 17: ...e Deg C or Deg F see option 4 The Crossfade style option is when a digit changes value seconds counting up etc the old digit fades out while at the same time the new digit fades in This is a user pref...

Page 18: ...its with the colon on To change the temperature display format press the black function button left side Press the red mode button right side when the desired hour format is displayed The next option...

Page 19: ...n the dim level either manually selected or selected by the auto level the blinking colons will not be displayed on the time display A blinking 00 04 will be displayed in the 2 middle digits with the...

Page 20: ...rts of the digit will not light up This mode will cycle all the tubes through all the digits at full brightness 4 times exercising the digits preventing cathode poisoning A blinking 00 23 will be disp...

Page 21: ...n the display will turn back on Note When the display is off and either the red mode button or the black function button is pressed the display will go back on It will stay on until the next OFF time...

Page 22: ...tly press the red mode button to change to the minute value When the mode button is momentarily pressed the minutes digits will flash on and off once a second The black function button will change the...

Page 23: ...he red mode button right side to change to the minute value When the mode button is momentarily pressed the minutes digits will flash on and off once a second The black function button will change the...

Page 24: ...Glass Clock Design 3 rev 1 2 5 7 4 Disabling OFF ON time The display OFF function can be disabled by setting both the OFF and ON time to the same value such as 00 00 This will disable the OFF mode Pa...

Page 25: ...tubes they are delicate The round acrylic side shields mounted on both sides of the printed circuit card can be removed Remove the clear tape from the tabs and gently pull the side shields straight o...

Page 26: ...covered Minor flickering of neon colons is not covered Period of coverage One 1 year from date of purchase for the case circuit board and switches The Nixie tubes and neon colons are covered for 6 mo...

Page 27: ...ial Laser cut acrylic internal pieces 8 bit AVR Mega88 RISC processor Temperature compensated 32 kHz time keeping crystal 115 VAC wall transformer supplying 12 VDC 200 MA maximum current 6 IN 14 Sovie...

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