20 May
2003
20 May
'03
8:51 a.m.
Hello,
Probably my best find at the recent Hamvention in Dayton OH was a
stack of nixie tube modules made by HP. In retrospect, I wish that
I had purchased the whole box of them, but I hopefully have enough
to at least make a clock.
I have two variations on the modules, the part numbers are:
HP 05212-6016 series 648
HP 05212-6003 series 415
They both use Borroughs B422 nixie tubes and look like they may have
an integrated HV supply of some sort.
Here are a couple of pics for reference:
http://www.ubanproductions.com/Images/nixie1.jpg
http://www.ubanproductions.com/Images/nixie2.jpg
I would appreciate if anyone can tell me what HP (or other) instruments
may have used these modules. I would also like to find a schematic of
the module if possible.
Thanks!
--tom
20 May
20 May
10:30 a.m.
Those are more or less standard display moduels from the 60 vintage HP
gear. I don't know if they were all EXACTLY alike but they used these in
counters, timers, volt meters and all kinds of stuff from the '60s and
early seventies.
At 03:50 PM 5/20/03 -0500, you wrote:
Hello,
Probably my best find at the recent Hamvention in Dayton OH was a
stack of nixie tube modules made by HP. In retrospect, I wish that
I had purchased the whole box of them, but I hopefully have enough
to at least make a clock.
I have two variations on the modules, the part numbers are:
HP 05212-6016 series 648
HP 05212-6003 series 415
The part number indicates that these were first designed for something
with model # 5212. But I don't know what that is.
They both use Borroughs B422 nixie tubes
All Nixies are made by Burroughs AFIK. Burroughs holds the patent and
trademark for "Nixie" tubes.
and look like they may have
an integrated HV supply of some sort.
If you take them open you'll probably find an opto-coupler made of
descrete parts. IN those days they didn't make transistors that would
handle the voltage needed for the Nixeis so they used a light and a photo
cell to gate the Nixies. I think the light was a NE-2 Neon buld but it's
been a while I'm not positive any more.
Joe
Here are a couple of pics for reference:
http://www.ubanproductions.com/Images/nixie1.jpg
http://www.ubanproductions.com/Images/nixie2.jpg
I would appreciate if anyone can tell me what HP (or other) instruments
may have used these modules. I would also like to find a schematic of
the module if possible.
Thanks!
--tom
12:20 p.m.
Tom
The DCAs (Decimal Counter Assembly) in those counters (5243 series, 5245
series) came in low and high speed versions. The -6016 is the normal low
speed 600kHz version used in most of the count positions and provides +1224
BCD output to the rear panel connector. The -6003 version is the option 03
variation of it that provided 1248 BCD output with the '1' state
negative.(as opposed to the -6002 which was the same but with '1' state
positive.)
I have schematics if you need 'em- my 5245M still rolls along quite nicely
since it knows I have the service info!
Cheers
Dave Brown
Christchurch, NZ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Uban" <uban(a)ubanproductions.com>
To: <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 8:50 AM
Subject: HP nixie tube module information needed
Hello,
Probably my best find at the recent Hamvention in Dayton OH was a
stack of nixie tube modules made by HP. In retrospect, I wish that
I had purchased the whole box of them, but I hopefully have enough
to at least make a clock.
I have two variations on the modules, the part numbers are:
HP 05212-6016 series 648
HP 05212-6003 series 415
They both use Borroughs B422 nixie tubes and look like they may have
an integrated HV supply of some sort.
Here are a couple of pics for reference:
http://www.ubanproductions.com/Images/nixie1.jpg
http://www.ubanproductions.com/Images/nixie2.jpg
I would appreciate if anyone can tell me what HP (or other) instruments
may have used these modules. I would also like to find a schematic of
the module if possible.
Thanks!
--tom
21 May
21 May
11 a.m.
Tom
The DCAs (Decimal Counter Assembly) in those counters (5243 series, 5245
series) came in low and high speed versions. The -6016 is the normal low
speed 600kHz version used in most of the count positions and provides +1224
BCD output to the rear panel connector. The -6003 version is the option 03
variation of it that provided 1248 BCD output with the '1' state
negative.(as opposed to the -6002 which was the same but with '1' state
positive.)
I have schematics if you need 'em- my 5245M still rolls along quite nicely
since it knows I have the service info!
Yes, after I posted my reply last night, I noticed the appendix in the
5245 manual that mentioned the 1248 BCD options...
AFAIK the counters are plug-compatible apart from the code used on the
BCD output lines (and internally on the counter PCB, of course). So you
may not need to worry about which version you actually have. The
schematics are also very similar...
-tony
20 May
20 May
12:29 p.m.
Hello,
Probably my best find at the recent Hamvention in Dayton OH was a
stack of nixie tube modules made by HP. In retrospect, I wish that
I had purchased the whole box of them, but I hopefully have enough
to at least make a clock.
I have two variations on the modules, the part numbers are:
HP 05212-6016 series 648
HP 05212-6003 series 415
I have a schematic for the 5212L-4A Series 401 counter which might be
closely related
They both use Borroughs B422 nixie tubes and look like
they may have
an integrated HV supply of some sort.
No. The black plasic block is a latch and decimal decoder (!). It
contains 8 neons (look like NE2s, but the parts list doesn't give
individual parts for this block) which perform the latching function for
the 4 bits and their inverses. The top of the block is a thick film
circuit of LDRs which forms a decoder tree to turn on the apporpriate
cathode of the nixie tube.
I can provide a pinout of the 15 pin card edge, but the signals may not
be too obvious without the complete service manual. Pin 1 is towards the
front (nixie tube) end
1 : -130V
2 :
3 :
4 : +170V
5 : Transfer Input (latch enable)
6 : BCD Output A
7 : Signal Input
8 : Gate Input (Not used?)
9 : BCD Output B
10 : Signal Output to next decade
11 : +20V
12 : Reset Input
13 : BCD Output C
14 : BCD Output D
15 : -15V
I would appreciate if anyone can tell me what HP (or
other) instruments
may have used these modules. I would also like to find a schematic of
Well, the 5245 Counter uses closely related modules (I have one of these
instruments and the full service manual...) Doubtless other instruments
did too...
-tony
3:56 p.m.
On Tue, 20 May 2003, Tom Uban wrote:
Hello,
Probably my best find at the recent Hamvention in Dayton OH was a
stack of nixie tube modules made by HP. In retrospect, I wish that
I had purchased the whole box of them, but I hopefully have enough
to at least make a clock.
I have seldom regretted the items that I purchased, but often
regretted those that I did not!
- don
I have two variations on the modules, the part numbers
are:
HP 05212-6016 series 648
HP 05212-6003 series 415
They both use Borroughs B422 nixie tubes and look like they may have
an integrated HV supply of some sort.
Here are a couple of pics for reference:
http://www.ubanproductions.com/Images/nixie1.jpg
http://www.ubanproductions.com/Images/nixie2.jpg
I would appreciate if anyone can tell me what HP (or other) instruments
may have used these modules. I would also like to find a schematic of
the module if possible.
Thanks!
--tom
21 May
21 May
10:53 a.m.
I have seldom regretted the items that I purchased,
but often
regretted those that I did not!
I've heard that said about other collectables too, normally in the form
'You never regret the <foo> you buy, only the <foo> you don't'
(where
<foo> is computers, cameras, clocks, stamps, etc as appropriate).
In general, I've found it to be true, at least provided the money spent
on the items is not otherwise required for essentials like food, shelter,
electricity, etc...
-tony
7886
days inactive
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