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Nixie Clock ‘SN18’ 

www.pvelectronics.co.uk 

- 1 -

Assembly Instructions 

And  

User Guide 

 

Nixie Clock Type 

‘SN-18’ 

Software version: V1.0 

PCB Revision: 13 July 10 

 

 

 

Summary of Contents for SN-18

Page 1: ...Nixie Clock SN18 www pvelectronics co uk 1 Assembly Instructions And User Guide Nixie Clock Type SN 18 Software version V1 0 PCB Revision 13 July 10 ...

Page 2: ...18 or IN 8 Nixie tube 12 or 24 hour time display Adjustable night blanking period with adjustable override period Alarm with snooze Customisable snooze period 6 9 12 or 15 minutes Crystal timebase with software calibration Optional WWVB or DCF77 synchronization Software shutdown of HV for optimum WWVB or DCF seek Auto night synchronisation for optimum signal reception user configurable Blue or whi...

Page 3: ...ng The voltages generated by this circuit can give a potentially LETHAL ELECTRIC SHOCK DISCLAIMER This product is supplied as a kit of parts intended only for suitably qualified electronic engineers who are suitably qualified and experienced in electronics assembly and are familiar with safe procedures for working with high voltages The supplier his agents or associates accept no liability for any...

Page 4: ...n be very hard to work with Desoldering wick braid can be useful if you accidentally create solder bridges between adjacent solder joints 2 3 Other items you will need The clock kit does not include a power adapter This is because the kit is sold to many countries around the world each with very different household mains outlet socket types It is more efficient for the user to buy a suitable adapt...

Page 5: ...1 1N4001 D2 UF4004 Fast recovery diode D3 Not installed D4 1N4148 or BAT42 D5 5mm Bicolour LED D6 5mm White or Blue LED D7 5mm Orange LED Integrated Circuits IC1 78L05 5V Voltage regulator IC2 PIC16F1827A 8 bit Microcontroller IC3 74141 K155N Nixie driver Miscellaneous L1 100uH 470uH Inductor SW1 SW2 SW3 Miniature push button VR1 1K Potentiometer PCB PCB IC socket 18 Way IC socket for IC2 SKT1 14 ...

Page 6: ...ge regulator 1 PIC16F1827A 8 bit Microcontroller 1 74141 K155N Nixie driver 1 Miscellaneous 100uH 470uH Inductor 1 Miniature push button 3 1K Potentiometer 1 1mm Socket receptacle 14 SN18 PCB 1 IC Socket 18 way DIL 1 Piezo Sounder 1 32 768Khz Crystal 1 6cm 2 Way cable 1 2 1mm Chassis power socket 1 6cm Clear insulation 1 4 way 0 1 Header socket 1 4 way Right angle pin strip1 1 60Khz or 77 5Khz RF ...

Page 7: ...y this part may be substituted for a different but equivalent part number so the part marking may not necessarily be IRF730 Diodes D1 1N4001 is black with a white band and marked 1N4001 A 1N4007 diode may be supplied instead This is identical for this circuit The other black diode is D2 and again due to part availability it may be substituted for an equivalent D4 1N4148 is small with a pink glass ...

Page 8: ... up the white bands on the components with the component marking on the PCB See Figure 2 below Figure 2 Solder in the diodes then using the wire clippers trim off the leads 4 2 Diode D4 Note that there is no D3 D4 is the remaining pink or blue diode Again noting the position of the band which is black on this component bend as shown in figure 3 then place in position as per figure 4 Solder in and ...

Page 9: ...vertically to save board space Bend each resistor in turn as shown in figure 6 below Figure 6 Bend resistor lead as shown The easiest solution is to place all the resistors at once then swiftly turn the PCB upside down A sheet of paper on the topside can prevent all the resistors dropping out The PCB will then sit neatly on all the resistors keeping them pushed firmly up against the PCB Figure 7 d...

Page 10: ...hown below Trim the leads short and clean on the base of the PCB Figure 8 C1 and C2 4 5 Q2 and IC1 These components look identical except for the part marking so be very careful in placing these two components Q2 MPSA42 IC1 78L05 Follow the white PCB marking which indicates the orientation of the component Refer to figure 9 which shows Q2 Figure 9 ...

Page 11: ...connector at this stage 4 7 IC3 and Socket for IC2 Insert the 18 way IC socket into the PCB at the IC2 location ensuring that the notch at one end is aligned with the corresponding mark on the PCB Insert IC3 directly into the PCB again observing that the notch on the component is aligned with the notch on the PCB marking Solder both components in place but do NOT insert IC2 at this stage This will...

Page 12: ...ase plans Figure 12 MOSFET Q1 and VR1 4 9 Inductor L1 Place L1 in position and ensure it is as close to the board as possible The leads of the component may not match exactly the spacing on the board this is perfectly normal You can slightly form the leads so it is a nice firm and snug fit to the board Solder and trim the leads as short as possible Figure 13 Inductor L1 ...

Page 13: ...ill fail Each capacitor has a positive lead which is the longer lead and a negative lead marked by a white or grey stripe on the body In Figure 14 the longer lead and white stripe can be clearly seen Figure 14 Electrolytic capacitors Place each component as shown in figure 15 below with the longer lead in the hole marked Solder in and trim the leads Figure 15 Electrolytic capacitors placed on the ...

Page 14: ...m the component side and after inserting each socket solder from above on the component side This helps you keep it pointing vertically as you solder it Once all 14 or 11 sockets have been soldered in go around and ensure they are all vertical and equally spaced It is a good idea at this point to offer the tube up to test if all the sockets mate up with the tube pins Make small adjustments to sock...

Page 15: ... use it it may be used as a seconds indicator for D5 if you will not be using the WWVB or DCF syncronisation feature If you are installing D7 proceed as follows Select the orange LED and find the longer lead Insert into the hole marked Install at a height suitable for the case you will be using You can use small pieces of the clear insulation provided if you wish Finally you may like to bend over ...

Page 16: ...how red and you may choose to install an alternative colour LED if you wish perhaps the orange PM LED if you didn t use it in step 4 13 above In this case refer to Figure 20 below Install the bicolour SECS LED as follows It is critical to orient the LED correctly It has a long middle lead and two outer leads of unequal length Refer to figure 21 which shows the correct orientation As with the PM LE...

Page 17: ...require its function it may be omitted Taking great care with the orientation of the long and short leads of the LED form the leads as shown below and then install in the PCB as shown in figure 23 Take care to ensure the leads are sufficiently spaced from the Nixie socket pins Once soldered in place remember to trim the excess leads on the COMPONENT side of the PCB Figure 22 Forming the leads of d...

Page 18: ...ay from the white markings of where the Piezo sounder will be placed 4 17 Piezo sounder LS1 The piezo sounder is also placed on the SOLDER side of the PCB Use the two holes that best match up with the Piezo provided two different types may be supplied depending on part availability It should sit very neatly up against the PCB Remember to trim the excess leads on the COMPONENT side of the PCB Figur...

Page 19: ...nics co uk 19 4 18 Push buttons SW1 SW2 SW3 These are mounted as shown below on the SOLDER side of the PCB however if you wish they may be placed on the top COMPONENT side Figure 26 Push button switches on the SOLDER side of the PCB ...

Page 20: ...igure 27 Identify and snip off Figure 28 Bend the remaining leads the unwanted lead as shown Make a new BEND don t use the existing bend as it will break Figure 29 Negative and positive pins Figure 30 Solder on the short cable ready for attaching the cable using the black stripe for the negative pin Figure 31 Solder the power cable to the PCB connecting the negative side to the on the PCB ...

Page 21: ...oldering the wires to the ANT pads on the PCB Figure 32 WWVB or DCF Module assembled Do not insert the module into the socket on the main PCB yet If you wish to it is a good idea to test the module and also the signal quality of the module You can do this on a breadboard prototyping board with a 5V DC supply a LED and a 330 ohm or 470 ohm resistor for the LED Connect as follows Figure 33 Connectio...

Page 22: ...d live parts are exposed Observe high voltage precautions 5 1 Testing the power supplies Insert IC2 the PIC16Fxxxx Align the notch on the IC with the notch on the IC socket and on the PCB The notch should be pointing towards the PM LED See figure 34 Referring to figure 34 below identify the GND 5V and HV High Voltage test points Using a volmeter on DC setting test first the 5V and then the HV supp...

Page 23: ...s ADJ button and then power up Hold ADJ until the clock bleeps and then release The clock will be flashing the hours Adjust with the ADJ button Press SET to move to the minutes setup Once the minutes have been set pressing SET once more will start time display mode Display Modes The clock has 4 display modes which may be toggled by pressing and holding the SET Button The clock will display 0 1 2 3...

Page 24: ...ently stored value Press ADJ further times to make adjustment or press SET to store and return to the next parameter You need to go through all parameters to store the settings to non volatile memory and exit If you are not changing the value of a parameter simply press SET to move to the next parameter It is a good idea to study the table on the next page and write down your required value before...

Page 25: ... default 2 1 3 Radio Time Rx period mins 0 50 default 10 2 4 Radio Time Signal Source 0 No Radio Time Source3 1 DCF default 2 WWVB 5 Local time offset from Radio time 0 no offset Europe4 default 1 minus 1 hour UK Ireland4 2 minus 2 hours 3 minus 5 hours USA Eastern5 4 minus 6 hours USA Central5 5 minus 7 hours USA Mountain5 6 minus 8 hours USA Pacific5 7 plus 1 hour Eastern Europe 4 8 plus 2 hours...

Page 26: ... Nixie Clock and the accurate time base Divide this number by the number of days full 24 hour periods of the test Apply the calculation below and example to calculate the values for parameters 13 and 14 Calculation Parameter 13 0 if clock is too fast Parameter 13 1 if clock is too slow Parameter 14 Deviation per day X 5 33 Example Clock is too fast by 15 seconds in 3 days Deviation per day full 24...

Page 27: ...ose proximity Metal objects cause reception problems too It is suggested to start off with the antenna by a window in the approximate direction of the signal Do not point the antenna at the direction of the signal but have the antenna side on to the signal direction Once a good signal has been obtained try different locations and progressively further from the window Place and design your case so ...

Page 28: ... Clock SN18 www pvelectronics co uk 28 To exit WWVB or DCF reception press the SET Button briefly To comand a WWVB or DCF sync manually from time display modes 1 2 or 3 Press ADJ until a short bleep is heard ...

Page 29: ...Nixie Clock SN18 www pvelectronics co uk 29 8 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM ...

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