Nixie Clock
About the Nixie Clock PCB
Nixie Clock is an open source AVR/Arduino PCB design by PennyLekas, published on GitHub under the CERN-OHL-S-2.0 license. It is a 2-layer board measuring 115 × 80 mm, with 94 components from 65 distinct parts.
Its main chip is the ATmega2560-16A, from the AVR/Arduino family. Other key parts include the CH340C, LM340MP-5.0_SOT223, MIC5205-3.3YM5, NCH8200HV and IP2721. By type, the board carries 23 capacitors, 22 resistors, 16 test points, 15 ICs, 5 connectors and 3 transistors.
It belongs with the displays & leds designs in this gallery.
From the project
v1 is broken and required some bodge wires to work. I have not updated the schematic and PCB to correct my mistakes. It also has some deficencies in the dimming circuit resulint in a quiet, but audible whine.
v1 is broken and required some bodge wires to work. I have not updated the schematic and PCB to correct my mistakes. It also has some deficencies in the dimming circuit resulint in a quiet, but audible whine.
v2 is in progress and will fix many issues and make the clock easier to update. It wil be using an RP2040.
Features - Automatic time seting using GPS - User sets their time zone using dip switches - Tubes dim with ambient light - Day light savings time will be controlled using a +/-1 switch - Plenty of test points for testing and hacking - USB C for power and data
Main components on the Nixie Clock
Nixie Clock bill of materials (BOM)
94 components, 65 distinct parts — part numbers from the project's BOM.
| Qty | Part | Footprint | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ATmega2560-16A | TQFP-100_14x14mm_P0.5mm | U1 |
| 1 | CH340C | SOIC-16_3.9x9.9mm_P1.27mm | U2 |
| 2 | LM340MP-5.0_SOT223 | SOT-223-3_TabPin2 | U3, U4 |
| 2 | MIC5205-3.3YM5 | SOT-23-5 | U5, U8 |
| 1 | NCH8200HV | NCH8200HV | U6 |
| 1 | IP2721 | TSSOP-16-1EP_4.4x5mm_P0.65mm_EP3x3mm_ThermalVias | U7 |
| 1 | DS3231SN#T&R | SOIC-16W_7.5x10.3mm_P1.27mm | U9 |
| 1 | L80-R | Quectel_L80-R | U10 |
| 4 | К155ИД1 | DIP-16_W7.62mm | U11, U12, U13, U14 |
| 1 | USBLC6-2SC6 | SOT-23-6 | U15 |
| 1 | CSD18543Q3A | VSON-8_3.3x3.3mm_P0.65mm_NexFET | Q1 |
| 1 | PZTA92 | SOT-223-3_TabPin2 | Q2 |
| 1 | PZTA42 | SOT-223-3_TabPin2 | Q3 |
| 1 | 16MHz | Resonator_SMD_Murata_CSTxExxV-3Pin_3.0x1.1mm | Y1 |
| 1 | Reset | PinSocket_1x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J1 |
| 1 | ICSP | PinSocket_2x03_P2.54mm_Vertical | J2 |
| 1 | Serial | PinSocket_1x06_P2.54mm_Vertical | J3 |
| 1 | USB_C_USB2.0 | USB_C_Receptacle_HRO_TYPE-C-31-M-12 | J4 |
| 1 | Colon | PinSocket_2x02_P2.54mm_Vertical | J5 |
| 1 | Battery_Cell | BatteryHolder_LINX_BAT-HLD-012-SMT | BT1 |
Show 45 more
| Qty | Part | Footprint | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Voltage Select | SolderJumper-3_P1.3mm_Open_Pad1.0x1.5mm | JP1 |
| 4 | ИН-8 | ИН-8 | N1, N2, N3, N4 |
| 1 | Settings | SW_DIP_SPSTx08_Slide_9.78x22.5mm_W7.62mm_P2.54mm | SW1 |
| 1 | LIGHT | TestPoint_THTPad_D2.0mm_Drill0.9mm | TP1 |
| 1 | +5V | TestPoint_THTPad_D2.0mm_Drill0.9mm | TP2 |
| 1 | +5VA | TestPoint_THTPad_D2.0mm_Drill0.9mm | TP3 |
| 1 | +3V3 | TestPoint_THTPad_D2.0mm_Drill0.9mm | TP4 |
| 1 | ANODE | TestPoint_THTPad_D2.0mm_Drill0.9mm | TP5 |
| 1 | 170V | TestPoint_THTPad_D2.0mm_Drill0.9mm | TP6 |
| 1 | VUSB | TestPoint_THTPad_D2.0mm_Drill0.9mm | TP7 |
| 1 | VSNK | TestPoint_THTPad_D2.0mm_Drill0.9mm | TP8 |
| 1 | DIM | TestPoint_THTPad_D2.0mm_Drill0.9mm | TP9 |
| 1 | GPS_PWR | TestPoint_THTPad_D2.0mm_Drill0.9mm | TP10 |
| 1 | GPS_CTRL | TestPoint_THTPad_D2.0mm_Drill0.9mm | TP11 |
| 1 | RX | TestPoint_THTPad_D2.0mm_Drill0.9mm | TP12 |
| 1 | TX | TestPoint_THTPad_D2.0mm_Drill0.9mm | TP13 |
| 1 | BATTERY | TestPoint_THTPad_D2.0mm_Drill0.9mm | TP14 |
| 1 | SCL | TestPoint_THTPad_D2.0mm_Drill0.9mm | TP15 |
| 1 | SDA | TestPoint_THTPad_D2.0mm_Drill0.9mm | TP16 |
| 2 | Green | LED_0603_1608Metric | D1, D2 |
| 5 | 0.1UF 0u1 | C_0603_1608Metric | C1, C3, C4, C6, C11 |
| 1 | 0.1UF 10u | C_0603_1608Metric | C2 |
| 2 | 10UF 0u1 | C_0603_1608Metric | C5, C9 |
| 1 | 1UF 0u1 | C_0603_1608Metric | C7 |
| 1 | 1UF 2u2 | C_0603_1608Metric | C8 |
| 1 | 0.1UF 2u2 | C_0603_1608Metric | C10 |
| 1 | 10UF 1u | C_0603_1608Metric | C12 |
| 1 | 100UF 470p | C_0603_1608Metric | C13 |
| 1 | 4.7UF 2u2 | C_0603_1608Metric | C14 |
| 1 | 1UF 100u | C_0805_2012Metric | C15 |
| 1 | 10UF 4u7 | CP_Radial_D8.0mm_P3.50mm | C16 |
| 1 | 0.22UF 1u | C_0603_1608Metric | C17 |
| 1 | 0.22UF 10u | C_0603_1608Metric | C18 |
| 1 | 1u | C_0603_1608Metric | C19 |
| 1 | 470p | C_0603_1608Metric | C20 |
| 2 | 0u1 | C_0603_1608Metric | C21, C22 |
| 1 | 10u | C_0603_1608Metric | C23 |
| 7 | 10K | R_0603_1608Metric | R1, R4, R12, R13, R14, R15, R17 |
| 1 | 1M | R_0603_1608Metric | R2 |
| 1 | 10K GM5539 | R_LDR_5.1x4.3mm_P3.4mm_Vertical | R3 |
| 2 | 10K 5K1 | R_0603_1608Metric | R5, R6 |
| 3 | 100K 5K1 | R_0603_1608Metric | R7, R8, R16 |
| 1 | 100K | R_0603_1608Metric | R9 |
| 3 | 10K 100K | R_0603_1608Metric | R10, R11, R20 |
| 4 | 10K | R_0805_2012Metric | R18, R19, R21, R22 |
Nixie Clock design files
The KiCad project lives in the PennyLekas/Nixie-Clock repository on GitHub; these links point at the commit this page was built from.
Nixie Clock: common questions
What microcontroller does the Nixie Clock use?
The Nixie Clock is built around the ATmega2560-16A, from the AVR/Arduino family.
How big is the Nixie Clock PCB?
The Nixie Clock measures 115 × 80 mm, has 2 copper layers and is 1.6 mm thick.
How many components are on the Nixie Clock?
94 components, from 65 distinct parts, with part numbers taken from the project's own BOM. The full bill of materials is listed on this page.
Where can I download the Nixie Clock design files?
From the PennyLekas/Nixie-Clock repository on GitHub, which has the KiCad layout, the schematic and the BOM; the links under Design files point to each one.
Can I use the Nixie Clock design in my own project?
Yes, under the terms of its CERN-OHL-S-2.0 license, which PennyLekas chose for the repository.
Can I test firmware for the Nixie Clock without the hardware?
Yes. HardLabs builds a simulation of the board from its netlist and BOM, so you can run and debug AVR/Arduino firmware against it before you order a PCB.
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