Nixie Clock QS18-12 User manual

QS18-12NixieTubeClock  v2.1.0
Intructions
Designer： YanZeyuan.China
Website： Http://www.nixieclock.org
E-mail： [email protected]

Catalogue
Attention…………………………………….……………………………………………………………….………2
Functionalfeatures………………………………………..……………………………………….……………2
Technicalspecifications………………………………………………….…………………………….………2
Packagecontent…………………………………………………………………………….……………………2
Clockappearancelayout…………………………………………………….………………………………..3
IRremotecontrolintroduce…………………………………………………………………………………3
Beeptoneintroduce……………………………………………….……………………………………………3
Displaymodeswitch……………………………………………….………...…………………………………4
Digitaleffectsswitch…………………………………………………....………………………………………4
Timeformat12H/24H…………………………………………………………….……………………………5
DateformatYY-MM-DD/MM-DD-YY/DD-MM-YY…..……………..……………………………5
Temperatureunit ℃/℉.…….………………………………………………...………………………………5
Backlightmodeswitch………………………………………………………..………………………………5
Adjustbacklightbrightness……………………………………………….……………………………….5
Settime…………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………6
Setdate……………………………………………………………………….………………………………………6
SetGMT……………………………………………………………...………………………….……………………6
Setalarm……………………………………………………….…………….………………………………………6 
GPSadjustdate&time…………………………………………………………………………………………7
Cathodepoisoningprevention.……………………………………………………………………………7
Note……………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………8
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

QS18-12NixieTubeClockIntructions Http://www.nixieclock.org
 Designer:YanZeyuan.China.  Email:[email protected]  Website：www.nixieclock.org 2/8
Attention
◇ Attention: inordertopreventdamages,donotplacethisclockonunevenplace.
◇ Warning: the clock has an internal high voltage circuit, do not touch the
componentsiftheclockisworking. 
◇ Warning: Clockarenotallowedtobetakenout.
◇ Warning: Donotletchildrentouchtheclock.

Functionalfeatures
1. SixQS18-12nixietubesdisplay(1976-1984madeinChina).
2. Displayhour,minuteandsecond(12or24hoursformatoptional)
3. Display year, month and day and Chinese moondate (YY-MM-DD or MM-DD-YY
formatoptional).
4. GPSadjust,automaticadjusteveryweekormanually.(GPSisofferedasanoption).
5. GMTtimezonefunctions,theclockwillcalculatethelocaltimebaseonsatellite. 
6. Temperature display(℃ or ℉ temperature unit optional. Temperature sensor is
offeredasanoption).
7. Twoalarmclock.
8. 10colorsbackgroundlighteffects,canopenorclosebackgroundlighting,brightness
degreesisadjustable.
9. 7colorsstandfordayoftheweek.
10. 4digitalswitchingeffects.
11. IRremotecontrolleroperation.
12. High-accuracy, ±2min/peryear.
13. Built-inbackuplithiumbattery,maintainclockatmorethan3years.

Technicalspecifications
Inputvoltate  DC12V
Workingcurrent  400mA(Max600mA)
Tubestype   QS18-12(1976-1984madeinChina)
Size175mmx50mm,tubediameter18mmhighly50mm
Workingtemp.  0℃-60℃
Weight    150g
Shellmaterial  Arcylicplatewithlasercut.

Packagecontent
NameQuantityNameQuantity
nixietubeclock1Poweradapter1
IRremotecontroller1Colonglasstube2
Usermanual   1

QS18-12NixieTubeClockIntructions Http://www.nixieclock.org
 Designer:YanZeyuan.China.  Email:[email protected]  Website：www.nixieclock.org 3/8
 Appearancelayout






NumNameNumName
①IRreceiver②Stainlesssteelscrew
③Nixietubes④Neoncolons
⑤Arcylicbase⑥Temp.sensorport
⑦GPSport

IRremotecontrolintroduce
1.POWER2.BACKLIGHT3.SET
4.DATE5.ALARM6.TEMPERATURE
7.LEFT8.RIGHT9.FUNCTION
   10.OK   11.CANCEL  12.NUM0
   13.NUM1  14.NUM2  15.NUM3
   16.NUM4  17.NUM5  18.NUM6
   19.NUM7  20.NUM8  21.NUM9

  Considered the battery are not allowed transport during air
transportation,ifthere’renobatteryincontroller,pleaseputtwoAG10
cellinit.

Beeptoneintroduce
BeepDescriptionMean
Beashotbeep(lowpitched)Poweron/Insetmode
Beashotbeep(highpitched)NormalOperation
Be..bebe  alongbeepandtwoshot Poweroff
bebebebefourshotbeepSetError/Cancel/Alarm
Be…alongbeepConfirmandsaved
①
②
③
④
⑤
③ ③ ③ ③ ③
④
⑥⑦

QS18-12NixieTubeClockIntructions Http://www.nixieclock.org
 Designer:YanZeyuan.China.  Email:[email protected]  Website：www.nixieclock.org 4/8
Displaymodeswitch
1. Displaytimemode
Afterpowerontheclock,orpressPOWERbuttoninshutdownstate,it’s display
timemode.ClockwilldisplayHOUR,MINUTE,SECONDonthismode.
  2. Displaycalendardatemode
Press DATE button enter display calendar date mode. Clock will display YEAR,
MONTH,DAY.Clockwillreturndisplaytimemodeafterthreeseconds.   
3．Displaylunardatemode
PressDATEbuttontwiceenterdisplaylunarcalendardatemode.Clockwilldisplay
YEAR, MONTH, DAY of lunar date. Clock will return display time modeafterthree
seconds. 
4. DisplayGMTtimezonemode
PressDATEbuttonthreetimeenterdisplayGMTtimezonemodel.Clockwillreturn
displaytimemodeafterthreesecond.
5. Displayalarmmode
PressALARMbutton,entershowalarm1mode.PressALARMbuttonagain,itwill
showalarm2.Clockwillreturndisplaytimemodeafterthreeseconds.  
6．Displaytemperaturemode
Press TEMPERATURE button to enter show temperature mode. Clock will return
displaytimemodeafterthreeseconds.

■ Ifthetemperaturesensorisnotconnect,clockcannotdisplaytemperature.

Digitaleffectsswitch
■ Inthedisplay time mode,pressFUNC button can switchthreekindsofdigital
effectsrepeatedly.

1. Crossfade
Olddigitalwouldbeconcealinggraduallyandnewdigitalgraduallydisplayedatthe
moment.
 2. Fadein&fadeout
Olddigitalwouldbeconcealinggradually,afterit’sfadeout,newdigitalwilldisplay
gradually.  
3. Flipover
Theswitchonofthenonglowingdigitswillbereachedbyafastscrollingthroughthe
digitsoneafteranother(slotmachineeffect).
4. Standard
Standardmode,ifdigitalchange,newdigitaldisplayimmediately. 

■ Thisoptionstoredintheclockandcannotlostwhenpoweroff.


QS18-12NixieTubeClockIntructions Http://www.nixieclock.org
 Designer:YanZeyuan.China.  Email:[email protected]  Website：www.nixieclock.org 5/8
Timeformat12H/24H
Inthedisplaytimemode,pressOKbuttoncanswitchtimeformatrepeatedly.

■ Timeformatonlyindisplaytimemode,insetuptimemode,pleaseaccordingto
settime24Hformat.
■ Thisoptionstoredintheclockandcannotlostwhenpoweroff.

DateformatYY-MM-DD/MM-DD-YY/DD-MM-YY
Inthedisplaydatemode,pressFUNCbuttoncanswitchdateformatrepeatedly.

■ Thisoptionstoredintheclockandcannotlostwhenpoweroff.

Temperatureunit℃/℉
Inthedisplaytemperaturemode,pressFUNCbuttoncanswitchtemperature unit
repeatedly.

■ Thisoptionstoredintheclockandcannotlostwhenpoweroff.

Backlightmodeswitch
Inthedisplaytimemode,pressLIGHTbuttoncanturnonorturnoffbacklightorletthem
breath.
Indisplaytimemode,pressNUM0-NUM9buttoncanturnonthebacklightdirectly,and
setthecolor.
NUM0:backlightwillchangethecoloraccordingthedayoftheweek.
Monday:red.Tuesday:yellow.Wednesday:green.Thursday:cyan.Friday:blue.
Saterday:purple.Sunday:white.
NUM1: redcolorbreath. NUM2: yellowcolorbreath. NUM3: greencolorbreath. 
NUM4: cyancolorbreath. NUM5: bluecolorbreath. NUM6: purplecolorbreath. 
NUM7: whitecolorbreath. 
NUM8: autochangecolorbreath.
NUM9: autochangecolorwithalwayslighting. 

Adjustbacklightbrightness
Inthedisplaytimemode,pressLEFTbuttonwillreducelightbrightness,pressRIGHT
increaselightbrightness.

■ There’refivedegreeoflighting. 


QS18-12NixieTubeClockIntructions Http://www.nixieclock.org
 Designer:YanZeyuan.China.  Email:[email protected]  Website：www.nixieclock.org 6/8
Settime
Indisplaytimemode,pressSETbuttonentersettimemode.
Afterentersettimemode,SECONDwillblinking,meansnowissettingSECOND.Press
LEFTorRIGHTbuttonchangesettingposition. 
PressbuttonNUM0-NUM9tochangethenumber.
PressOKtosavesetting.
PressCANCELabortsettingandexit.

■ After setting success, clock will beep for a long time, and return display time
mode.
■ Ifsettingisillogical,clockwillbeepfourtimeswithshorttime,andabortsave
settingthenreturndisplaytimemode. 
■ Pleaseaccordingtosettimein24Hformat.

Setdate
Indisplaydatemode,pressSETbuttonentersetdatemode.
Afterentersetdatemode,DAYwillblinking,meansnowissettingDAY.PressLEFTor
RIGHTbuttonchangesettingposition.
PressbuttonNUM0-NUM9tochangethenumber.
PressOKtosavesetting.
PressCANCELabortsettingandexit. 

■ After setting success, clock will beep for a long time, and return display time
mode.
■ Ifsettingisillogical,clockwillbeepfourtimeswithshorttime,andabortsave
settingthenreturndisplaytimemode.
■ The moon date don’t need set, clock will calculate automatic according
Gregoriancalendar.
■ TwodigitofYEARmeansafter2000year.

SetGMTtimezone
IndisplayGMTmode,pressLEFTorRIGHTbuttoncanchangeGMTtimezone.
IfthedigitalisdisplayattheleftmeansGMT-.AttherightmeansGMT+.
Forexample:BEIJINGliesinGMT8+,weshouldpressLEFTorRIGHTbuttonletdigital
displayattherighttwotubesandshow08. 


Setalarm
Indisplayalarm1/2mode,pressSETbuttonentersetalarmmode.

QS18-12NixieTubeClockIntructions Http://www.nixieclock.org
 Designer:YanZeyuan.China.  Email:[email protected]  Website：www.nixieclock.org 7/8
Afterentersetalarmmode,HOURwillblinking,meansnowissettingHOURofalarm.
PressLEFTorRIGHTbuttonchangesettingposition.
Lefttwotubeswilldisplaywitchalarmissettingnow,A1meansnowissettingalarm1,A2
meansnowissettingalarm2.
PressbuttonNUM0-NUM9tochangethenumber. 
PressOKtosavesetting.
PressCANCELabortsettingandexit. 

■ After setting success, clock will beep for a long time, and return display time
mode.
■ Ifsettingisillogical,clockwillbeepfourtimeswithshorttime,andabortsave
settingthenreturndisplaytimemode.
■ Ifwantdisablethealarmfunction,youshouldpressFUNCbuttoninalarmdisplay
mode,thenclockdisplayOFF,meansthisalarmwasdisabled. 
■ Ifnowisalarming,pressanybuttontostopalarm,orclockwillstopalarmafter
60sec.

GPSadjustdate&time
Insettingdateorsettingtimemode,pressFUNCbutton,clockwillenterGPSadjusting
mode.
After enter GPS adjusting mode, the backlight will change colortoredandflashing
quickly,andnow,GPSisconnectingthesatellite.Aftergetthecurrenttimeofsatellite,clock
willadjustitselfandbeepforalongtime,thenreturntimedisplaymode. 

■ ClockwillenterGPSadjustingmodeautomaticallyat8:00ofeveryMONDAY.
■ InGPSadjustingmode,pressCANCELbuttoncanexitadjusting.
■ After get the current time of satellite, clock will calculat local time by GMT
setting. 
■ IfGPSreceiverisnotconnect,clockwillreturnafter3seconds.
■ Clockwillreturnafter15minutesifGPScannotreceivethesinglefromsatellite.

Cathodepoisoningprevention
Nixietubeshaveanunwantedsideeffectcalled'cathodepoisoning'causingmetal
moleculesofglowingcathodes(digits)toattachtononglowingcathodes.Thisfinallycauses
deathofthetube.Toavoidthiseffectnon/seldomglowingcathodeshavetobeswitchedon
fromtimetotime.Sincethecathodepoisoningvariesbetweendifferenttypesoftubes,so
thereisanadjustablecathodepoisoningprevention.

Cathode poisoning prevention function default Settings for every 10 minutes run 5
seconds,Theswitchonofthenonglowingdigitswillbereachedbyafastscrollingthrough
thedigitsoneafteranother(slotmachineeffect).Thisfeaturecanbesetindurationand

QS18-12NixieTubeClockIntructions Http://www.nixieclock.org
 Designer:YanZeyuan.China.  Email:[email protected]  Website：www.nixieclock.org 8/8
frequencyofscrollinginthissetting. 
Inthedisplaytimemode,pressALARM three times, enter setup cathode poisoning
preventionfunction,andnow,thelefttubesshow‘3’ andmiddletwotubesshowthetime
intervalofCPfunction,theunitforminutes,righttwodisplayCPfunctionrunningtime,unit
forseconds.Atpresssetkey,willbegintoadjustthetimeintervalofCPfunction,useLEFTor
RIGHTbuttonsetinterval(thelongest20minutes,theshortest1minutes),thenpressSET
button,willbegintosetCPfunctionrunningtime,useLEFTorRIGHTbuttonsetrunningtime
(thelongest10seconds,theshortest1second).PressOKbuttonsavesettingandexit. 

Note
1. These nixie tubes were produced in 1976-1984, maybe there’re some different
betweeneverytube,orimperfectiononthem,it’snormal,pleasedon’tmind.
2. Theclockwillbecomewarmorlittlehotbecausethere’retwoDC-DCconvertersin
theclock,it’snormal,pleasedon’tmind. 
3. Ifsomedigitaladhesionwhendisplay,maybeduetolongtimenotworkingor
transportationcausedigitaladhesion, useyour fingersclick thetubesseveraltimesto
sparecathodedigitcansolvethisproblemandwillneverhappenagain.
4. Inordertopreventdamages,donotplacethisclockonunevenplace.



■ Anyquestions,pleasecontactdesigner.

Softwaredesign： YanZeyuan
Hardwaredesign： YanZeyuan
E-mail:    [email protected]
Website:   www.nixieclock.org
