2 layers51.5 × 42 mm
4 layers191.6 × 128.2 mm
Nixie clock
t0mka14/nixie_clock6 digit nixie clock
- Size
- 191.6 × 128.2 mm
- Copper layers
- 4
- Thickness
- 1.6 mm
- Parts
- 156
- Nets
- 234
- Pads
- 638
- Tracks, vias
- 1,144, 226
- Pours
- 23
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 9.0 (file 20241229)
- Created
- 11 Apr 2025
- Updated
- 13 Apr 2025
Overview
Nixie clock is an open-source printed circuit board by t0mka14, from the t0mka14/nixie_clock repository on GitHub. It is a 4-layer board of 191.6 × 128.2 mm with 156 parts on 234 nets, routed with 1,144 tracks and 226 vias.
It is built around the RP2040, DS18B20 and W25Q128JVSIQ, with the HV5530PG-G, DS3231MZ/V+ and ABM8-272-T3 among its other parts. Its parts include 90 resistors, 29 capacitors, 14 ICs, 8 connectors and 4 diodes. It belongs with the lEDs and displays boards and the RP2040 boards of this library.
Main components
6
RP2040
LQFN-56(7x7)12bit 133MHz 30 LQFN-56(7x7) Microcontrollers (MCU/MPU/SOC) ROHSRaspberry PiMicrocontrollers (MCU/MPU/SOC)
DS18B20
TO-92-55℃~+125℃ 12bit 3V~5.5V 750ms Single-bus ±0.4℃ TO-92 Temperature Sensors ROHSUMWTemperature Sensors
W25Q128JVSIQ
SOIC-8-208mil-40℃~+85℃ 100,000 cycles 120ms@(32KB) 128Mbit 133MHz 1uA 2.7V~3.6V 20 Years 3ms Power-on reset、Hardware write protection、Software write protection、Write enable latch、Absolute write protection SPI SOIC-8-208mil NOR FLASH ROHSWinbondNOR FLASH
HV5530PG-G
PQFP-44(10x10)-40℃~+85℃ 1 10.8V~13.2V 32 Open-drain Serial-to-Parallel PQFP-44(10x10) Shift Registers ROHSMicrochip TechnologyShift Registers
DS3231MZ/V+
SOIC-8-40℃~+85℃ 2.3V~5.5V Built-in I2C Temperature compensation、Backup power management and battery charging、Alarm function、Locking and tamper-proof、Periodic interrupt output SOIC-8 Real Time Clocks ROHSMaxim Integrated (Analog Devices)Real Time Clocks
ABM8-272-T3
SMD3225-4P-40℃~+85℃ 10pF 12MHz 50Ω SMD crystal oscillator ±30ppm ±30ppm SMD3225-4P Crystals ROHSAbraconCrystals
README
readme.mdSix digit nixie clock
I got my hands on handful of different nixie tubes when we were moving out some old wardrobes at CTU. I thought this would be just a small project, but well... Anyway it turned out to be a max 6 digit (+2 dividers) USB powered nixie clock. It is controlled by RP2040.
Table of Contents
Hardware
This project contains 4 PCBs (3x 2 layer, 1x 4 layer) in total. They are supposed to be stacked on top of each other using M3 spacers.
Z570M socket
This pcb is just a socket for the Z570M. There were original plastic sockets produced for them, but I don't have one. When soldering the tube, it is better to cool down the contacts near the tube to avoid possible vacuum leak. It can be done with a wet napkin, just be careful to not dissolve the red coating.
HV power supply
This board is a boost converter powered by MAX1771. The PCB is modified from Nick de Smith design. It generates 150-220V from 12V input for the tubes. Set voltage by trimmer
on the board. It is not galvanically isolated, so be careful to not get shocked.
Digits and HV5530 board
This is basically a holder for the tubes with a HV5530 soldered on.
I personally do not like time multiplexing nixies as it causes more wear on the cathodes. One HV5530 can drive
up to 3 tubes and 2 dividers.
Control board
The digital part consists of a RP2040, DS3231 for RTC, and DS18B20 for temperature sensing. The non used pins of RP2040
are fanned out to a standard pin header for additions that will be surely found out just after the design is completed :D
To lower the already high step-up ratio, the TPS2573 requests 12V from USB PD charger. RP2040 is also programmed using
that USB-C. This is the only 4 layer board in the project.
Software
WIP
Parts
156| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68 | R | Resistor_SMD:R_0805_2012Metric | R15, R16, R17, R18, R19, R20, R21, R22, R23, R24, R25, R26, R27, R28, R29, R30 +52 |
| 10 | 100n | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C3, C19, C20, C21, C22, C23, C24, C25, C26, C27 |
| 8 | MountingHole | MountingHole:MountingHole_3.2mm_M3 | H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, H7, H8 |
| 6 | 20k | Resistor_SMD:R_1206_3216Metric | R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10 |
| 6 | ~ | tomas_lib:Z570M_patice | U5, U6, U7, U8, U9, U10 |
| 5 | 10u | Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric | C2, C4, C9, C10, C17 |
| 4 | 5k | Resistor_SMD:R_0805_2012Metric | R1, R2, R3, R4 |
| 4 | D | Capacitor_THT:CP_Radial_D8.0mm_P5.00mm | D1, D2, D3, D4 |
| 4 | R | Resistor_SMD:R_1206_3216Metric | R11, R12, R13, R14 |
| 3 | 10k | Resistor_SMD:R_0805_2012Metric | R83, R84, R85 |
| 3 | 10n | Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric | C8, C12, C13 |
| 3 | Conn_01x02_Pin | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J5, J8, J9 |
| 2 | 15p | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C29, C30 |
| 2 | 1k | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R89, R90 |
| 2 | 1u | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C18, C28 |
| 2 | 22u | Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric | C15, C16 |
| 2 | 27.4 | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R86, R87 |
| 2 | 330p | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C5, C6 |
| 2 | 4.7u | Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric | C7, C11 |
| 2 | Conn_01x07_Pin | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_1x07_P2.54mm_Vertical | J2, J3 |
| 2 | HV5530 | tomas_lib:PQFP-44_HV5530 | U11, U12 |
| 1 | 10k | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R88 |
| 1 | 1u | Capacitor_SMD:C_0805_2012Metric | C1 |
| 1 | 4504 | tomas_lib:Texas_PDSO_G16 | U4 |
| 1 | ABM8-272-T3 | nixie_lib:ABM8-272-T3 | Y2 |
| 1 | Battery_Cell | Battery:Battery_Panasonic_CR2032-HFN_Horizontal_CircularHoles | BT1 |
| 1 | Conn_01x02_Pin | Connector_Phoenix_MC:PhoenixContact_MCV_1,5_2-G-3.5_1x02_P3.50mm_Vertical | J4 |
| 1 | Conn_02x19_Odd_Even | Connector_PinHeader_2.54mm:PinHeader_2x19_P2.54mm_Vertical | J1 |
| 1 | DS18B20 | Package_TO_SOT_THT:TO-92_Inline | U2 |
| 1 | DS3231MZ | Package_SO:SOIC-8_3.9x4.9mm_P1.27mm | U1 |
| 1 | NCP1117-3.3_SOT223 | Package_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-223-3_TabPin2 | U3 |
| 1 | RP2040 | Package_DFN_QFN:QFN-56-1EP_7x7mm_P0.4mm_EP3.2x3.2mm | U15 |
| 1 | USB_C_Receptacle_USB2.0_16P | tomas_lib:Conn_USB_C_Socket_Molex_2171790001 | J6 |
| 1 | W25Q128JVS | Package_SO:SOIC-8_5.3x5.3mm_P1.27mm | U13 |
| 1 | ~ | tomas_lib:IC_TPS25730D | TPS25730D1 |
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Questions
How big is the Nixie clock PCB?
It measures 191.6 × 128.2 mm and has 4 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.
What parts does the Nixie clock use?
156 parts, built around the RP2040, DS18B20, W25Q128JVSIQ and HV5530PG-G. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.
Where can I download the Nixie clock KiCad files?
From the t0mka14/nixie_clock repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is nixie_clock/nixie_clock.kicad_pcb and its schematic Z570M_socket/Z570M_socket.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the Nixie clock design in my own project?
Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask t0mka14 before reusing the design.