Pvelectronics Nixie Maestro Configuration guide
Nixie Clock Kit ' Maestro’
ISSUE 5 (01 June 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 1 -
Assembly Instructions
and User Guide
Nixie Clock Type
‘Nixie Maestro’
Nixie Clock Kit ' Maestro’
ISSUE 5 (01 June 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 2 -
REVISION HISTORY
Issue
Number
Date Reason for Issue
5 01 June 2018 New Version PCB
4 01 April 2017 New version with neons for AM PM
3 10 December 2014 Typing errors corrected. Updated photos.
Added MSF and DCF support
2 27 December 2012 GPS Indicator LED function clarified
1 06 December 2012 New document
Nixie Clock Kit ' Maestro’
ISSUE 5 (01 June 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 3 -
1. INTRODUCTION
Nixie Maestro is a fully-featured nixie clock kit, using a semi - assembled SMD
board. The clock shows time and date on six vintage IN-12 Nixie Tubes, which
are sourced from the former Soviet Union. Each tube has a RGB LED to
illuminate it, which creates a beautiful spectrum of colour effects. Several case
designs are available.
New for the 2018 version are some exciting new features. Maestro works best
in conjunction with our new XTERNA outdoor, wireless time and temperature
transmitter module, to report accurate GPS time and also outdoor temperature
with min max function. Additional highlights of the new Maestro Clock are
direct tube drive and independent double dot colon neons.
Here are the key features of the MAESTRO 2018 kit:
Hours, Minutes and Seconds display
Direct drive to six IN-12 Nixie Tubes
Also fits ZM1100, ZM1162 Tubes
Noiseless, Direct Drive giving optimum digit clarity
Uses a Quartz Crystal Oscillator as the timebase
12 or 24 hour modes
Programmable leading zero blanking
Date display in either DD.MM.YY or MM.DD.YY or YY.MM.DD format
Programmable date display each minute
Scrolling display of date or standard display
Alarm, with programmable snooze period
Optional GPS XTERNA
synchronisation with status indicator LED
Dedicated DST button to switch between DST and standard time
Supercapacitor backup. Keeps time during short power outages
Simple time setting using two buttons
Configurable for leading zero blanking
Double dot colon neon lamps
11 colon neon modes including AM PM indication (top bottom or left
right), railroad (slow or fast) etc.
Seconds can be reset to zero to precisely the set time
Programmable night mode - blanked or dimmed display to save tubes or
prevent sleep disturbance
Rear Indicator LEDs dim at night to prevent sleep disturbance
Weekday aware ‘Master Blank’ function to turn off HV tubes and LEDs on
weekends or during working hours
Separate modes for colon neons during night mode
Standard, fading, or crossfading with scrollback display modes.
‘Slot Machine’ Cathode poisoning prevention routine
Programmable RGB tube lighting – select YOUR favourite colour palette
729 colours possible. Have a different colour or your choosing every
hour, or autochanging colours
Not AC frequency dependent – works in all countries
All user preferences stored to non-volatile memory
Nixie Clock Kit ' Maestro’
ISSUE 5 (01 June 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 4 -
Additional wireless functions if XTERNA module used:
- Display of outdoor temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit each minute
- Min Max temperature in last 24 hours
- Wireless, Auto Sync of time from GPS with auxiliary TCXO
- GPS Sync time, and time since last GPS Fix
- Voltage of XTERNA module battery
- Firmware version of XTERNA module
Nixie Clock Kit ' Maestro’
ISSUE 5 (01 June 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 5 -
1.2 SAFETY
DANGER: The clock pcb includes a switched-mode voltage booster
circuit. This generates nominally 170 Volts DC. Assembly may only be
undertaken by individuals who are suitably qualified and experienced in
electronics assembly, and are familiar with safe procedures for working
with high voltages. If in doubt, refer to a suitably qualified engineer
before proceeding.
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 damage, injury or death arising from
the use of this kit of parts.
This is not a finished product, and the person assembling the kit is
responsible for ensuring that the finished product complies with any
applicable local regulations governing electrical equipment, eg. UL, CE,
VDE.
Nixie Clock Kit ' Maestro’
ISSUE 5 (01 June 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 6 -
2. TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
2.1 Tools required to assemble the PCB.
The following tools will be required to assemble the PCB:
- Soldering iron with a small tip (1-2 mm).
- Wire cutters to trim the excess component leads after soldering.
(Tip: A small pair of nail clippers works very well for this function).
- Wire strippers (Tip: A small pair of scissors is quite suitable).
- Multimeter for voltage tests and for identifying the resistors.
- A small hot air gun will be needed to shrink the heat shrink tubing
over the neon lamp wires.
2.2 Materials you will need.
Solder – lead tin solder is highly recommended.
USE LEAD/ TIN SOLDER!
Lead free solder, as now required to be used in commercial products in
Europe, has a much higher melting point and can 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.
The following type of adapter should be obtained and used with the kit:
Output 12V DC regulated, minimum power output capability of 500mA
Output plug: 2.1mm pin, centre po itive.
A suitable adapter is shown below:
Nixie Clock Kit ' Maestro’
ISSUE 5 (01 June 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 7 -
3. LIST OF COMPONENTS
Part Description PCB Marking QTY
Piezo sounder LS1 1
220uF Capacitor 16 – 25V C1, C2, C3 3
1uF Capacitor 250V C4 1
Vertical 3.5mm jack socket SYNC CONN 1
Vertical 2.1mm power socket J1 1
0.22F Capacitor C5 1
Vertical push switch SET, ADJ, ALARM, DST 4
5mm Yellow LED DST LED, ALM 2
5mm Green LED SYNC 1
4mm Neon lamp AM1, AM2, PM1, PM2 4
500mA Fuse F 1
APA106 RGB LED RGB1 – RGB6 6
2 way Right angle socket CY18 Module 2
CY18 Module (Supplied if you
ordered an XTERNA )
1
Harwin Socket 66
20cm Wire for antenna 1
15cm Clear heat shrink 1
LED Bending jig 1
Self Adhesive insulating sheet 1
It is recommended that the kit is checked against the list above, to
ensure all parts are present before commencing assembly. Don’t be
alarmed if there are some extra components, as some component
bags are shared between different kit types.
Please note the fuse will look like the picture below. It can easily be
confused for a capacitor. It is a self-resetting fuse.
Nixie Clock Kit ' Maestro’
ISSUE 5 (01 June 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 8 -
4. ASSEMBLY OF THE PCB
4.1 66 Harwin Sockets
Install and solder the sockets one tube location at a time, as
follows. Be sure to insert from the front of the PCB.
You may need to push in firmly. To hold them in place whilst you
solder, insert a IN-12 tube then flip over the PCB and solder the
sockets from the back of the PCB. Solder with minimum solder – as
soon as you see solder flow around the annulus, you can withdraw
the solder and iron.
Nixie Clock Kit ' Maestro’
ISSUE 5 (01 June 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 9 -
4.2 C1, C2, C3 (220uF
C4 (1uF
Noting the orientation of the pale stripe on the part, bend the leads
of the three 220uF capacitors as shown below.
Now solder into the PCB. It is easier to solder the top pads rather
than the bottom pads.
Now also solder C4 in a similar manner,with the white stripe
matching the white cross-hatching on the PCB.
4.3 F (500mA Fuse
J1 (DC Input socket
Solder the fuse on the front of the PCB, the same side as all the
surface mount components. The DC Socket goes on the same side
as the capacitors C1 – C4.
Nixie Clock Kit ' Maestro’
ISSUE 5 (01 June 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 10 -
4.4 Tube Test
Now comes a very exciting part of the assembly – the first tube
test. Take your six Nixie Tubes and carefully insert into the
sockets.
Take care, as high voltage will now be generated. Do not
touch the PCB when it is powered.
Now power up. After a short delay, the tubes should light and all
start counting from zero to 9 and repeat. Please note this is a
count up, not a count down. If you contact us with a support issue
at this stage, please be clear. If you refer to a count down, it will
be very confusing and slow down your support query!
If you do not get this count up, or have missing or overlapping
digits, stop and check your work. Try swapping tubes around to
see if the problem is with the tube, or the location. Please make
these basic tests before contacting us for help and have the results
to hand. If no tubes light, check the 5V and HV test points with
your multimeter, with the black probe on the GND test point. The
5V test point should measure 5.3V to 5.9V and the HV test point
165V to 178V.
Once the tube test is complete, remove the tubes until the PCB is
fully assembled.
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