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Re:Calibration Display for NASA (2019) by WorldPeas on Friday March 31, 2023 @09:40AM (#35387007)
Interesting read, I'm surprised these tubes are so fast considering my one remaining filament bulb always takes a few seconds to warm up after being switched on. Do these use a different filament type?
Re:Calibration Display for NASA (2019) by somat on Saturday April 01, 2023 @03:10PM (#35403097)
I think the filament stays on and you switch what cathode is being used.

edit, I just read the wikipedia page on nixie tubes, there is no filament, despite looking like one it is not a thermionic vacuum tube. it is a cold cathode gas discharge lamp. so one anode with many switched cathodes.

Re:Calibration Display for NASA (2019) by ilyt on Saturday April 01, 2023 @07:10PM (#35405114)
Nixies don't emit light by heating, it's closer to neon tube
Re:Calibration Display for NASA (2019) by WorldPeas on Monday April 03, 2023 @10:02AM (#35423724)
That clears things up, although I'm curious now why a VFD wouldn't be better
Re:Calibration Display for NASA (2019) by ilyt on Tuesday April 04, 2023 @10:36AM (#35440316)
I think the answer is that they are making Nixie tubes:

https://www.daliborfarny.com/project/custom-nixie-tube-for-k...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nHkhJ52iA4

Obvious choice would not be VFDs or nixies but plain LEDs I'd imagine.