Thread: nixie driver
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Old April 4th 09, 02:58 PM posted to rec.radio.amateur.homebrew
ken scharf ken scharf is offline
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First recorded activity by RadioBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 182
Default nixie driver

JIMMIE wrote:
I have a Systron Donner frequency counter that uses Nixie tubes. The
counter works fine but I am forever replacing the Nixie drivers
74141s. I started to use it this AM an one was out. Is there a
replacement for the 74141, I couldnt find one, or is there a circuit I
could build on a DIP header to replace them. I could probably design
one but I wanted something tried an tested as I dont want to put my
counter board at more risk than I have to.

Jimmie

The chips are failing for one of two reasons, over voltage or over
current. Try reducing the supply voltage to the minimum that will light
the nixies. Also try heatsinking the 74141's. They do make clip on
heatsinks for dip packages, but you can just superglue scraps of
aluminum to the top of the chips.