Nixie DMM update :Got it working !!
Nope... not even close
![Face Palm :palm:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/xfacepalm.gif.pagespeed.ic.EBDwh1hCfo.png)
I mean it does power up now... I noticed one of the wires at the back of the power switch, was broken. Redid the joint.
Still no joy...
Measured voltage across the switch :
- In the OFF position = 230V mains, normal.
- In the ON position = still 230V... NOT normal !!!
![Scared :scared:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/scared.gif.pagespeed.ce.oZptHNcbsD.gif)
So the power switch is stuck in the open position... that's my luck
![Shocked :o](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/xshocked.gif.pagespeed.ic.CrwtrNUjLO.png)
I exercised it a couple dozen times, no joy.
Good luck finding an identical looking switch !
I guess I can alwyas bypass it and just use the power cord or fuse to turn it off... so it's not a show stopper as such.
so to get it going, I bypassed the switch. Soldered both wires together.
NOW it comes to life, all Nixes lighten up, brightly and consistently so, as well !
![Cool 8)](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/xcool.gif.pagespeed.ic.cOxV6sPNRd.png)
Unfortunately that's as far as it goes... for the rest, it's a complete shit show !
![ThumbsDown :--](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/icon_thumbsdown.gif.pagespeed.ce.D027Y9gZ7m.gif)
Erratic and non-sensical behavior, is how I would best describe it...
Does not matter what voltage you feed it with, it's polarity, the range you are using... it doesn't care, the Nixie still display and behave the exact same way regardless of what you are trying to get it to do.
It's just basically giving you a mega huge middle finger
![Broken! :-BROKE](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/smiliey_scope_broke.gif.pagespeed.ce.z9RuKVWKjY.gif)
- The polarity Nixie is stuck, on " + " no matter what.
- The first / LSD Nixie is counting so that's good, there is countingulation going on.
- The second Nixie counts too but only between 0 and 1... or maybe it's not counting and simply lighting up both digits at the same time becuase buggy.. I can't tell for sure.
- It fails to even display it's own internal Vref (4000).
- The decimal point is moving appropriately, as you move the range switch, though I don't think it's telling me much about the health of the instrument's brain/circuitry, because it looks like the Neons are merely hard wired to the switch...
![Roll Eyes ::)](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/rolleyes.gif.pagespeed.ce.XcUK202Yqt.gif)
- If I press the push button to trigger manually, it does produce some effect, and usually zeros all the Nixie tubes, which is good/expected behaviour I guess. So I will take that as victory.
I put some contact cleaner in all the Nixie tubes no luck. Put some also in the card edge connectors of said boards... no luck. Wasn't expecting much anyway, seeing as these connectors look like the same type that got used in the Ferisol counter : FRBG "Hypertac" technology. So gold plated and reliable socket design.. clever that Hypertac thing..
Fixing this beast will not be a 5 minute job because of accessibility, and I don't have extenders.
So... looks like the electrical restoration will be just as involved as the cosmetic one. Definitely worth a dedicated restoration thread... will make one soon.
For now, other than chekcing voltages, I would say it looks like we have two problems at least :
- The counting does not work fully.
- It does not register neithyer the input voltage, or its internal 4.000V Vref.
The counting, I guess I can swap the 4 Nixie boards with the other meter, lucky me.
The fifth board that display the polarity though, I fear they are nit interchangeable as they are quite large and I fear it might host some of the stuff that's specific to each counter ( AC/DC instead of just DC. auto-ranging.)
Stay tuned....
![](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/?action=dlattach;attach=1456414;image)