
Assembly Manual Miniature USB powered Nixie Clocks • Mainboard Rev.11-2013
A note for handling the
IN-2 Nixie tubes
Please be very carefully by
handling the IN-2 tubes.
The glass bottom is very
fragile and will brake when
applying hard force,
specially when inserting
into the socket or by
aligning the tubes. You
need not to press down
the tubes fully into their
sockets. Only the half is
much enough.
Crack
Now connect the PCB to an USB power supply and check if something strange will happen; e.g. a
parts runs hot. If everything is allright we will do follwing some voltage checkings:
Please check the voltages on the PIC’s socket pins with a multimeter. Put the negative probe
(black) on TP3; left hand from the buzzer. Put the positive probe (red) on the socket pins.
Measured Voltages
red = ca. 5 V • blue = 0...3 V • amber = ca. 0,3 V • green = ca. 0...-2 V • black = 0 V
Pin 1 • Pin 2 • Pin 3 • Pin 4 • Pin 5 • Pin 6 • Pin 7 • Pin 8 • Pin 9 • Pin 10 • Pin 11 • Pin 12 • Pin 13
Pin 14 • Pin 15 • Pin 16 • Pin 17 • Pin 18 • Pin 19 • Pin 20 • Pin 21 • Pin 22 • Pin 23 • Pin 24
Pin 25 • Pin 26 • Pin 27 • Pin 28
Check following the voltages on the other testpoints: TP1 (around 4.8 V) • TP2 (around 4.5 V)
Please do not proceed until all voltages are within their range and check for the fault.
If everything is ok, unplug the clock from the power supply.
Solder now jumper ENABLE HIGH V. CONVERTER X1/X2, direct above the inductor and insert ONLY
(!) the PIC, but not the HV5812 driver. Keep care for correct orientation. Turn on the clock again.
Caution! Now the HV converter is working. Please check again, if something strange happens;
e.g. if a part will run hot. Pick up now a screwdriver and do again a measurement of the voltage on
TP1 It should be in the range of 40 V. Adjust now the voltage with the potentiometer to 41 V.
Do following a voltage check on TP2. It should be in the range of 165 V.
Push now button SET. The clock must make a short bleep.
Unplug the clock again from power and wait 10 secs. until the capacitors are discharged.
Now insert the remaining HV5812 driver IC into its PLCC28 socket.
Stop here and flip the page. You need now assemble the tube board according to your
clock. When ready assembled come back for a quick test of the tube board.
Now fit the tube board onto the main board and turn the clock on again.
The tubes should start with a „digit test routine“; which counts all digits. Also the (RGB) LEDs are
checked within this routine with the following scheme:
digit 1 = red • digit 2 = green • digit 3 = blue • digit 4 = none • digit 5 = green/orange
digit 6 = none • digit 7 = violett • digit 8 = none • digit 9 = cyan • digit 0 = none
The amber column LEDs should continuously light up.
If everything is ok, unplug the clock again from power and wait 10 seconds.
Solder now jumper ENABLE POWER BACKUP X3/X4 direct below the dual LEDs.
Solder jumper A-B-C direct below the ASK module connections to position A-B.
Now flip the page again and assemble the enclosure to finish your clock.
The following task must only be done when assembling a
Laura Nixie clock
Pick up the 4 x M3 x 8 self tapping screws and the 4 x 3 mm plastic
spacers and threat them to the drilling holes at the edges of the main
board. The spacers are a self fixing type.
Connecting GPS receivers (internal / external) or DCF receiver
Anbieterkennzeichung • Vendor
Jürgen Grau • Ortsstraße 13 • 07429 Rohrbach • Germany • Fon: 036730 / 3155-90 • Fax: 036730 / 3155-89
Subject change without notice – Issue 3.3 – Version from 08.06.2017
Date
05.08.2012
08.08.2012
26.08.2012
27.09.2012
11.11.2012
17.02.2014
17.04.2015
27.12.2016
08.06.2017
Description
InitialRelease
Error correction / added replacing diodes procedure
Error correction / parts value of resistor-arrays changed
Changed the range of the voltage measuring values
Added assembly of Lena Nixie clock
New issue for the new main board version Rev.11-2013
Error correction and additions in GPS receiver settings
Corrected value of the measured voltages on PIC socket
Adding settings for DCF / NWTS receivers
When using theASK module from the Wireless GPS Set 3, simply fit the module onto the mainboard and
solder the 8 pins. Pay attention for correct orientation (see pictures).
Theclock has a build in antenna. However,due to the RF shielding of thealuminium profiles the reception
range is very limited. If the reception is too poor you can connect the supplied external antenna to the
TIME DATA connector. Don’t forget to set option #12 to value 4 (for GPS reception) option #13 to the
baud rate and option #14...16 to correct the time offset according to your location; this offset is based
on standard time (not day saving).
The green LED below the module will show the received data as well as the DATA LED on rear.
Please note that it is not possible to connect any extra external receiver to the TIME DATA
connector when an ASK module is fitted, only the supplied antenna can be fitted.
Please check again, if the solder jumper A-B-C (direct below the module) is soldered in position A-B
when using the internal ASK module. For setting up the „Wireless GPS Connection“ system proceed as
stated in the appropriate owners manual
When connecting the wired extrenal MicroGPS / NWTS receiver from PVelectronics set the
jumpers A-B-C to position B-C set option #12 to value 4 and check for correct baud rate settings.
When connecting the wired external GPS BR-355 receiver from GlobalSat set the jumpers
A-B-C to position A-B and check for 4800 baud rate settings (option #13 to value 0).
When connecting the wired external DCF receiver from Mr.Nixie you’ll need to set the
jumpers A-B-C to position A-B and set option #12 to value 1 and omit option #13