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> Yilane ys-650 dekatron tube demonstrator A108 nixie era
Yilane ys-650 dekatron tube demonstrator A108 nixie era
Yilane Systems YS-650 KIT VERSION
This is an unassembled build-it-yourself electronics kit project. You must possess basic soldering skills to complete the assembly. The builder assumes all responsibility for correct assembly of this device, per the included instructions. If the device is damaged during assembly by improper techniques, the manufacturer is NOT RESPONSIBLE.
The Yilane Systems YS-650 Dekatron Demonstrator is a unique line-driven dekatron driver, designed to operate the tiny Sovtek A108 dekatron and other Sovtek dekatrons of similar configuration. Measuring approximately 70x40mm, YS-650 is a compact piece of test hardware, capable of driving the dekatron off the 60Hz line frequency, and can also accept a TTL pulse source (up to the 10kHz limit of the A108 dekatron) through the YS-650's external pulse interface. The external pulse interface allows the YS-650 to be easily incorporated into larger projects, or it can simply be used as a desk accessory or basic demonstrator without requiring any external circuitry. Unlike our computerized YS-601, the YS-650 does not require an independent 5V logic supply; the YS-650 is driven solely from conventional AC line power, 120V@60Hz.
Yilane Systems YS-650 Dekatron Demonstrator.
The most unique aspect of the YS-650 is the use of a Sovtek A108 dekatron. The A108 is not readily available on the western market, and is the smallest dekatron ever made. With an envelope diameter of only 18mm, the A108 is smaller than all other miniature dekatrons, including the Ericsson GC10/2P, Elesta EZ-10A, EZ-10B and ECT100, and the Sylvania 7155. It shares its envelope construction with the Sovtek IN-2 Nixie-style readout tube, with an unusual side-mount nipple and miniature base. The A108 is filled with a mix of neon and other gases, and is capable of 10kHz operation.
For this device to operate, the user must supply 120VAC to power the anode of the dekatron and drive circutry. The AC voltage can be supplied directly from a wall outlet in the United States and other countries that operate at 120VAC, or by a step-down transformer in countries that operate at 220V. When making the power connections, be sure to observe correct polarity as indicated in the diagram below, as a reversed connection could damage the device.
The YS-650 is designed to operate in two distinct modes, either with an internal or external pulse source for the dekatron.
Internal Drive: The device will use the 60Hz line frequency to actuate the dekatron. This allows the YS-650 to operate in a completely self-contained manner for static demonstration purposes.
External Drive: The dekatron can be stepped by an external 5V TTL level interface through the two pins marked IN and GND on the left side of the device. Each pulse presented across the IN pin will step the dekatron one position to the left. This allows for the freedom to use any common microcontroller or TTL circuit to actuate the dekatron if desired.
Switching between internal and external drive is accomplished through the use of the jumper block located directly adjacent to the dekatron. For internal drive, place the two jumpers towards the 'A' symbol next to the jumper block. For external drive, the jumpers should be placed facing the "M" symbol on the board.
Tuning for Different Dekatrons: Variable resistor R6 can be adjusted to provide stable counting with both argon and neon filled dekatron tubes. If the user later swaps out the included tube for one with a different fill gas, such as the Sovtek A109, variable resistor R6 will have to be re-adjusted. To set variable resistor R6, use a small screwdriver to turn it counterclockwise until the arrow on top is pointing as far to the right as it will go, then power up the unit with the target dekatron attached and slowly turn R6 clockwise until the tube's spinning stabilizes.
