Night Mode Effect Of Slot Machine Preventing Cathode Poisoning

Preventing

Dieter'sNixie- Tube Pages
Tutorial: Cathode Poisoning Reversal
This Pagedescribes my experiences with cathode poisoning,
using a Rodan CD47 tube as an example.
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To avoid cathode poisoning, the Nixie Clock ensures that all of the digits are being periodically lit by using one of the Cathode Poisoning Prevention routines. This clock has a built-in receiver for the DCF77 time signal. DCF77 is a German longwave time signal and standard-frequency radio station. How can you prevent cathode poisoning? Exercise inactive cathodes (occasionally cycle the tubes through all cathodes). This will keep cleaning the coating off before it becomes too thick. Example- Nixie Clocks: Rotate the numbers like in a slot machine (a.k.a. One-armed bandit or fruit machine). Backlight switched ON/OFF (auto off in night time) Show date switched ON/OFF Night mode effect of Slot Machine (preventing cathode poisoning) Built-in battery socket, time backup during power interruptions Simple timedate adjusting - mode & set buttons on back panel Power: 12V/1A. You can use ordinary power adapter (US adapter included).

What is cathodepoisoning and how does it occur?

Night Mode Effect Of Slot Machine Preventing Cathode Poisoning Occurs

Most nixie tubes havemore than one cathode. If a cathode is illuminated, material issputtered from this active cathode onto the glass envelope andthe inactive cathodes. You've probably seen darkened nixie tubeswith a gray or silvery coating on the inside of the glass. Thisis the extreme case of sputtered material on the glass at or nearthe end of tube life. If a cathode is not used for a long timewhile others are lit, the coating on the inactive electrode(s)gets thicker and thicker. This coating is highly resistive, so ifit gets thick enough, it prevents the inactive cathode fromglowing. Then if the inactive cathode gets switched on, parts ofit will be dimmer or totally dark. Different tube types havedifferent vulnerability to cathode poisoning, but normally ittakes thousands of hours until it becomes a problem.
Example: A CD47 nixie tube with cathode poisoning on the '6'.
The picture shows the illumination at rated current:


How to reverse cathode poisoning

Night Mode Effect Of Slot Machine Preventing Cathode Poisoning Reactions

Drive the poisonedcathode with the rated current.
Then turn up the current (for example, using a variac as yourpower source) while watching the regions where the cathodes aredarkened.
If a formerly-dark region is completely illuminated (even ifstill dimmer than the rest of the cathode), the current is enough.
If the lead-in wire glows, go back to a lower current until itstops glowing, or it will also glow later at normal current. Evenif part of the cathode remains dark at this current level,healing can take place - the dark region(s) will gradually shrink.
Here we see Dieter's tube at the start of the regenerationprocess:

Use values for the cathode currentfrom about 2 to 10 times higher than the maximum rated currentfor that tube type.
The larger the tube, the lower that factor.
For the CD47 shown, Dieter used approx. factor 2 (rated: 32.5 mAmax., he used 50 to 60 mA)
The darkened region(s) will become smaller and/or brighter, thelonger you let the tube bake in this condition.
This is because now the coating is being sputtered away.
It can take minutes to hours, depending on the thickness of thecoating. For example the '6' of the CD47 shown took 4hours until it was completely regenerated.

Here are incrementalimages of the healing process:
20 mA after 1 hour:


going back to 'bake' at 55mA:


20 mA after 3 hours:

going back to 50mA:

after 4 hours, the '6' is fully illuminated at lowcurrent (20mA):

at high current also (35mA):

BEFORE & AFTER
Now you can go to the next digit.
How can you preventcathode poisoning?

Cathode

Exercise inactivecathodes (occasionally cycle the tubes through all cathodes).
This will keep cleaning the coating offbefore it becomes too thick.
Example- Nixie Clocks: Rotate the numbers like in a slot machine(a.k.a. one-armed bandit or fruit machine).

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Night Mode Effect Of Slot Machine Preventing Cathode Poisoning Hazards

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Night Mode Effect Of Slot Machine Preventing Cathode Poisoning Exposure

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• Built-in battery socket for proper time backup during power interruptions.
• The Vintage Nixie Clock was designed to work below its operation point to ensure the tubes last longer for you.
• To avoid cathode poisoning, you will see a slot machine effect from 1:00 till 4:00. By turning on the numbers evenly, we extend the lifespan of the clock.
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