Large Russian VFD Clocks & Breadboard Clock

[DashApple]

Hey All .


Ive been into VFD displays for a while now and i beleive otheres on this forum have a few VFD clocks so thought id post the 2 i got made between 1980 - 1990

so, recently i got 2 russian VFD clocks from ebay , both were made by a company called Elektronika they made many VFD clocks and still do now under a different name i believe

I got the Elektronika 7-M06 which is a small 4 digit clock that uses 16 IV-26 VFD tubes , each tube having 7 dots in . The IV-26 come in 3 variants , this clock uses type 3 with 7 connections ; 2 heater connections then dots 1 2-3 4 5-6 7 ( - means they are tied together inside the tube ) .

Each digit is made up from 4 tubes vertical so it becomes a 4 x 7 dot display .

I got one that after the many years of use the tubes have all faded and needed replacing and i had a whole box of 20 new old stock type 3 tubes laying around . This is the picture of the clock with one digit replaced with new tubes . you can see the difference from the new and old tubes .


IMG_0245 by TwirlyWhirly555, on Flickr

IMG_0252 by TwirlyWhirly555, on Flickr

so i spent a few hours replacing all the tubes with new one and it was worth the effort

The next one i got was a Elektronika 7 something ( no markings on the clock itselft ) this is a slightly newer one comparted the the 12 x 7 dot verstion they made . i got the 11 x 7 dot one . This one was new old stock to the tubes and wooden case are practicaly brand new and there is no fading at all ( new tubes glow brightest under the heater then slowly become uniform )


IMG_0236 by TwirlyWhirly555, on Flickr

IMG_0234 by TwirlyWhirly555, on Flickr

IMG_0233 by TwirlyWhirly555, on Flickr

Then this is them both together


IMG_0247 by TwirlyWhirly555, on Flickr

IMG_0250 by TwirlyWhirly555, on Flickr

IMG_0249 by TwirlyWhirly555, on Flickr


My last clock i made on a breadborad and it keeps it timing from the 50Hz mains by rectifing the 50Hz to 100Hz then diving it by 10 twice using 2 4017 devide by 10 counters .


IMG_0215 by TwirlyWhirly555, on Flickr

it uses AND gates to reset the digits are the correct times ( 24 , 60 , 60 ) . The IC used are dual BCD counters and then BCD to 7 Seg drivers . i hope to removed the led displays and used transister level shifter to drive 6 large 7 segement VFD displays i have ( 60mm high digits )

so thats my 3 new clocks i got and hopfully would like the get the 12 x 7 dot and 6 digit verstion too <3

All the best

Ben .

 

[Fiddy]

Looking good!

I love old russian tubes

i was umming and arrrring over making a clokc with these bad boys:

but didnt follow through with it.

keep up the good work!

 

[Blord]

These are large VFD clocks. I bet they are used out doors to cover a large area.

 

[DashApple]

Looking good!

I love old russian tubes

i was umming and arrrring over making a clokc with these bad boys:


but didnt follow through with it.

keep up the good work!

Thanks , I have the smaller vertion to the one you linked to i think , id love to have 6 of the large ones but i got 6 of the smallers one for cheap so with NPN/PNP level level shifters ill drive then using my breadboard clock .

im using 1K segment / grid resistors at 20V for 20ma segment current .


IMG_0258[1] by TwirlyWhirly555, on Flickr

These are large VFD clocks. I bet they are used out doors to cover a large area.

Yeah , i believe they would've been used in places like public area , train stations and that . the 6 digit vertion is a monster