You could make a museum of just VFDs and LCDs and I'd still want to be there. I've been into those since the 90s, and am still using the very first one I ever got.
The mystery device looks like a motor controller. It has armature connections (the spinny bit) and field winding connections (the outside magnet bit) and also has the firing angle for control of something like thyristors or IGBTs. The additional isolated gates switches also suggest this. Lastly, it has a phase sequence indicator, so that means it can probably switch direction! The dymo label top right says MO. Motor?
Good old IV26 tubes, I bought a load of them years ago for a homebrew version of that Elektronika clock but never got around to doing anything with them - one day perhaps. Bit of kit at the end looks very much like a DC motor controller, with seperate field and armature drivers. Looks to have a large selenium rectifier and phase dimmer for the field, for varying speed.
Putting valves/tubes into a synth for data/visual relay needs to be a project. A scrolling display would be the ultimate but I suspect the cost would be the ultimate pocket kicker too. 😂
I'm in the process of restoring an Elektronika-7 I bought years ago, along with a set of replacement tubes, and finally a few weeks ago pulled out of the attic to get to work on it... only to find that I'm short about 5 tubes, and due to recent world events, they're all the sudden not available anymore... Might have to mix in a few worn tubes with the new replacement ones.
I have a bunch of vintage Japanese VFD tubes, Iseden itron DG12Cs, which I got when Fair Radio was selling broken driver boards with 12 of 'em on for $5 each. They're similar to seven-segment displays, but actually have nine segments - the middle bar is broken in half, and there are extra internal vertical bars. If you imagine the 8 with a + overlaid on it, you're pretty close. Each digit also has a trailing decimal and a leading apostrophe, for 11 total elements. I should map out an ascii-like alphanumeric code for them and build a big display - throw an Arduino and some shift registers at it and figure out the purpose later.
THE MUSEUM OF EVERYTHING ELSE . One day I will make that journey as I am seeing your museum as a definite must visit place. its looking amazing already, my hat off to you sir.
My guess is the mystery box has something to do with motor / generator control. Looks like there's a 3-phase section. Firing angle is probably some kind of trigger with respect to the AC phase angle. I doubt it has anything to do with rockets or ballistics. The common terms are just a coincidence. Maybe it was from a university department - hence the transparent box - so you would see what was inside.
IV-26 Type 1 - are universal, they have all dots as separate wires and it will work in big and small Elektronika 7 clocks, IV-26 Type 2 is designated for the big clock only and IV-26 Type 3 is for the small one.
The odd thing looks like a 3 phase motor tester / controller / experiment driver , transparent case would indicate an educational tool or set up for display
possibly! but it looks to maybe interface with something like that, I haven't opened it up yet but from the outside its definitely built to drive a lot of current and voltage into something, I'm talking 500 volts. and the fact it is in a clear enclosure makes it seem like a field device made for easy fault finding, even underneath there is a clear hatch
@@THISMUSEUMISNOTOBSOLETE Or even better, it might be a training device, or a prototype. There would be no reason to make its casing from a clear material if used in a harsh environment.
@@THISMUSEUMISNOTOBSOLETE Most folks are in agreement that it's a motor controller. If it's around 500 Volts, then it could be for testing train or tram motors.
I wonder what would happen if you put audio signals through them - I think Korg is using VFD-derived tubes in the Volca NuBass so there is precedent for that sort of thing...
Likely! I'm learning about the exact same thing at the moment, with thyristor controlled rectification. By selecting an appropriate firing angle you choose the speed and mode you want to use the DC machine at. Either as a motor or as a generator.
Was this video uploaded to remind me I have to build VFDs clocks with all my VFDs (4, 6 and 10 digit) and the various Soviet clock ICs. Nixies has always been popular but VFDs are cooler.
Someone needs to make a complete list with all the nixie and VFD tubes, indicators and displays. I recently found about INS-1s and I bought 100 of them.
Hey! This is not a Russian watch This is a Clock from the times of the USSR, lamps are made in Ukraine at the GAZOTRON plant ... Ukraine and Russia are different countries
@@THISMUSEUMISNOTOBSOLETE sorry, but that comment is plain wrong, they were not made only in Ukraine, USSR as a whole had at least 6 different factories that were producing various VFD's, nixies and other vacuum tubes. This particular Elektronika 7 clock and its tubes was made by "Reflektor" factory in Saratov, Russia. It's usually possible to deduce where particular tube was made by factory logo, for example at 2:50 you can clearly see a "Reflektor" factory logo on the top, but you probably wouldn't want to dig That deep, just keep those things "soviet" you wouldn't be wrong
Sorry I just had to. On another note I really hope I can visit england in the next years again and come by to see the museum. I feel like this is hitting the exact right nerve in the way it lets you see and understand technology. Not unlike the technical museum in vienna, but based on the works of a single incredible person.
I love it when Sam says "and I've got another project..."
He keeps adding projects on the long list of things he made x3
Those tubes are truly magnificent
You could make a museum of just VFDs and LCDs and I'd still want to be there. I've been into those since the 90s, and am still using the very first one I ever got.
Lol didn't think I would run into you here.
That last device immediately put me in mind of ORAC (from Blakes 7)!
The mystery device looks like a motor controller. It has armature connections (the spinny bit) and field winding connections (the outside magnet bit) and also has the firing angle for control of something like thyristors or IGBTs. The additional isolated gates switches also suggest this.
Lastly, it has a phase sequence indicator, so that means it can probably switch direction!
The dymo label top right says MO. Motor?
I love the color they make
I'm guessing "firing angle" will be for thyristor control. Maybe a thyristor based 3phase rectifier?
Good old IV26 tubes, I bought a load of them years ago for a homebrew version of that Elektronika clock but never got around to doing anything with them - one day perhaps.
Bit of kit at the end looks very much like a DC motor controller, with seperate field and armature drivers. Looks to have a large selenium rectifier and phase dimmer for the field, for varying speed.
Putting valves/tubes into a synth for data/visual relay needs to be a project. A scrolling display would be the ultimate but I suspect the cost would be the ultimate pocket kicker too. 😂
I like this place, Good Show.
I'm in the process of restoring an Elektronika-7 I bought years ago, along with a set of replacement tubes, and finally a few weeks ago pulled out of the attic to get to work on it... only to find that I'm short about 5 tubes, and due to recent world events, they're all the sudden not available anymore... Might have to mix in a few worn tubes with the new replacement ones.
IV-4/17 18 segment VFDs are lots of fun...
I have a bunch of vintage Japanese VFD tubes, Iseden itron DG12Cs, which I got when Fair Radio was selling broken driver boards with 12 of 'em on for $5 each. They're similar to seven-segment displays, but actually have nine segments - the middle bar is broken in half, and there are extra internal vertical bars. If you imagine the 8 with a + overlaid on it, you're pretty close. Each digit also has a trailing decimal and a leading apostrophe, for 11 total elements.
I should map out an ascii-like alphanumeric code for them and build a big display - throw an Arduino and some shift registers at it and figure out the purpose later.
Superb Sam. The Museum is looking very well stocked with interesting gear.
thanks Markus!!!!your watches are there! a couple are dismantled on helping hands infront of magnifying glasses!!! will do a vid at some point :D
THE MUSEUM OF EVERYTHING ELSE . One day I will make that journey as I am seeing your museum as a definite must visit place. its looking amazing already, my hat off to you sir.
Damnnnn, I need to use these for my sequencer step displays now!! 😲🤔🤯
Oh shit, now this is a good idea
My guess is the mystery box has something to do with motor / generator control. Looks like there's a 3-phase section. Firing angle is probably some kind of trigger with respect to the AC phase angle. I doubt it has anything to do with rockets or ballistics. The common terms are just a coincidence. Maybe it was from a university department - hence the transparent box - so you would see what was inside.
That box is ORAC from Blake's 7.
Franlab will love this! x
Great update Sam!
IV-26 Type 1 - are universal, they have all dots as separate wires and it will work in big and small Elektronika 7 clocks, IV-26 Type 2 is designated for the big clock only and IV-26 Type 3 is for the small one.
Armature and field are motor terminology. It might be a variable dc motor driver or test box.
The odd thing looks like a 3 phase motor tester / controller / experiment driver , transparent case would indicate an educational tool or set up for display
That last thing might be an analog computer to compute ballistics trajectory tables?
possibly! but it looks to maybe interface with something like that, I haven't opened it up yet but from the outside its definitely built to drive a lot of current and voltage into something, I'm talking 500 volts. and the fact it is in a clear enclosure makes it seem like a field device made for easy fault finding, even underneath there is a clear hatch
@@THISMUSEUMISNOTOBSOLETE Ah yeah, if it's driving a lot of current then it's probably not for computations.
@@THISMUSEUMISNOTOBSOLETE Or even better, it might be a training device, or a prototype. There would be no reason to make its casing from a clear material if used in a harsh environment.
Would love to make a project with these! So cool! That's a great idea for a gift for your parents!
@@THISMUSEUMISNOTOBSOLETE Most folks are in agreement that it's a motor controller. If it's around 500 Volts, then it could be for testing train or tram motors.
No love for nixies? They are neat also
yeah definitely but this video is about VFD's
I wonder what would happen if you put audio signals through them - I think Korg is using VFD-derived tubes in the Volca NuBass so there is precedent for that sort of thing...
The device at the end may be a DC motor speed controller!
Likely! I'm learning about the exact same thing at the moment, with thyristor controlled rectification. By selecting an appropriate firing angle you choose the speed and mode you want to use the DC machine at. Either as a motor or as a generator.
Hi. Do you have information(pinout, supply voltage and current...etc) about iv-8 vfd tubes also?
How many dots goes the big display have
Was this video uploaded to remind me I have to build VFDs clocks with all my VFDs (4, 6 and 10 digit) and the various Soviet clock ICs. Nixies has always been popular but VFDs are cooler.
New camera??
Someone needs to make a complete list with all the nixie and VFD tubes, indicators and displays. I recently found about INS-1s and I bought 100 of them.
Use them as amplifier tubes!
Cool
rad.
That feeling when you are from ex soviet union and you are a electronic engineer
you need build a Master Counting using Vacuum tube
I have a huge fetish for Russian components lately. I think they're fantastic they built germanium transistors into the 90s.
"There are links below" ... how far below?
in the description
Yess new vid!!
Very FranLab
She's awesome too!
just assume its for rocket launches lol way cooler that way
Hey! This is not a Russian watch
This is a Clock from the times of the USSR, lamps are made in Ukraine at the GAZOTRON plant ... Ukraine and Russia are different countries
that's why I said soviet era and also mention Ukraine in the video..., however I was not aware they were only made in Ukraine. thanks.
@@THISMUSEUMISNOTOBSOLETE sorry, but that comment is plain wrong, they were not made only in Ukraine, USSR as a whole had at least 6 different factories that were producing various VFD's, nixies and other vacuum tubes. This particular Elektronika 7 clock and its tubes was made by "Reflektor" factory in Saratov, Russia. It's usually possible to deduce where particular tube was made by factory logo, for example at 2:50 you can clearly see a "Reflektor" factory logo on the top, but you probably wouldn't want to dig That deep, just keep those things "soviet" you wouldn't be wrong
chyoobz
yo
IT AIN'T VALVE PLUG IT IS VACUUM TUBE SOCKET 😭😭😭😭😭
Lol vacuum tube socket sounds like part of a vacuum cleaner
Doot
Sorry I just had to.
On another note I really hope I can visit england in the next years again and come by to see the museum.
I feel like this is hitting the exact right nerve in the way it lets you see and understand technology. Not unlike the technical museum in vienna, but based on the works of a single incredible person.
Oh god this guy is a real weirdo, he got a cloth's pin pierced on his ears lmao.
Tubular
Second!