Project Hub /Basic Analog & Power Electronics/Power Supplies & Voltage Regulators/NixieSAO

Intermediate

ANALOG / DISCRETE

Project Specific

6 – 12 Hours

Partial Kit

NixieSAO

A vintage-style Shitty Add-On (SAO) for a convention badge featuring a genuine Burroughs Nixie tube, an 18-position selector switch, and a high-voltage step-up power supply.

Originally published on Hackaday.io

View original tutorial

Parts You'll Need

This project is sourced from another site, not written by us — this list is our best match of their components against what we stock, not a verified bill of materials. Always check the original blog (linked above) for the actual parts list before buying.

10pcs - 220 ohm 1/4 W Resistor Set Rs. 39.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Male 20cm Rs. 45.00
MB102 Adjustable Breadboard Power Supply Module (3.3V & 5V) for Arduino & Raspberry Pi Rs. 139.00
400 Points Mini Solderless Prototype PCB Breadboard High Quality Rs. 89.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Female 20cm Rs. 45.00

Selected: Rs. 0.00

This list includes a generic resistor set as a placeholder — it is not matched to the exact value or part number this circuit needs. The correct one is specified on the original source page linked above; check it before buying.

We don't carry yet: Seven Segment / Nixie / VFD
Magnets / Electrodes / Probes
Custom PCB / PCB Fab

Browse all components

How It Works

The NixieSAO is a compact, vintage-style display circuit designed to operate as a convention badge accessory. Because genuine Nixie tubes require a high DC voltage to ionize the neon gas inside and illuminate a specific cathode, the circuit relies on an HV8200 high-voltage step-up power supply. This specialized regulator takes a low-voltage input from a standard 3.3V battery or power source and boosts it up to the roughly 180V necessary for the Burroughs Nixie tube to function. Users can manually control or route the electrical connections using an 18-position selector switch salvaged from a resistance substitution box, wiring it through pogo pins and copper clad board or wire. Current-limiting resistors, such as a 12K resistor, are placed in series with the high-voltage path to prevent excessive current draw and protect both the tube and the power supply components. As the circuit is energized, the boosted voltage establishes a glow discharge around the selected cathode inside the genuine Burroughs Nixie tube, producing the characteristic warm orange glow associated with classic tube-based indicator technology.

Why Build This

Gain practical undergraduate-level experience designing and working with high-voltage DC-DC step-up power converters.

Explore vintage vacuum tube physics and learn how to safely integrate classic display components into modern low-voltage hardware.

Create a functional, eye-catching convention badge accessory that showcases discrete analog assembly techniques.

Real-World Application

Convention badge accessory and novelty display piece demonstrating vintage vacuum tube electronics.

Skills You'll Learn

High-voltage DC power supply design

DC-DC boost conversion

vintage vacuum tube handling

manual switch routing

current-limiting resistor calculations

Safety Precautions

Involves high voltages (approx 180V) for the Nixie tube operation. Exercise caution when handling high-voltage power supplies and exposed tube pins.

Technology Tags

NIXIE TUBES

HIGH VOLTAGE POWER SUPPLY

SHITTY ADD-ON

SAO

ANALOG ELECTRONICS

POGO PINS

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I power this directly from a standard 3.3V microcontroller or badge pin?

Yes, the low-voltage side of the circuit accepts a 3.3V power source, but the onboard HV8200 step-up regulator is responsible for generating the high voltage required by the tube.

Why is a 12K resistor included in the circuit?

The resistor acts as a current limiter to ensure that the current flowing through the ionized gas of the Nixie tube stays within safe operational limits, preventing damage to the tube and power supply.

Are there any special handling precautions for the Burroughs Nixie tube?

Yes, the tube operates at approximately 180V. You should avoid touching exposed tube pins or circuit nodes while the power supply is active to prevent electric shock.

Gallery

This page is part of Kitkraft's Project Hub — a curated collection of electronics & robotics projects gathered from the maker community to help students and hobbyists discover and learn to build. Kitkraft does not claim authorship of the original project, and makes no representation as to the accuracy, completeness or safety of third-party source material. The summary and "How It Works" explanation above are AI-generated, rewritten with reference to the original tutorial — not a reproduction of it. Full credit and a direct link to the original source are provided above. If you're the original creator and have a concern about how your work is represented here, please contact us and we'll address it promptly.

Kitkraft Project Hub — curated from the maker community, credited at the source.

PRJ-01028