Ramsey Electronics 2012 Catalog - Home

14
Digital Clocks
Classic Nixie Tube Clocks
✔ .7” bright orange Nixie display
✔ Soft fade display!
✔ 12 or 24 hour format!
✔ Top face or side face Nixie tubes
✔ Today’s technology with yesterday’s display!
✔ The ultimate conversation piece!
✔ Unique and attractive case designs
THE HISTORY
The Nixie tube made its debut in 1954 and quickly found its way as a digital display in high end test
equipment, frequency counters, military applications and research projects. Soon they were used as
the very first electronic digital display in consumer products like calculators, and the very first digital
clocks. For those that were there, who could forget that warm golden glow of digital numbers changing
before your eyes!
In the early 70’s, seven segment vacuum fluorescent displays quickly replaced the Nixie because they did not
require the complex cathode structure and also provided higher resolution graphics. As technology grew, vacuum
fluorescent displays were quickly replaced with LED displays because they were much smaller, less fragile, had
lower power consumption, and could rival the brightness and intensity of VCDs. Not requiring high voltage, LED
seven segment displays quickly became the standard display for virtually all digital display products. Subminiature
versions even found their way into the early Pulsar wristwatches!
Ironically, Ramsey Electronics ® started up in the early 70’s and one of our first products was a neat and very high
tech 7 segment LED clock kit in a nice extruded aluminum housing. It became extremely popular and we became
famous for bringing state-of-the-art IC driven LED display technology to the hobbyist! Now, more than three
decades later, we are proud to bring not only a piece of history, but a piece of Ramsey history back to the hobbyist...
The Nixie Tube Digital Clocks!
IN12AL
RETRO AT ITS FINEST!
Designed to pay homage to the era which birthed the Nixie, these clocks won't pick up radio stations, won’t dock your iPod, and certainly won’t play CDs. They won’t even wake you
up in the morning! But what they will do is display the time, beautifully and simply, like no other clock today can! Once utilized for military and high-end test equipment, Nixies are
now prized for their modern aesthetics. The warm neon glow of a Nixie clock adds a cool retro touch to any office, home or work area.
Since their “demise”, Nixie tubes haven’t been manufactured domestically for decades. However they were still being manufactured in high volume in the mid 80’s in the former
Soviet Union. These Nixie tubes are the only ones readily available today and are the tubes used in the clocks. These space-race era Russian manufactured tubes also feature a great
conversation starter... the number “5” is an upside down “2” reflecting an efficient and cost effective design philosophy from the cold war superpower! Both unexpected, effective,
and thought provoking!
THE CLOCKS
KIT
Wired & Tested
It’s Time To Go Back In Time...
With Time!
IN14TM Features six IN14 Nixie tubes mounted in a beautiful hand crafted hardwood base. The base finish is hand rubbed and finished like a fine piece of furniture. The
Hours, Minutes, and Seconds are separated by an NE2 Neon bulb matching the era of the clock. Advanced features include brightness control and auto-dim. From the two
setting buttons you can increase or decrease the brightness of the Nixies from 0 (off) to 10 (full brightness). You can also set the clock to lower the brightness between two
specified hours in the day (such as 08 to 17 when you are not home) to extend tube life or to customize your display for nighttime use. The IN14 is powered by a provided
110VAC to 12VDC power supply, and utilizes a crystal oscillator for the time base that is accurate to 20ppm. A simple calibration procedure can achieve an accuracy even better
than 10ppm! The IN14 can be used overseas with the optional SPS15U power supply. It can also be used with a 12VDC source. Measures 8.25”W x 3”H x 4”D.
IN12AL Features six IN12 Nixie tubes mounted in an attractive aluminum housing with black bevels to match any modern desk decor. Dual rear buttons set the time and
select your choice of 12 or 24 hour mode. The clock runs on 120VAC, 60Hz. It uses the 60Hz line frequency as the time base, so it cannot be used outside domestic
120VAC/60Hz power sources. Measures 6.5”W x 3”H x 1.75”D.
Both clocks perfectly mesh today’s technology with the Nixie era technology of the 60’s. The brain of the clock is the MicroChip PIC16FXXX PIC series micro-controller which controls
all functions of the clock. The Nixie tube display is driven with a surface mount (SMT) Supertex HV5522 high voltage serial to parallel converter. From there, either “top face” IN12 or
conventional “side tube face” IN14 Nixies are used. Both feature a very unique soft fade display for an incredibly smooth transition as the numbers change. They also support 12 or
24 hour display format.
WHAT IS A NIXIE TUBE?
The Nixie tube is a cold-cathode tube filled with neon gas and equipped with a wire mesh anode and multiple cathodes in the shape of numerals. Applying power to one of the
cathodes creates the characteristic and appealing soft orange glow. Although the technology was pioneered in the early 20th century, nixie display tubes weren't brought to market
commercially until 1954 by the Burroughs Corporation. The name "Nixie" was derived by Burroughs from "NIX I", an abbreviation of "Numeric Indicator eXperimental No. 1".
Nixie tubes were always designed to have an extended life. It is not uncommon to expect a tube life of 5 years or more. The new Russian Nixie tubes used in these clocks are hand
selected and tested for brightness, flaws, and irregularities. They are warranted against failure (not breakage!) for 30 days. If a tube in a new clock fails within 30 days, send us the
clock and we will replace it free of charge. Replacement tubes are available with clock purchase, see below for terms. (Note, they are not plug-in like miniature vacuum tubes, soldering/desoldering
is required). Beyond the tubes, our standard product warranty applies.
SEE IT IN ACTION!
If you want to see these clocks in action, visit www.ramseykits.com/nixie. You will see that warm golden glow of digital numbers changing before your eyes!
THE ULTIMATE CONVERSATION PIECE!
Show your nostalgic fondness for yesterday’s technology with a Nixie tube clock. It is rather ironic that in their heyday the use of Nixies was considered too expensive for consumer
products like clocks, and here we are today! The unmistakable soft orange glow and the remarkable fade display feature in an incredibly beautiful hand rubbed teak and
maple base! Then there’s the discussion of Russian tubes made during the cold war, with an upside down “2” as a “5”... It just doesn’t get any better than that! Get on the
retro bandwagon with your very own Nixie classic clock! (I’m the woodworker, and I make sure each wooden base is perfect, just like a piece of my fine furniture!)
IN14TM Nixie Tube Clock, IN14 Tubes, Hardwood Base, Kit $329.95
IN14TMWT Nixie Tube Clock, IN14 Tubes, Hardwood Base, Factory Assembled & Tested $369.95
IN12AL Nixie Tube Clock, IN12 Tubes, Aluminum, Kit $169.95
IN12ALWT Nixie Tube Clock, IN12 Tubes, Aluminum, Factory Assembled & Tested $209.95
SPS15U Optional Switching Power Supply For IN14TM, 80-280VAC, (Required For International Use Only) $29.95
IN12 IN12 Spare/Replacement Nixie Tube * $14.95
IN126 IN12 Spare/Replacement Nixie Tube, Six Pack * $84.95
IN14 IN14 Spare/Replacement Nixie Tube * $14.95
IN146 IN14 Spare/Replacement Nixie Tube, Six Pack * $84.95
* Spare Nixie tubes are only available with the purchase of a clock or within 1 year of a purchase (there are only so many!)
IN14TM