SWPC Digi-Vista Nixie Clock

[Bill Dawson]

> Michael Holley wrote:
> > I finished my Nixie tube clock. (My first try at this was around 1971.)
> > http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/PopularElectronics/Dec1970/PE_Dec1970.htm
> > 
> > I could not figure out how to wire the tens of hours module to 
> the hours 
> > module. The magazine article was very vague and even misleading 
> about that.
> > So one night I sent an email to Gary Kay, the designer, and the next 
> > morning I had a response. How is that for tech support 35 years after 
> > the fact?

And woodelf replied:

> Grumble Grumble Grumble ... Gripe Gripe Gripe.
> I would have updated the high voltage power supply to a simple
> transistor regulator. I have about 128 AC around here and that
> can really give  over voltage on 115 V transformers.
> PS. Where do you find a 300 V transformer ... I may build one
> some day.  Also any options for a ALARM feature? Say a analog
> bird chipring sound?
> 
> > Gary Kay later designed many of the SWTPC 6800 computer systems.
> > http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/History/Gary_Kay.htm
> > http://www.swtpc.com/mholley/BYTE/BYTE.HTM
> I keep drooling over SWTPC products... I wish that made it big
> rather than PC's.
> > Michael Holley

<LURK OFF>

Grumble Grumble Grumble ... Gripe Gripe Gripe. WTF?

Michael has put a lot of time and effort into documenting the 
history, people and products of SWTPC.  Gary Kay was a brilliant 
SWTPC engineer and the fact that he recently corresponded with MH 
and facilitated MH's successful construction of the digital clock, 
IMHO, was the point of the post.  If you read the PE article you 
would have seen that an alarm feature and means of implementation 
was described. 

> I would have updated the high voltage power supply to a simple
> transistor regulator. I have about 128 AC around here and that
> can really give over voltage on 115 V transformers.

Again, WTF?  The recreation is as close to the original design 
as possible.  Transistor regulator?  I'm sure the nixies can 
handle any 128 VAC generated "over voltage" condition that may 
be inherent in the original design.  BTW, is that 128 VAC your 
actual _RMS_ AC voltage? d8^)

> PS. Where do you find a 300 V transformer ... I may build one
> some day.

P.S. You'll build a 300 V transformer someday?  d8^), again.


</LURK OFF>

Bill