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Clever - Matt is using a simple power supply from a $5 one use camera to power a Nixie Tube, he writes -
"A Nixie Tube is a glass enclosure with what I believe to be neon in the inside. There is an anode with 10 elements, each representing 0-9. These were used before the 1970's when the LCD and LED did not exist.
I found some at the local surplus electronics shop, tore a power supply from a disposable camera and had success getting it to fire; they're pretty great and I intend to make a killer clock." - Link.
Related:
- Single tube Nixie clock - Link.
- Maker of the day - David Forbes, Nixie-display clocks ... - Link.
- HOW TO - Powering Nixie Tubes... - Link.
- Tiny Nixie clock - Link.
- The most accurate nixie clock - ATOMIC!.. - Link.
- Nixie clocks & kits for collectors and designers - Link.
- Nixie clock gallery - Link.
- More! - Link.
It's called a vacuum tube.
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Neat! I used that to power a "flaming hoop" made out of neon bulbs:
It worked great, but the cap would eventually discharge. I wound up using an EL wire inverter with a rectifier for the final piece. For a clock, it would be great- you could push the button to see the time, and it would stay lit for a while, then go out, saving tube life.
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oops, my image link was stripped out.
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=147261462&size=m&context=set-72057594136095449
@ hardtail, no, Nixie is correct.
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Hello, I'm Matt, from the photo.
When I get the time I will post instructions on Instructables; step by step.
When I got the tube and found out I needed 170V I was a little intimidated but after toying with the camera it's a breeze.
@RobCruickshank - The capacitor is taken out and replaced with a set of terminals. The power to charge the cap that was there puts out about 280V which can then be dropped with some resistors. Boy did that cap make a bang when I discharged it! So when the button is pressed (I will eventually solder the pads) it gives you endless power so you can power your tubes constantly with this supply.
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