Arduino Nixie Clock

“Classic Rev4 and Rev5”

“All In One”

Operating Instructions
Firmware V56
Supported Models:

“Classic Rev4 (6 digit)” “Classic Rev5”

“All-In-One”

NixieClockUserManualV56
Table of contents

Table of Contents
Table of contents..................................................................................................................... 2
About this document............................................................................................................... 3
Contact Information................................................................................................................ 3
Firmware................................................................................................................................. 3
Description.............................................................................................................................. 4
Safety...................................................................................................................................... 5
General................................................................................................................................... 5
First Start and calibration.................................................................................................... 5
Exit First Start mode........................................................................................................... 5
Clock Mode......................................................................................................................... 6
Factory Reset...................................................................................................................... 6
Time Providers......................................................................................................................... 7
Real Time Clock.................................................................................................................. 7
WiFi Time Providers............................................................................................................. 7
Fallback from WiFi to RTC.................................................................................................... 7
Overview................................................................................................................................. 7
Temporary Display Mode......................................................................................................... 8
Setting Mode......................................................................................................................... 10
Time Settings.................................................................................................................... 10
Basic Settings................................................................................................................... 11
Special Effects Settings..................................................................................................... 13
Back Light Settings........................................................................................................... 14
HV Generation settings..................................................................................................... 15
Information settings.......................................................................................................... 16
Display Blanking Mode.......................................................................................................... 17
Blanking override.............................................................................................................. 17
Tube Healing Mode................................................................................................................ 17
Factory Reset......................................................................................................................... 17
External power supply........................................................................................................... 18
WiFi Interface........................................................................................................................ 19
Clock Configuration........................................................................................................... 19

2
About this document
This is the user instruction manual for the Nixie Clocks shown on the first page

• Classic Revision 4 (6-Digit firmware)

• Classic Revision 5

• All-In-One

All of these clocks use the same firmware.

If you want to have the construction manual to guide you through the process of building the
clock, please find the appropriate manual at:

https://www.nixieclock.biz/Manuals.html

There should have been an exact link to the clock manuals on the packing skip you received in
the package.

Contact Information
If you want to get in contact with us, please email to:

[email protected]

We'll usually get back to you right away. We can help you with kits or construction.

We also offer discounts for direct purchases, we save the Ebay fees, and share this with you.

http://www.nixieclock.biz/Store.html

There is also a forum for the clocks, where you can find many answers to questions and contact
others who are also using the clocks at:

http://bit.ly/2omqPRr

Which should redirect you to the much longer:

https://www.tubeclockdb.com/component/kunena/12-arduino-nixie-clock-kit-support-
forum.html

Firmware
The firmware is open source and you can install new versions on the clock if you wish, or even
change the firmware to suit you own tastes or needs.

The source code is available on GitHub at the address:

https://bitbucket.org/isparkes/nixiefirmwarev1/src/master/

3
Description
The Arduino Nixie Clock is a beautiful mix of old and new, resulting in a high accuracy, low
power clock which will be a talking point in your home.

The clock has the following features:

• Latest technology, highly reliable and accurate.
• Tried and tested design, with many hundreds of clocks sold.
• Based on the Arduino micro-controller: Easy to program an well documented.
• Open source! Nothing is hidden in this clock. (You may modify and load the software if
you want to).
• Low power consumption.
• Long tube life: Anti Cathode Poisoning (ACP) and configurable blanking makes sure that
the tubes will stay healthy for many years with no intervention from you.
• The multiplexed display and automatic dimming used in this design extends the life of
the tubes indefinitely. Some other designs run the tubes too “hard”, and this causes a
rapid degradation in the useful life of the tube.
• All settings are stored in non-volatile memory. Once they are set, they are remembered
forever, or until you change them again.
• RGB back lighting allows you to set the the color of the back lighting to practically any
color you desire.
• Ambient light sensing, with automatic tube dimming, which sets the tube and LED
brightness according to the light conditions. This also increases tube life.
• Absolutely silent operation. Some Nixie clocks emit an irritating “buzz” or “hiss” which is
especially annoying if you keep the clock in a bedroom.
• Automatic week day or weekend blanking, extends the life of tubes even further
• Automatic time of day blanking, can blank between a start hour and an end hour, on
week days, weekends or every day
• Configurable suppression of Anti Cathode Poisoning when the clock is fully dimmed. In
the middle of the night, all the digits lighting up at full brightness could be disturbing.
You can choose to stop ACP when the clock is fully dimmed
• The High Voltage Generator auto-calibrates itself to match your tubes and power supply,
meaning that the power consumption is the lowest possible. (Usually 2W when fully
bright, 0.4W when blanked).
• Highly accurate when using RTC module:
• Battery backed, temperature compensated, high accuracy clock. The accuracy is
Accuracy ±2ppm from 0°C to +40°C. (Maximum 1 minute per year).
• The battery life should be 3 years in normal use.
• Retains the date and time even when turned off (not just for a few minutes, but
for as long as the battery lasts)
• Leap Year Compensation Valid Up to the year 2100
• Extremely accurate when using the optional Wifi module:
• The time never drifts, is always right to within 1 second.
• Automatically compensates for Daylight Savings Time changes, leap years and
seconds.
• It is possible to use the RTC and the WiFi module together. In this case, the WiFi module
will be used when it is available, otherwise the RTC module will be used. The RTC
automatically gets set to the right time when the WiFi module is available.
• The controller can be programmed without removing it from the board, due to the ICSP
port on the board (“Classic” clock).

4
Safety
The voltages produced in the High Voltage circuit can reach peaks of 400V! Take precautions
not to electrocute yourself! If you are not sure what this means, please do not use this clock
and return it for a full refund.

A shock from the clock high voltage circuit is at least a nasty bite. At worst it can kill you.

We decline any responsibility in the case of injury or death. You must be qualified to use this
clock, it is not intended for anyone unqualified.

REPEAT: If you are not sure what this means, do not use the clock!

General
The clock has different modes of operation, which you select using the push button.

First Start and calibration

When you start the clock up the very first time, it will start in “First Start Mode”. This mode is
intended to simplify the set up of the hardware. It cycles through the digits 00:00:00 - 99:99:99
and drives the High Voltage Generator with a basic setting which does no dimming. This allows
you to check that all digits on all tubes are working correctly.

Test Mode will only keep the High Voltage running for 60 seconds!

After 60 seconds the High Voltage generator will be turned off to protect the
circuit. To re-enable the high voltage, you should power the clock off and on
again.
Note!

Exit First Start mode

Once you have mounted the tubes and are happy that they are working well, you can exit “First
Start Mode”.

To EXIT First Start Mode, press the push button when the display shows “88:88:88”,
and the clock will enter calibration mode!

The clock will go through the calibration routine. The display will start dimply, then count up,
display 88:88:88 for several seconds. This is for the calibration of the High Voltage Generator
to match the power adapter you have attached. During this time you might hear some faint
crackling noises from the generator. This is normal.

After finishing the calibration, the version number ( “00:56:00” ) will be displayed for about a
second. The clock will then go into normal operating mode.

You will use this function when you are building the High Voltage circuit.

Once you have exited First Start Mode, it will not enter it again until you do a factory reset (See
below).

5
Clock Mode
After the first start, each time you start up the unit, the clock will go into normal clock mode
and will display the time. In normal clock mode, the time will be displayed.

Every 10 minutes (at “xx:x9:15” , the clock will do “Anti-Cathode Poisoning”, which will cycle all
the digits for about 10 seconds.

This is not an error! It is important to keep the tubes healthy in the long term.

Factory Reset
If you want to go back to first start or calibration mode, you can perform a factory reset on the
clock. To do this, hold down the button while you power on. This will reset all settings and start
up the clock in First Start Mode again.

This is useful if you need to re-calibrate the HV generator, or want to reset all configurations
again.

6
Time Providers
The clocks can use a battery backed RTC module or a WiFi module. You can also install both,
and in this case, please read the section on “Fallback from WiFi to RTC” below.

Real Time Clock

By default, the clock comes with a Real Time Clock (RTC) module which provides a battery
backed time source that remembers the time even when the clock is not powered up.

WiFi Time Providers

More up to date is a WiFi real time provider, which logs into your home WiFi network and
periodically retrieves the time from Internet time sources. These are accurate to 1 second, and
auto adjust for Daylight Savings Time. You configure once, and then the module remembers the
configuration forever.

Additionally, the WiFi time module gives you a easy to configure interface, which you can use
to set up the clock using a tablet, phone or computer.

Fallback from WiFi to RTC

If you install both the WiFi and the RTC modules, the RTC will be used only when the WiFi unit is
not able to synchronize with the Internet! RTC time is updated periodically from the Internet
time, and therefore uses the RTC as a back up only when WiFi time is not available. Fallback
happens after 5 minutes of missing WiFi time. Recovery happens as soon as WiFi is available
again.

Overview
Normally the clock is in “Time Display Mode”, which will show the time. If you press the button
for differing lengths, different things will happen.

“Short Press” (less than 1 second): A temporary display will be shown for 5 seconds. This is
useful if you want to know the date, for example. The options here are given in the section
“Temporary Display Mode”

“Medium Press” (more than 1 second): The clock will go into “Setting Mode” to allow you to
change settings. If you have the WiFi module, you can change settings using a browser.

“Long Press” (more than 8 seconds): The clock will go into “Tube healing mode”. Read the
section on “Tube healing Mode” before using this mode. This mode can damage your
tubes if you don’t use it correctly!

7
Temporary Display Mode
Normally, the clock will show the time. To show additional information press the button with a
“short” press. Each press cycles through the following information. After 5 seconds, the display
will revert to the normal time display.

Note that some of the options are not shown under all circumstances. For example, if you are
not connected to a WiFi access point, the IP address will not be shown.

Mode Description Values

Date Date. The current date will be shown in the date format you Example
selected. “17.06.18”
Temp Temperature / Time Provider Module status. “TT:tt:SS”

SS (the seconds digits) can have 4 values: Example:

“10”: The clock does not have a time provider installed, and is “22:25:13”
working off the internal time source. (Not accurate)
“11”: The clock has an RTC time source installed. Means
“12”: The clock has a WiFi time source installed. “22.25 Degrees
“13”: The clock has a WiFi and an RTC time source installed
WiFi and RTC
In modes “11” and “13” the digits “TT:tt” (hours and minutes) installed”
will show the temperature, to the nearest ¼ degree, where “TT”
is whole degrees, and “tt” is fractional degrees. In modes “10”
and “12” the temperature is shown as “00:00”.

The temperature shown is the current temperature inside the

clock casein degrees Celsius. If this goes above 40, you should
consider ventilating the case, because the temperature
compensation is not able to work at such high voltages, and the
clock life may be reduced.
LDR Ambient Light Reading. This shows the current ambient light Example
reading from the LDR (light dependent resistor). It is a “01:00:--”
normalized value, and goes between 100 (dark) to 999 (bright).
This controls the dimming of the tubes. (See also the section on 100: darkest
“Min Dim” later in the manual). 999: brightest
Version Version number. The format will be :”VV vv 07”, where major Example
version is “VV”, minor version is “vv” and the “21” is the id for “00:55:--”
the version display.
IP Address If you have the WiFi module connected, this will show the first Example:
part 1 two digits of the 4 digit IP address. Usually this address starts “19:21:68”
with “192.168”.
= “192.168”
Note: The IP address is skipped if you do not have the WiFi
module connected.
IP Address If you have the WiFi module connected, this will show the last Example:
part 2 two digits of the 4 digit IP address. Put this together with the “00:11:06”
value shown in IP Address part 1 to give the full address.
= “001.106”
You can enter the whole value into your browser to connect to
the module. You must remove any leading “0” from the value.
If you receive “192.168.001.106”, you must enter this as
“192.168.1.106” into your browser address bar.
Mux This shows the number of impressions per second, which is the Example:

8
Speed refresh rate of the display. It varies a little based on the exact “01:02:--”
workload, but is usually about 100 impressions per second.

9
Setting Mode
To enter setting mode, press the button for more than 1 second (“medium press”). The “RGB
back light” LEDs will start to flash white. The number of consecutive flashes indicates the mode
you are in.

Each medium press of more than 1 second will move the setting mode onto the next. When you
finish the setting modes, the clock returns to normal time display mode.

To exit the setting mode before going through all the options, press the button for more than 2
seconds (“long press”). The “RGB back light” LEDs will return back to their normal operation.
Another way of exiting is to cycle through all of the setting options, after which you will return
to time mode.

To change a setting, press the button for less than one second, and then release it (“short
press”).

Time Settings
Mode Description Values
Time mode. This is the normal mode and displays the time.
It is the normal start up mode of the clock. If you do nothing.
The clock is in this mode.

In this mode a short press cycles through the values given in

“Time Display Mode”, but always returns to the standard
time display after 5 seconds.
Time and Date Settings
Note that the Time and Date settings will not be shown if the WiFi module is
active! There is no need to set the time manually in this case.
Set Hours. Each short press will advance the hour. The
hours roll over back to zero after reaching 12 or 24
(depending on the 12/24 hours mode).
Set minutes. Each short press will advance the minute.
The minutes roll over back to 0 ffter reaching 59 minutes.
Each time you set the minute, the seconds is reset to 0.
Reset seconds. Each short press will reset the seconds to
0, without changing the hours or minutes.
Set Day. Each short press will advance the day. The day roll
over back to one after reaching the maximum number of
days in the month.
Set Month. Each short press will advance the month. The
month roll over back to zero after reaching 12.
Set Year. Each short press will advance the year. The year
roll over back to 2015 after reaching 2099.

10
Basic Settings
Mode Description Values
Basic Settings
“--:--:07” 12 or 24 hour time. The hours are displayed in 12 or 24 “1” = 12 hour
flashing hour mode. “0” = 24 hour
default: 0
“--:--:08” Blank leading “0”. Blank out the leading “0” from single “1” = blank
flashing digit hours. “0” = don't blank
default: 0
“--:--:09” Scroll back. Use the scroll back (rapid count down) effect “1” = enable
flashing when changing from “9” to “0”. The speed of the scrollback “0” = disable
is set by the “Scroll Speed” option. default: 0
“--:--:10” Fade. Use cross digit fading. The speed of the fade is set by “1” = enable
flashing the “Fade Speed” option. “0” = disable
default: 0
“--:--:11” Date format. Set the format that the date is displayed in. “0” = YY.MM.DD
flashing “1” = MM.DD.YY
“2” = DD.MM.YY
default: 2
“--:--:12” Display blanking. To preserve the tubes, you can set the “0” = Don't blank
flashing display to be blanked. “1” = Weekends
“2” = Week days
Options: “3” = Always
• “0” = “never”: Don’t use blanking. “4” = Hours
• “1” = “Weekends”: Blank at weekends. “5” = H or
• “2” = “Week days”: Blank on week days. weekends
• “3” = “Always”: Always use blanking. “6” = H or week
• “4” = “Hours”: Blanks between the start and end days
hour every day. “7” = H on
• “5” = “Hours or weekends”: This blanks all day weekends
during the weekends and between the start and end “8” = H on week
hour every other day. days
• “6” = “Hours or week days”: This blanks all day default: 0
during the week days and between the start and end
hour every other day.
• “7” = “Hours on weekends”: This blanks between the
start and end hour on weekends.
• “8” = “Hours on week days”: This blanks between
the start and end hour on week days.
“--:--:13” Blanking Hour Start. Hour blanking will start at this hour, Default: 00
flashing on the days set by the Display Blanking Mode. This value is
always set in 24h format, even if the clock displays in 12H
format.

Note: If the display blanking mode is not enabled or does

not use hours, this setting is not shown.
“--:--:14” Blanking Hour End. Hour blanking will end at this hour, on Default: 07
flashing the days set by the Display Blanking Mode. This value is
always set in 24h format, even if the clock displays in 12H
format.

Note: If the display blanking mode is not enabled or does

not use hours, this setting is not shown.

11
 Mode Description Values
“--:--:15” Anti Cathode Poisoning night suppression. The ACP “1” = don't do ACP
flashing which runs during the night lights the digits up at full when dimmed
brightness, and some people might find this disturbing. “0” = do ACP
Using this setting, you can stop ACP happening when the always
display is fully dimmed (e.g. at night). default: 1

12
Special Effects Settings
Mode Description Values
Special Effects Settings
“--:--:16” Use LDR. If you disable the LDR, the tubes will always work “1” = enable
flashing at maximum brightness. “0” = disable
default: 1
“--:--:17” Blank Mode. You can set the tubes, the LEDs or both the “0” = tubes
flashing tubes and the LEDs to be blanked when in blanking mode. “1” = LEDs
“2” = tubes and
LEDs
default: 2
“--:--:18” Fade Speed Slower. Each short press will make the fade Default: 50
flashing speed between digits slower. Max: 200
Min: 20
“--:--:19” Fade Speed Faster. Each short press will make the fade Default: 50
flashing speed between digits faster. Max: 200
Min: 20
“--:--:20” Scroll-back Speed Slower. Each short press will make the Default: 4
flashing “scroll-back” speed slower. Max: 40
Min: 1
“--:--:21” Scroll-back Speed Faster. Each short press will make the Default: 4
flashing “scroll-back” speed faster. Max: 40
Min: 1
“--:--:22” Slots Mode. You can have the date shown automatically “1” = enable
flashing once per minute for about 5 seconds. “0” = disable
default: 1

13
Back Light Settings
Mode Description Values
Back Light Settings
“--:--:23” Back Light Mode. This sets the mode of the back light. “0” = Fixed
flashing “1” = Pulse
“Fixed” mode will show the back light color according to the “2” = Cycle
Red, Green and Blue channel intensities. “3” = Fixed/Dim
“4” = Pulse/Dim
“Pulse” will make the intensity of the back light “pulse”, “5” = Cycle/Dim
brightening for a second and then darkening for a second, default: 0
but always respecting the relative intensities set by the Red,
Green and Blue channel intensities.

“Cycle” fades the back lighting randomly, and does not use
the Red, Green and Blue channel intensities. These settings
will be skipped if cycle mode is selected.

Options “0”, “1” and “2”, do not dim with the bulbs. Options
“3”, “4” and “5” do.
“--:--:24” Red Channel Intensity. Sets the maximum intensity of the Default: 15
flashing red channel back light. This will be dimmed according to the Max: 15
display dimming. Min: 0

Note: If you are in cycle mode, this setting will be skipped.

“--:--:25” Green Channel Intensity. Sets the maximum intensity of Default: 0
flashing the green channel back light. This will be dimmed according Max: 15
to the display dimming. Min: 0

Note: If you are in cycle mode, this setting will be skipped.

“--:--:26” Blue Channel Intensity. Sets the maximum intensity of Default: 0
flashing the blue channel back light. This will be dimmed according Max: 15
to the display dimming. Min: 0

Note: If you are in cycle mode, this setting will be skipped.

“--:--:27” Cycle Speed. If you are in cycle mode, this controls the Default: 10
flashing speed at which the colors cycle. The higher the number, the Max: 64
slower the colors will change. Min: 4

Note: If you are not in cycle mode, this setting will be

skipped.

14
HV Generation settings
Mode Description Values
HV Generation Settings (See “HV Settings” note)
“--:--:28” HV Target Voltage Higher. Each press sets the HV target Default: 180
flashing voltage higher by 5V. Max: 200
Min: 150
“--:--:29” HV Target Voltage Lower. Each press sets the HV target Default: 180
flashing voltage lower by 5V. Max: 200
Min: 150
“--:--:30” PWM On Time Longer. This setting controls how long the Default: 150
flashing PWM On pulse is. Normally you should not have to change Max: 50
this, but you can try changing this is the HV generation is Min: 500
noisy or you have unusual tubes.
“--:--:31” PWM On Time Shorter. This setting controls how long the Default: 150
flashing PWM On pulse is. Normally you should not have to change Max: 50
this, but you can try changing this is the HV generation is Min: 500
noisy or you have unusual tubes.
“--:--:32” Increase Minimum dim. This setting allows you to Default: 100
flashing increase the minimum brightness you want to have when Max: 500
the clock is fully dimmed. Min: 100
“--:--:33” Decrease Minimum dim. This setting allows you to Default: 100
flashing decrease the minimum brightness you want to have when Max: 500
the clock is fully dimmed. Min: 100
“--:--:34” Increase Anti-ghosting. This setting reduces “ghosting” Default: 0
flashing (the number on the right shows faintly on the digit on the Max: 50
left). This is due to transients when switching. Min: 0
“--:--:35” Decrease Anti-ghosting. This setting reduces “ghosting” Default: 0
flashing (the number on the right shows faintly on the digit on the Max: 50
left). This is due to transients when switching. Min: 0

Note “HV Settings”: Before leaving the clock for long periods with a new “HV Generation”
setting, check that neither the MOSFET nor the voltage regulator is running too hot. If either of
these components gets too hot, either adjust the high voltage settings or add a heat sink.

15
Information settings
Mode Description Values
Information Settings
“--:--:36” Current case temperature. Show the current temperature
flashing inside the case (used as part of the temperature
compensation for the clock crystal).

Note: This will show 0 if the RTC is not installed.

“--:--:37” Clock version. Show the clock software version.
flashing
Digit Test. Will roll through all digits on all locations to
check that the display is healthy.

16
Display Blanking Mode
During display blanking mode the tubes will be off depending on the display blanking settings.
You can choose if you want the blank the LEDs, the tubes, or both the LEDs and the tubes.

You can configure the display to blank at weekends, during week days, always or never (the
default). Also you are able to define hours during which to blank. For example I have a setting
saying that the clock is blanked on weekdays between 7am and 4 pm, while I am out at work.
At weekends, the display runs all the time.

Blanking override
Sometimes you will want to override the blanking, for example normally you have a clock at
home that blanks during the day while you are at work, but on a holiday you are at home. In
this case it is possible to temporarily override the blanking.

Press the button (“short press”) while the clock is blanked, and the display will come on again
for a few seconds, and then return to blanking mode.

If you press the button multiple times within 5 seconds, the blanking will stay off for longer
periods:

• 1 Press: 10 seconds
• 2 Presses: 1 hour
• 3 Presses: 4 hours

Tube Healing Mode

After a long period of time, tube filaments which are not often used (e.g. the “9” on the tens of
hours or minutes) can get dim, despite the ACP that is regularly done.

If you make a “long” press of the button (more than 8 seconds), the clock will enter filament
healing mode. All the power will be placed through a single filament of a single digit to clean it.
A short press will change the selected filament.

Another super-long press or cycling through all the filaments will return the clock to normal.

Caution! Don't leave a single filament in this state for an extended period of time. It is a harsh
process, and may damage the tube if you leave it in this mode for too long. Normally a few
seconds minutes will restore the cathode digit.

Normally you will not need to use this mode! It is only there for tubes that are already in
trouble. Don’t make a habit of using this mode!

Factory Reset
To reset the clock back to initial settings, hold down the button while powering on. The LEDs
will rapidly flash some colours to signal that the reset has been done.

Everything will be reset back to the factory default state, and the clock will go back to “First
Start Mode”.

17
External power supply
The perfect voltage for the external power supply is 7.5V or 9V DC. You can use 12V DC.

If you use more than 12V be aware that you might have to provide a heat sink for the power
components and adjust the HV voltage generation. It is not advised to use more than 12V.

The absolute maximum permissible is 16V DC. Higher voltages than this will surely damage the
clock.

18
WiFi Interface
If you have the optional WiFi interface (highly recommended), you can perform the
configuration of the clock using a comfortable web interface from your browser or phone.

Getting into the WiFi Module

For initial set up of the WiFi module, please see the WiFi Module User Manual.

Note!

Clock Configuration
The clock configuration page largely follows the options previously described. The HV settings
are not available via the GUI interface, as these are not usually needed to be changed once
they are set up, and fiddling with them can cause the clock to overheat.

For a full description of each option in the menu, please see the equivalent description in the
“button menu” above.

Time Configuration
Please see the section in the WiFi Module User Manual. If you configure the module, it will not
be necessary to ever set the clock again.

Utilities
The utilities page allows you to reset the configuration and update the WiFi Module firmware.
Please see the section in the WiFi Module User Manual.

19
Revisions:

V0047: 22Jun2017: Split user manual and construction manual

V0048: 16Jul2017: Update for V48
V0051: 24May2018: Update for V51
V0052: 15Jun2018: Update for V52, new Nixie font
V0056: 03Jan2019: Update for V56
V0056: 15Sep2019: Correct hyperlink for store
V0056: 06Oct2020: Correct mode numbering – thanks Hal
V0056: 09Oct2020: Clarifications about blanking time settings being in 24H format

20