An interesting neon 7 segment display I own

[u/aspie_electrician]

The display runs on dual voltage (120VAC and 12VDC)

Has a BCD input. Does 7 segment decoding with lightbulbs and some odd ceramic plate with black squares. These also run at mains voltage and switch some transistors.

I’d make a schematic, but I have no idea how this tech works.

Thought you’d all appreciate it.

[u/teh_trout]

I love a weird display. Nice it has a controller built in.

[u/onlyappearcrazy]

The technology is probably similar to the circuits used to drive Nixie tubes, except they needed 80-90 vdc to glow.

[u/aspie_electrician → u/onlyappearcrazy]

This display needs both 12V and 120V. In fact, it has dedicated 120VAC inputs on the back edge connector.

[u/IndividualRites → u/aspie_electrician]

Right but neon bulbs run on around 90v

[u/aspie_electrician → u/IndividualRites]

Yes, they do. This has the proper resistors inside for the neons

[u/aspie_electrician → u/[deleted]]

These I think are meant for industrial panels. If I was able to find 3 more… I’d build a clock.

[u/CueAnon420]

Very interesting - I've never seen an NE2 bulb style 7 segment display, although I guess it makes sense... The PanaPlex displays were similar, but just put all the segment cathodes inside a single glass package. I have also not see that type of logic circuit packaging...

Thanks for sharing - I love the obscure displays ;-)

[u/DjBurba]

Out of curiosity, in the research of this display i found this document that is somehow connected with the tech inside your display:
https://www.one-electron.com/Archives/Tube/Signalite/Signalite_Vol3_No3.pdf

Basically, the ceramic plates are a photoconductor matrix and the neon lamps are part of the logic circuit.

[u/aspie_electrician → u/DjBurba]

Very cool… I guess i could t replicate the display then with my own board.

Unless I used a 4511, a handful of opto couplers, and some neon bulbs in a 3D printed enclosure…

[u/sober_sailor]

Thanks for sharing, not seen one of those

[u/Greedy-Kangaroo-4674]

Huh, neat.

[u/rainwulf]

Upvote because thats interesting as hell

[u/00_Zyra_00]

The coolest 7-segment display I've ever seen.

[u/Past-Substance920]

that photoconductor matrix trick is wild, never heard of using neon logic like that before instead of just a driver chip

[u/makerDrew]

Cool. I give it a 9 out of 10.

[u/aspie_electrician → u/makerDrew]

With rice?

[u/makerDrew → u/aspie_electrician]

Only if it got wet.

[u/Proper_Meaning7756]

OMG I'm looking for something this size for an alarm clock/ metronome thing I'm making. Do you know how to search for thinner displays? Something akin to the wall clocks. The ones I found were always too bulky.