I'm planning to make a nixie clock from scratch for my high school major project, and I have some questions. I will be controlling it using an Arduino Uno, and I want the user to be able to easily toggle between showing the time or date, and I want RGB LED floor lighting under the tubes where the colour can be adjusted using PWM.ControlsI need some kind of interface so the user may easily adjust the time, the date and the colour of the floor lighting. I'm currently thinking of two options:Three buttons for selecting to alter either date, time or light colour, and three momentary rocker switches (like on an electric car window), one to alter each of the three values for each. (H/M/S, D/M/Y, R/G/B). However, I am worried that I will not have enough pins for all of these buttons. I will be using three pins for each of the shift registers to control the six tubes, so nine total, plus three PWM pins for the LEDs, which leaves eight left, some of which I will be using for a RTC to keep accurate time. So I'm concerned there won't be enough pins for all this.Some kind of joystick and button arrangement (like this or this) and a small screen (probably something like this) with a simplistic UI to change the values. I haven't had much experience with things like this, though, and I'm also worried about the amount of pins for this one as well. Could either of the bonnets I showed even be used with a standard Arduino? I'm assuming no for the second one.Which solution would work better/be easier to implement, or is there another better way?TubesI have also been stalled trying to decide what tubes to use, IN-14 or IN-8. IN-14 tubes seem to be cheaper, but IN-8 tubes have dedicated sockets which would make installing them considerably easier, as well as mounting holes for the LEDs. Do IN-8 tubes use the same drivers as IN-14 ones? If anyone's used these sockets, the four LED holes appear to be connected by thin strips of conducting metal. Can I scrape these away to have four unconnected pin holes so I can mount an RGB LED? Are there any specific disadvantages of IN-8s I should be aware of? Aside from the price (which may not be that much of a concern), the IN-8 models seem like a very promising sell over the IN-14s, as the sockets would give me more freedom in placing components as I can connect everything up with wires, generally making the project easier.LEDsI have also been trying to figure out how LEDs are mounted. If I used IN-14 tubes (which don't have dedicated sockets) would I have to create a custom PCB with pin holes for LEDs? If I used the IN8 tubes and those sockets, could I just have the LEDs be connected straight to the PCB via wires? This probably sounds like a stupid question but this is my first time making one of these.Real Time ClockI have also mentioned that I wish to include an RTC to keep accurate time. Is keeping super accurate time worth shelling out the money for a more expensive unit, or can I go cheap?Thanks!EDIT: Also, I'm somewhat confused about wiring up the tubes. I know to use a high voltage step up chip, which connects to the anodes of the tubes. But with the design I'm going for (based off this), the numbered cathodes connect to the nixie drivers, which in turn connect to shift registers, which in turn connect to the Arduino pins. So how does the circuit route back to the step up chip? I'm probably missing something, can you guys help out? via /r/DIY http://ift.tt/2iHwdME
