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Nixie Thermometer / Hygrometer

Tubes, sensors and a micro in a single design

Nixie Thermometer / Hygrometer
Nixie Thermometer / Hygrometer

Measuring temperature and humidity with a modern sensor and displaying the values on a retro display — it’s all described in this article. A calibrated, ‘digital’ sensor provides data via its I2C interface to a microcontroller driving four Nixie tubes and automatically alternating between temperature and humidity, while providing a nice fading effect. It’s a must-have!

 

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Materials

Gerber file

CAM/CAD data for the PCB referred to in this article is available as a Gerber file. Elektor GREEN and GOLD members can exclusively download these files for free as part of their membership. Gerber files allow a PCB to be produced on an appropriate device available locally, or through an online PCB manufacturing service.

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PCB

Extra info / Update

Components

The BOM (Bill of Materials) is the technically exhaustive listing of parts and other hardware items used to produce the working and tested prototype of any Elektor Labs project. The BOM file contains deeper information than the Component List published for the same project in Elektor Magazine. If required the BOM gets updated directly by our lab engineers. As a reader, you can download the list here.
Want to learn more about our BOM list? Read the BOM list article for extra information.

Download the BOM list

Component list

Resistors
R1-R4 = 22kOhm
R5,R11,R12 = 10kOhm
R7 = 47kOhm
R8 = not used
R9 = 820kOhm
R10 = 330(
R13 = 5.6kOhm
R14 = 470kOhm
R15 = 4.7kOhm
R16 = 150(
Capacitors
C1-C4 = 100pF 2000V, 10%, radial, 5mm pitch (Farnell #1141797)
C5-C8,C11,C12,C16-C18 = 100nF 50V, 20%, pitch 5mm
C9, C10 = 33pF 100V, 5%, 2.54mm pitch
C13 = 10µF 250V, 20%, radial, 5mm pitch
C14,C15 = 100µF 25V, 20%, radial, 2.5mm pitch
C19 = 470pF, 100V, 10%, 5mm pitch
Inductors
L1 = 330µH 1A, 20%, axial, D×L = 11×32.5 mm (0.43”×1.28”) max.
Semiconductors
D1 = BYV26
D2-D4 = 1N4001
IC1-IC4 = 74141 or K155ID1 (?155??1)
IC5 = PIC16F876-20/SP
IC6 = 7805
IC7 = MC34063
IC8 = SHT21 I2C humidity and temperature sensor [1] (Farnell #1855468)
T1,T2 = MPSA42
T3 = IRF820
Miscellaneous
X1 = 6MHz quartz crystal
V1 = IN-19A, Nixie Tube (symbols)
V2-V4 = IN-14, Nixie Tube (numeric)
K1 = 2-way PCB terminal block, 5mm pitch
PCB # 110321-1

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Discussion (0 comments)

elektor

Evangelos Kainourgios 7 years ago

I would like to built this project, since I like very much the look of the nixie tubes (I have already built a nixie clock). I think that I would prefer that there was a constant display of the temperature - I don't like this constantly repeated switching from one display to the other. Is there a possibility that you could modify the software so that there is a continous display of the temperature and switch to humidity by, for example, pushing a button?
Thank you!
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elektor

hoteloskar 7 years ago

Of course can you modify the software and connect a button to the PIC processor.
The source of the software is available at Elektor.
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elektor

Evangelos Kainourgios 7 years ago

I understand that I can modify the software, if I knew how to do it. My knowledge in programming a PIC controller is zero. I was asking if the author could do that.
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ionescu bogdan 5 years ago

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1577980195665607&set=pcb.1577980492332244&type=3&theater   

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1577980195665607&set=pcb.1577980492332244&type=3&theater
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elektor

Skalolaz 4 years ago

Is it possible to download a  project HEX file?
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elektor

hoteloskar 4 years ago

The HEX file is contained in 110321-11.zip which can be downloaded from the link near the top of this page.
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elektor

Skalolaz 4 years ago

thank you. schematic diagram can be downloaded?
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elektor

hoteloskar 4 years ago

 Downloading of this magazine article is reserved for registered users only.
 
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elektor

Skalolaz 4 years ago

What is the supply voltage of the device?
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elektor

TheEditor 4 years ago

It's 9 VDC nominally, see the magazine article.
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elektor

Skalolaz 4 years ago

Hi!  With the sensor installed the values do not change, maybe there is no i2C communication with the controller PIC16F876?
img-0559.jpg (606kb)
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Zanky91 4 years ago

I have the same trouble. The thermometer show a wrong temperature and humidity 3 times then the thermometer freeze on the temperature and stop. I try to program the pic a lot of times, I try to change 3 sensors but nothing change.
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