nixie driver
 

JIMMIE wrote:
On Apr 8, 9:51 am, Tim Shoppa wrote:
On Apr 3, 10:34 am, 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.
Domestic 74141's are hard to find these days but on E-bay the Russian
equivalent is very common.

Yes, you could build just about anything with a one-of-ten decoder and
some current-sink drivers to do the same.

If the goal isn't nixie tubes but is a working frequency counter, you
could probably put the counter up on E-bay for somebody who wants
nixie tubes, and use the money to buy several superior frequency
counters.

Tim N3QE

I forgot that the 74141 was also a decoder chip. I was thinking it was
just a driver. That complicates things a bit.
As far as the quality of the counter goes it works just fine and I
still have a few 74141s though my supply is getting low. I may try
some of the Russian chips.


If this keeps going on and becomes a money pit without a bottom there is
still the unthinkable: Hack the counter and put 7-segment LED displays
in it. Ok, all that nice Nixie-ambience will be lost but you can apply
those $7-8 per 74141 towards a more worthy cause, like a nice six-pack
of fine porter or pale ale :-)

To maintain somewhat of a vintage look: For a brief time period there
were 7-segment displays with small filaments in there. But could be
tough to find in surplus store and usually you have to buy the equipment
around them along with the display. Another nice option (if there is
enough space depth-wise) were displays with individual lamps and number
lenses. Those look really cool.

Also helpful could be to use a DSO and scope out what happens when the
counter gets turned on and off, and when the numbers are changing
wildly. Maybe some electrolytic cap has dried out and an overvoltage
spike shows up only the Nixie supply rail, occasionally frying a driver.
Ground contacts in the driver board area are also worth to be checked out.

--
73, Joerg

nixie driver
 

Joerg wrote:
JIMMIE wrote:
On Apr 8, 9:51 am, Tim Shoppa wrote:
On Apr 3, 10:34 am, 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.
Domestic 74141's are hard to find these days but on E-bay the Russian
equivalent is very common.

Yes, you could build just about anything with a one-of-ten decoder and
some current-sink drivers to do the same.

If the goal isn't nixie tubes but is a working frequency counter, you
could probably put the counter up on E-bay for somebody who wants
nixie tubes, and use the money to buy several superior frequency
counters.

Tim N3QE

I forgot that the 74141 was also a decoder chip. I was thinking it was
just a driver. That complicates things a bit.
As far as the quality of the counter goes it works just fine and I
still have a few 74141s though my supply is getting low. I may try
some of the Russian chips.


If this keeps going on and becomes a money pit without a bottom there is
still the unthinkable: Hack the counter and put 7-segment LED displays
in it. Ok, all that nice Nixie-ambience will be lost but you can apply
those $7-8 per 74141 towards a more worthy cause, like a nice six-pack
of fine porter or pale ale :-)

To maintain somewhat of a vintage look: For a brief time period there
were 7-segment displays with small filaments in there. But could be
tough to find in surplus store and usually you have to buy the equipment
around them along with the display. Another nice option (if there is
enough space depth-wise) were displays with individual lamps and number
lenses. Those look really cool.

Also helpful could be to use a DSO and scope out what happens when the
counter gets turned on and off, and when the numbers are changing
wildly. Maybe some electrolytic cap has dried out and an overvoltage
spike shows up only the Nixie supply rail, occasionally frying a driver.
Ground contacts in the driver board area are also worth to be checked out.

Use the 74141 (or a 7441 I think is the lv version of the 1 out of 10
decoder) to drive HV NPN transistors. The 2n5400/5401 pnp and
2n5550/2n5551 npn are dirt cheap 120/150 volt transistors that could be
used.

nixie driver
 

On Apr 13, 5:47*pm, ken scharf wrote:
Joerg wrote:
JIMMIE wrote:
On Apr 8, 9:51 am, Tim Shoppa wrote:
On Apr 3, 10:34 am, 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.
Domestic 74141's are hard to find these days but on E-bay the Russian
equivalent is very common.

Yes, you could build just about anything with a one-of-ten decoder and
some current-sink drivers to do the same.

If the goal isn't nixie tubes but is a working frequency counter, you
could probably put the counter up on E-bay for somebody who wants
nixie tubes, and use the money to buy several superior frequency
counters.

Tim N3QE

I forgot that the 74141 was also a decoder chip. I was thinking it was
just a driver. That complicates things a bit.
As far as the quality of the counter goes it works just fine and I
still have a few 74141s though my supply is getting low. I may try
some of the Russian chips.

If this keeps going on and becomes a money pit without a bottom there is
still the unthinkable: Hack the counter and put 7-segment LED displays
in it. Ok, all that nice Nixie-ambience will be lost but you can apply
those $7-8 per 74141 towards a more worthy cause, like a nice six-pack
of fine porter or pale ale :-)

To maintain somewhat of a vintage look: For a brief time period there
were 7-segment displays with small filaments in there. But could be
tough to find in surplus store and usually you have to buy the equipment
around them along with the display. Another nice option (if there is
enough space depth-wise) were displays with individual lamps and number
lenses. Those look really cool.

Also helpful could be to use a DSO and scope out what happens when the
counter gets turned on and off, and when the numbers are changing
wildly. Maybe some electrolytic cap has dried out and an overvoltage
spike shows up only the Nixie supply rail, occasionally frying a driver..
Ground contacts in the driver board area are also worth to be checked out.

Use the 74141 (or a 7441 I think is the lv version of the 1 out of 10
decoder) to drive HV NPN transistors. *The 2n5400/5401 pnp and
2n5550/2n5551 npn are dirt cheap 120/150 volt transistors that could be
used.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I manage to get a dozen chips for $.50 a piece form a mom/pop place I
buy parts from. I bought the last they had and probably ever will
have.. If I could find a schematic on the thing I would see what I
could do about reducing the voltage. Im afraid to do too much
experimenting with the thing because its a good counter with at least
some sentimental value I dont want to risk damaging it. The back of
the counter has a connector with BCD output I guess I could always
build a display to work from there.

Systron Donner 6153 if there is a schematic available.

Jimmie

nixie driver
 

You can find K155ID1 here for 1.50USD:
http://www.tubehobby.com/show_det.php?det=34

--
Gianluca

nixie driver
 

On Apr 17, 12:38*pm, "LAB" wrote:
* * You can find K155ID1 here for 1.50USD:http://www.tubehobby.com/show_det.php?det=34

--
Gianluca

Maybe it is a little un-cool for me to mention this but there is an
entire yahoo group devoted to all things nixie including tubes drivers
parts procurement circuit s etc.

Steve

nixie driver
 

On Wed, 8 Apr 2009 06:51:53 -0700 (PDT), Tim Shoppa
wrote:

On Apr 3, 10:34*am, 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.

Domestic 74141's are hard to find these days but on E-bay the Russian
equivalent is very common.

Yes, you could build just about anything with a one-of-ten decoder and
some current-sink drivers to do the same.

If the goal isn't nixie tubes but is a working frequency counter, you
could probably put the counter up on E-bay for somebody who wants
nixie tubes, and use the money to buy several superior frequency
counters.

Tim N3QE

Just remember to cut down on the voltage and current to the nixie
tubes and the 141s will last forever...

Bruce W0BF

nixie driver
 

On Apr 19, 2:00*pm, Bruce W. Ellis wrote:
On Wed, 8 Apr 2009 06:51:53 -0700 (PDT), Tim Shoppa





wrote:
On Apr 3, 10:34*am, 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.

Domestic 74141's are hard to find these days but on E-bay the Russian
equivalent is very common.

Yes, you could build just about anything with a one-of-ten decoder and
some current-sink drivers to do the same.

If the goal isn't nixie tubes but is a working frequency counter, you
could probably put the counter up on E-bay for somebody who wants
nixie tubes, and use the money to buy several superior frequency
counters.

Tim N3QE

Just remember to cut down on the voltage and current to the nixie
tubes and the 141s will last forever...

Bruce *W0BF- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks all for the input. I managed to cut the voltage back from about
210VDC to 185VDC and the display still looks good, the change in
brightness was barely discernable. It may take a while to see if this
helped. What voltage do you normally run on nixies. I wish I had more
data on the nixies but I dont have a part number.

Jimmie

nixie driver
 

JIMMIE wrote:
On Apr 19, 2:00 pm, Bruce W. Ellis wrote:
On Wed, 8 Apr 2009 06:51:53 -0700 (PDT), Tim Shoppa





wrote:
On Apr 3, 10:34 am, 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.
Domestic 74141's are hard to find these days but on E-bay the Russian
equivalent is very common.
Yes, you could build just about anything with a one-of-ten decoder and
some current-sink drivers to do the same.
If the goal isn't nixie tubes but is a working frequency counter, you
could probably put the counter up on E-bay for somebody who wants
nixie tubes, and use the money to buy several superior frequency
counters.
Tim N3QE
Just remember to cut down on the voltage and current to the nixie
tubes and the 141s will last forever...

Bruce W0BF- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks all for the input. I managed to cut the voltage back from about
210VDC to 185VDC and the display still looks good, the change in
brightness was barely discernable. It may take a while to see if this
helped. What voltage do you normally run on nixies. I wish I had more
data on the nixies but I dont have a part number.



Yikes, 210V sounds high. I just took a look at the old 1985 databook
from TI. It does not state an abs max off-state voltage but under
recommended operating conditions it says 60V. If memory serves me right
mine used to run around 150V.

This datasheet says 60V minimum and it appears there are zeners built in
that limit what the 74141 output transistor sees:

http://wiki.cecs.pdx.edu/pub/JoeProj...lock/74141.pdf

Probably that zener is low enough in voltage not to fry the transistor
yet high enough that the nixie element will extinguish. BTW there are
lots of 74141 on Ebay for around $0.50-$1.00 in medium quantities. Looks
like they are from Russia.

--
73, Joerg

nixie driver
 

Bruce W. Ellis wrote:
On Wed, 8 Apr 2009 06:51:53 -0700 (PDT), Tim Shoppa
wrote:

On Apr 3, 10:34 am, 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.
Domestic 74141's are hard to find these days but on E-bay the Russian
equivalent is very common.

Yes, you could build just about anything with a one-of-ten decoder and
some current-sink drivers to do the same.

If the goal isn't nixie tubes but is a working frequency counter, you
could probably put the counter up on E-bay for somebody who wants
nixie tubes, and use the money to buy several superior frequency
counters.

Tim N3QE

Just remember to cut down on the voltage and current to the nixie
tubes and the 141s will last forever...


One risk with such chips is that a nixie element occasionally reaches
strike voltage while the respective driver output is off. Or doesn't
extinguish right away when turned off. Then the dissipation in the 55V
zeners inside might be too much to stomach for the little chip.
According to the datasheet those things aren't really high voltage switches.

--
73, Joerg

nixie driver
 

On Apr 21, 6:07*pm, Joerg
wrote:
Bruce W. Ellis wrote:
On Wed, 8 Apr 2009 06:51:53 -0700 (PDT), Tim Shoppa
wrote:

On Apr 3, 10:34 am, 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.
Domestic 74141's are hard to find these days but on E-bay the Russian
equivalent is very common.

Yes, you could build just about anything with a one-of-ten decoder and
some current-sink drivers to do the same.

If the goal isn't nixie tubes but is a working frequency counter, you
could probably put the counter up on E-bay for somebody who wants
nixie tubes, and use the money to buy several superior frequency
counters.

Tim N3QE

Just remember to cut down on the voltage and current to the nixie
tubes and the 141s will last forever...

One risk with such chips is that a nixie element occasionally reaches
strike voltage while the respective driver output is off. Or doesn't
extinguish right away when turned off. Then the dissipation in the 55V
zeners inside might be too much to stomach for the little chip.
According to the datasheet those things aren't really high voltage switches.

--
73, Joerg- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The current limiting resistor going to the tubes is 39K. Im going to
increase that to 47K and see what happens. After putting in new chips
it may be months to a year before I see another problem with it. I
wish I knew what I was up against if I had a schematic, knew what the
voltages were supposed to be it would help greatly. I bought one a
surplus from where I work and from what I heard of its history it had
ths problem for along time. The second one I got ws at a hamfest and
it too seems to have the same problem. Could it be bad nixie tubes?

Jimmie