Pvelectronics Quattro Configuration guide

Nixie Tube Clock ‘Quattro'
ISSUE 3 (01 November 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 1 -
Assembly Instructions
And
User Guide
Nixie Clock Type
‘Quattro'

Nixie Tube Clock ‘Quattro'
ISSUE 3 (01 November 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 2 -
REVISION HISTORY
Issue
Number
Date Reason for Issue
3 01 Nov 2018 New diode for D2, new ZD1
2 8 Sept 2012 Errors corrected
1 27 July 2012 New docu ent

Nixie Tube Clock ‘Quattro'
ISSUE 3 (01 November 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 3 -
1.1 Nixie Quattro - Features
Nixie clock type ‘Nixie Quattro’ has the following features:
- Hours, Minutes and Seconds display
- 12 or 24 hour odes
- Uses a Quartz Crystal Oscillator as the ti ebase
- Progra able leading zero blanking
- Supercapacitor backup. Keeps ti e during short power outages
- Si ple ti e setting using two buttons
- Progra able leading zero blanking
- Five progra able neon colon settings (Flashing AM/PM indication,
illu inated AM/PM indication, both flashing, both on, both off)
- Seconds can be reset to zero to precisely the set ti e
- Progra able night ode - blanked or di ed display to save tubes
or prevent sleep disturbance.
- Separate odes for colon neons during night ode
- Standard, or scrollback display odes
- ‘Slot Machine’ Cathode poisoning prevention routine
- Not AC frequency dependent – works in all countries
- All user preferences stored to non-volatile e ory

Nixie Tube Clock ‘Quattro'
ISSUE 3 (01 November 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
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1.3 SAFETY
DANGER: The clock pcb includes a switched- ode voltage booster
circuit. This generates no inally 170 Volts DC. Asse bly ay only be
undertaken by individuals who are suitably qualified and experienced in
electronics asse bly, and are fa iliar with safe procedures for working
with high voltages. If in doubt, refer to a suitably qualified engineer
before proceeding.
The voltages generated by this circuit can give a potentially
LETHAL ELECTRIC SHOCK.
DISCLAIMER: This product is supplied as a kit of parts, intended only for
suitably qualified electronic engineers, who are suitably qualified and
experienced in electronics asse bly, and are fa iliar with safe
procedures for working with high voltages. The supplier, his agents or
associates accept no liability for any da age, injury or death arising fro
the use of this kit of parts.
This is not a finished product, and the person asse bling the kit is
responsible for ensuring that the finished product co plies with any
applicable local regulations governing electrical equip ent, eg. UL, CE,
VDE.

Nixie Tube Clock ‘Quattro'
ISSUE 3 (01 November 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 5 -
2. LIST OF COMPONENTS
2.1 Table of Components
Circuit Designation Part Description
Resistors
R1 4.7 KΩ, ¼ Watt
R2 390 KΩ, ¼ Watt
R3 4.7 KΩ, ¼ Watt
R4 390 KΩ, ¼ Watt
R5 - R8 4.7 KΩ, ¼ Watt
R9 - R12 390 KΩ, ¼ Watt
R13 – R17 10 KΩ, ¼ Watt
R18 390 KΩ, ¼ Watt
R19, R20 270 Ω, ¼ Watt
ZD1 300 KΩ, ¼ Watt
Capacitors
C1, C2 100nF Cera ic
C3 1uF, 250V, Electrolytic
C4 470uF, 16-25V, Electrolytic
C5 15pF Cera ic
C6 33pF Cera ic
C7 100nF Cera ic
C8 0.1F
C9 100nF
Transistors
Q1 IRFD220 MOSFET
Q2, Q3 MPSA42
Q4, Q5 MPSA92
Q6, Q7 MPSA42
Diodes
D1, D3 1N5819
D2 1N4001
D4 UF4004
D5 - D8 3 Blue LED
Integrated Circuits
IC1 78L05 5V voltage regulator
IC2 PIC16F1827 8-bit icrocontroller
IC3 HV5812
Miscellaneous
L1 100uH inductor
PM 4 wire ended neon la p
SET, ADJ Miniature push button
IC2 Socket 18 Way narrow IC socket for IC2
IC3 Socket PLCC28 IC socket for IC3
FUSE 500 A fuse
Insulation Clear insulation for PM neon
NX1 – NX4 Z5700M Nixie Tube
X1 32.768KHz watch crystal

Nixie Tube Clock ‘Quattro'
ISSUE 3 (01 November 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 6 -
2.2 Parts list / Packing Sheet
Part Description Quantity
Resistors
270 Ω, ¼ Watt 2
4.7 KΩ, ¼ Watt 6
10 KΩ, ¼ Watt 5
390 KΩ, ¼ Watt 7
300 KΩ, ¼ Watt 1
Capacitors
33pF, Cera ic 1
15pF, Cera ic 1
100nF, Cera ic 4
1uF, 250V, Electrolytic 1
470uF, 16-25V, Electrolytic 1
0.1F 1
Transistors
IRFD220 MOSFET 1
MPSA42 4
MPSA92 2
Diodes
1N5819 2
1N4001 1
UF4004 fast recovery diode 1
3 Blue LED 4
Integrated Circuits
78L05 5V voltage regulator 1
PIC16F1827 8-bit icrocontroller 1
HV5812 1
Miscellaneous
100uH inductor 1
4 wire ended neon la p 1
Miniature push button 2
18 way narrow IC Socket for IC2 1
PLCC28 IC Socket for IC3 1
2.1 PCB power socket 1
500 A fuse 1
Clear insulation for neons 1
32.768KHz watch crystal 1

Nixie Tube Clock ‘Quattro'
ISSUE 3 (01 November 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
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Quick Assembly Guide
1.0 Low Voltage Components:
J1, Fuse, D1 - D3, C1, C2, IC1.
Test 5V test point for 5.4 - 5.7V.
If you do not get the correct voltage, do not continue. Stop and
check your work, and e ail for support if necessary.
1.1 High Voltage Components:
C3, C4, R1- R4, D4, L1, ZD1, Q1, IC2 / IC2 socket.
The two joined pins on Q1 face the inductor.
Test HV Point for 168 - 172V.
If you do not get the correct voltage, do not continue. Stop and
check your work, and e ail for support if necessary.
1.2 All remaining components except Tubes and LEDs
1.3 Z570M, Z573M, ZM1080, ZM1082, GN9A Nixie Tubes.
It is necessary to clip off two of the Z570M and equivalent tube
leads: Clip off the two leads as shown below:
This is how the tube will look after re oving the leads:

Nixie Tube Clock ‘Quattro'
ISSUE 3 (01 November 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
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To facilitate easy insertion of the flying leads into the PCB holes, it
helps enor ously to tri the re aining flying leads with a pair of
scissors as shown below. Start at one of the leads at the back of
the tube.
Then, working around the tube, cut each sucessive lead approx
2 shorter than the previous one. This will allow you to feed
each lead in in turn.
Now you can insert and solder in the tube. Its best to have the
tube approx 5 fro the PCB, so you are not soldering too close
to the glass-to- etal seal.

Nixie Tube Clock ‘Quattro'
ISSUE 3 (01 November 2018
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1.4 D5 - D8
Note these LEDs are polarised – the longer lead goes in the hole
arked +.

Nixie Tube Clock ‘Quattro'
ISSUE 3 (01 November 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
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2. HOW TO OPERATE THE CLOCK
The twp buttons have the following functions:
SET:
Set ti e and date;
Enter configuration enu;
ADJ: Adjust: ti e, adjust configuration values.
Entering configuration mode:
The principal settings of the clock are stored in flash e ory – your
preferred configuration is stored even after powering off the clock for
extended periods. To access the configuration ode press and hold the
‘SET’ button. After 2 seconds the seconds will display. Continue holding
the button a further 2 seconds until the clock displays in this for at:
01-XX . XX is the software verson. eg. 12 eans version 1.2
In configuration ode the hours digits diplay the current para eter
being adjusted, and the inutes digits display the current value stored
against the para eter.
For each para eter, and referring to the table below, scroll through the
range of possible values by pressing the ‘ADJ’ button. When the desired
value has been reached, ove on to the next para eter by pressing the
‘SET’ button. When the last para eter has been set, pressing ‘SET’ one
ore ti e will revert the clock back to ti e display ode. The first
para eter (0) cannot be changed as it is the software revision nu ber.
It will show for several seconds and then ove to para eter 1.
In all correspondence on support issues, please quote the board type,
revision date and software version.

Nixie Tube Clock ‘Quattro'
ISSUE 3 (01 November 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
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Parameter Description Values
0 Software revision 10 = version 1.0, 11 = version 1.1 etc
1 12 / 24 Hr ode 0 – 12 Hr (default)
1 – 24 Hr
2 Leading zero blanking
eg. 01:54:32
0 – leading zero blanked (default)
1 – leading zero displayed
3 Night Mode start hour 0 - 23
4 Night Mode end hour 0 - 23
5 Night Mode 0 – Tubes off
1 – Di ed display (default)
6 PM neon ode 0 – AM/PM Indication, flashing
1 – AM/PM Indication, illu inated
2 – Flashing (default)
3 – Illu inated
4 – Off
7 PM neon during night
di ed ode
1
0 – AM/PM Indication, flashing
1 – AM/PM Indication, illu inated
2 – Flashing
3 – Illu inated (default)
4 – Off
8 LED Tube Lighting
Brightness
0 - 9 (default 9)
9 LED Tube Lighting
Brightness (Night Mode)
0 - 9 (default 3)
10 Reserved – leave as 0 0
11 Reserved – leave as 0 0
12 Slots Mode
2
0 – Slots disabled
1 – Slots every inute
2 - Slots every 10 inutes (default)
3 - Slots every hour
4 – Slots at idnight
13 Display Mode 0 – Standard change of digits
1 – Cross-fading digits with scrollback
effect (default)
14 Seconds display each
inute
0 – Off
1 – On (default)
3
15 Night Mode Override
Period
0 – 50 (default 0 gives 15 seconds
override)
4
15 Restore default settings 0 – Keep user settings
1 – Restore original default settings
5
Notes:
1. Night ti e neon ode is active when night ode is set to di . During night ti e
blanking the tubes AND PM neon are disabled.
2. Visual effect / cathode poisoning prevention – all digits on all tubes are cycled for 10
seconds. Not active during night blanking or di ed odes.
3. Seconds will be displayed each inute between 55 and 59 seconds past the inute.
4. Press ‘SET’ briefly during Night Mode to show ti e for prescribed period.
5. Set this para eter to ‘1’ to restore original default settings. Internal operations will
then load all the original settings and restore the value to ‘0’

Nixie Tube Clock ‘Quattro'
ISSUE 3 (01 November 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
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Setting the Time and Date:
Fro ti e display ode, press and hold ‘SET’ button for 2 seconds until
the seconds digits are displayed
Press the ‘ADJ’ button to reset seconds to zero.
Briefly Press ‘SET’ again and the inutes will be highlighted
Press the ‘ADJ’ button to set the inutes.
Briefly Press ‘SET’ again and the hours will be highlighted.
Press the ‘ADJ’ button to set the hours.
Finally, briefly Press ‘SET’ again to revert to nor al clock operation.
Auto Date Display:
Setting para eter (14) to ‘1’ will enable auto display of date between 55
and 59 seconds past each inute.
Night Blanking Override:
During progra ed night blanking, the blanking ay be overridden to
see the ti e by briefly pressing the ‘SET’ button. Tubes will re ain lit for
the period defined in para eter (15).

Nixie Tube Clock ‘Quattro'
ISSUE 3 (01 November 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 13 -
3. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

Nixie Tube Clock ‘Quattro'
ISSUE 3 (01 November 2018
www.pvelectronics.co.uk
- 14 -