Besides the basic electronics, tubes, and transistors. I have a severe fetish or passion if you will, for VFD displays.

some of my friends always called me the "VFD Master"

Because its a tube, and ive always been attracted to its high contrast, blue-green light emissions that LCDs, LEDs cannot reproduce. i prefer a VFD over anything.

Any and all my hobby electronics projects that require a display, use a VFD.

ive made VFD display drivers, VU meters, spectrum analyzers, clocks, etc...

Think im crazy? I do... lol. :banana:

I have a youtube channel THEtechknight, that i shown some of this nutty stuff on.

If i could make a 1024x768 RGB VFD display that was compatible with computer TFT LVDS data signaling, i would do it in a heartbeat.

Neat. I have a Casio adding machine (121-L?) that uses blue VFD. Recently went on the blink, but worked great for the first 39 years :)

Yea, it sucks VFDs are a dying breed. just like the rest of the tube stuff, but hey, thats why im stocking up on the cheap surplus i can get my hands on.

have to have parts for future project somehow.

Nixie tube displays are really cool too!

I always liked them too. Some years back I was making side money fixing the ones that were in the Chrysler K karz. The power diodes and solders would fail. The tubes them self have a fairly good lifespan. Longer that the usable hour life of the average car.
Usually when they fail its something to do with the high voltage supply just like a tv.

I also liked those old LED displays that had the little bubble magnifier over each character.

yes, the vintage LED displays were cool too. And so were the nixies. But i just cant get the passion "warm fuzzy feeling" with those as i can with VFDs.

and for the digital cluster VFDs, I pulled them from an old GM console, and rebuilt it into my own circuitry for use on a golf cart ;-)

I never did iron out all the bugs and eventually lost interest.

I have several VFD displays in clock radios where they are very dim...I wonder if they are losing their emission like a CRT?
I always thought it was neat how you could see the very fine filament wire glowing in front of the display if you look closely.

yes they do. it works EXACTLY like a CRT. if you look on the filaments of a nice fresh VFD, it has a "white" coating, thats the cathode coating that emits the electrons. the barium or whatever it is.

as the VFD wears, it turns darker and darker. When the VFD goes completely dim or dead, youll see the barium coated filament cathodes have almost no white left.

lucky me, got a job to fix a VFD in a Cybex recombrent bike that must be 20 years old. I fixed this stuff in vcrs repairing power supplies and replacing weak
capacitors causing dim displays. Quick money for a recycled tv repairman.:yes:

..as the VFD wears, it turns darker and darker. When the VFD goes completely dim or dead, youll see the barium coated filament cathodes have almost no white left. What's amazing is I have pioneer DT-400 digital timer with a VFD, been plugged in continuously for 32 years, that's over 280,300 hours! Still as bright as it was new best as I can tell. Lights up the kitchen at night, where it's served as a coffee pot timer since new in 1979.

depends on how hard it drives the filaments.

yes they do. it works EXACTLY like a CRT. if you look on the filaments of a nice fresh VFD, it has a "white" coating, thats the cathode coating that emits the electrons. the barium or whatever it is.

as the VFD wears, it turns darker and darker. When the VFD goes completely dim or dead, youll see the barium coated filament cathodes have almost no white left.
So this explains why the VFD clock display on my Amana electric range is slowly dimming after 12 years of 24/7 use. :scratch2: It's also brighter at the ends of each segment, darker in the middles. Normal, yes?

One question: what are the incredibly thin glowing red lines that you see going across the face of the VFD? My range clock, my Casio calculator, my old Technics SA-222, my Marantz CD player, my Sony cassette deck, and my Panasonic VCR has them...

Has VFD,nixie tubes and a beam deflection decade counter clock

http://www.tube-tester.com/sites/nixie/nixie-tubes.htm

HI ,mbates I KNOW YOU (http://lcdhype.condense.de/index.php?showtopic=4378) AND have some vcr displays,but is so difficult to command dis ting ...

here more vfd`s http://www.vfdsamsung.com/pics-vfdmodule/SamsungAudioVFD.jpghttp://www.vfdsamsung.com/vfddisplaypanel1.htmlhttp://www.hqelektronik.hu/pic/27/2731HQ.JPGhttp://www.hqelektronik.hu/catlist/en/va_sams/7.htmlhttp://img.nobodybuy.com/2010/05/10/vfdchina/0x0_p1211725/supply-vfd-vacuum-fluorescent-display.jpghttp://www.futaba.com/products/displays/general_info/features/images/large/biplanerlarge.jpgBi-Planar VFD3-D :yes:Image capability where more information can be displayed by using overlapping anodes and grids. Typical applications are portable entertainment systems.http://www.futaba.com/products/displays/general_info/features/images/large/coglarge.jpgChip in Glass (CIG) VFD and Chip on GLASS (COG)VFDBy mounting the driver IC on the VFD base plate design flexibility is improved. Picture shows a COG VFD.http://www.futaba.com/products/displays/general_info/features/images/large/goslarge.jpgGrid on Separator (GOS) VFDBy moving the function of the grid to a separator pillar, freedom of design can be increased.http://www.mikrocontroller.net/topic/189973

Ya, that would be me. Theres a guy in singapore I have been ordering my VFDs from for projects, but some of the VFDs you have posted are cool.

Its not hard to drive them, just kind of have to understand the technology.

Ya, that would be me. Theres a guy in singapore I have been ordering my VFDs from for projects, but some of the VFDs you have posted are cool.

Its not hard to drive them, just kind of have to understand the technology.

FOR MI is nightmare to coding and program controllers;app:no: and wiring is all so tough ...AND I HAVE A DREAM- TO FIND UNIVERSAL EVALUATING BOARD FOR ALL TYPES VFD`Shttp://wegavision.pytalhost.com/JVC90/08.jpghttp://kenwood.pytalhost.eu/1991/kenwood08.jpghttp://img.ahtr.net/DSC_0992%20%5B%5D.JPG

you got all kinds of neat VFD pics there.

i have a dream-to complete similar mod,but with ftd-original from vcr (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu0k5fgyFEU&feature=related):yes::scratch2:

i have a dream-to complete similar mod,but with ftd-original from vcr (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu0k5fgyFEU&feature=related):yes::scratch2:
That is so cool!! :thmbsp:

Well if you live in a bad neighborhood at least you can sleep at nght knowing that what ever happens they won't steal your computer, though if their dumb enough to steal your VCR your kinda screwed......

Tom C.

Ha-one of the neatest things I've seen in a while!

http://www.google.bg/imgres?q=Vacuum+Fluorescent+Display&hl=bg&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=t2F&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=800&bih=406&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=HlnZCqJAmWH9cM:&imgrefurl=http://www.ebay.com/itm/Unique-Vacuum-Fluorescent-Display-VFD-Clock-nixie-tube-/270720407769&docid=DHBo1bRm0qoDaM&imgurl=http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Unique-Vacuum-Fluorescent-Display-VFD-Clock-nixie-tube-/00/%2524(KGrHqZ,!jgE1uYT6qBnBNd58U0tNg~~_35.JPG&w=300&h=293&ei=tM8VT4MphtXhBPSE7YIE&zoom=1http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5053/91248767.jpg

Ya, I seen that display on ebay. I didnt buy one yet. I like VFD displays that have VU or spec analyzer bars on it. or bars in general. I am a audio-visual type of guy that likes VU meters, spec ans, winamp visual plugins, etc...

I do however, REALLY like that VFD you have in your sig. My next project if i ever get around to finishing it is building a small scale MP3 player with an application specific VFD display, kinda like the one in your sig. Except the one I am going to use is the NEC FIP11AMW8 for this project, which can be had cheap at a few places.

So with the NEC FIP11AMW8, I have already mapped out the pins, segment tables, etc... just have to finish up the code to drive it, and its going to interface to another CPU that does the MP3 Decoding and SD card access. the CPU that will run the VFD display will also fetch IR codes from my apple remote, along with doing VU meter calculations off of the analog return from the MP3 decoder IC. Might be alot of overhead for a single CPU, but its just for I/O. the MP3 decoder is a separate CPU because of timing critical operations, dont want a buffer underrun = choppy playback, so the less things it has to do outside of playing the mp3, the better. Outside of buffering MP3 data, it also has a command interpreter to be able to talk to the I/O CPU. going to use RS232, or maybe SPI between the two CPUs, and of course the DOS/SD file system handler.

the I/O CPU's display scan routine will run off an internal timer which will output a square wave from the PWM pin to drive a power amplifier circuit that will not only supply the anode voltage/current, but also the filament supply. Basically a discrete replacement for the LM9022 which no longer exists. Why do i wanna use scan derived PWM signal? so you dont get beat artifacts on the display :-)

and the most fun of it all, itll be written in BASIC. because I cant code in C, and besides my BASIC skills are a close match to what C can do. Hell, I wrote BASIC code for a small crypto unit that would cypher a digital bitstream going in, in 512-byte block cyphers. Mainly used for secure RF.

What its intended purpose for the time was sending secure transmissions over CB. (dont ask me why, just something to do, and it worked). an MP3 decoder/encoder IC VS1053 would be used as an encoder as a 64kbps mono MP3 which gives you ALOT of time before you have to rebuffer, plus it was convenient for the 115.2kbps RS232 port on the AVR. So i would buffer 512bytes, scramble it, and re-transmit it as pilot toned ASK over CB (which worked horribly, required a strong signal but at least it worked).

the receiver would detect the pilot tone to signal the decoder to kick in. Once it kicked in, it would decode the ASK into a bit stream which the AVR would decode back into 512byte blocks, decrypt them, and send them to the MP3 decoder IC at the other end. it worked as a test of concept but it was REALLY buggy, mainly do to the method i sent the signal over the RF line, ASK. I coulda used like manchester or some other means of modulating the digital signal, but i didnt know how, and i still dont to an extent.

V.F.D. is something sacred for me! I have such display at my 1986-1987 V.C.R. and at my 1978-1980 radio (both machines are made by "Panasonic")

Ya, I seen that display on ebay. I didnt buy one yet. I like VFD displays that have VU or spec analyzer bars on it. or bars in general. I am a audio-visual type of guy that likes VU meters, spec ans, winamp visual plugins, etc...

I do however, REALLY like that VFD you have in your sig. My next project if i ever get around to finishing it is building a small scale MP3 player with an application specific VFD display, kinda like the one in your sig. Except the one I am going to use is the NEC FIP11AMW8 for this project, which can be had cheap at a few places.

So with the NEC FIP11AMW8, I have already mapped out the pins, segment tables, etc... just have to finish up the code to drive it, and its going to interface to another CPU that does the MP3 Decoding and SD card access. the CPU that will run the VFD display will also fetch IR codes from my apple remote, along with doing VU meter calculations off of the analog return from the MP3 decoder IC. Might be alot of overhead for a single CPU, but its just for I/O. the MP3 decoder is a separate CPU because of timing critical operations, dont want a buffer underrun = choppy playback, so the less things it has to do outside of playing the mp3, the better. Outside of buffering MP3 data, it also has a command interpreter to be able to talk to the I/O CPU. going to use RS232, or maybe SPI between the two CPUs, and of course the DOS/SD file system handler.

the I/O CPU's display scan routine will run off an internal timer which will output a square wave from the PWM pin to drive a power amplifier circuit that will not only supply the anode voltage/current, but also the filament supply. Basically a discrete replacement for the LM9022 which no longer exists. Why do i wanna use scan derived PWM signal? so you dont get beat artifacts on the display :-)

and the most fun of it all, itll be written in BASIC. because I cant code in C, and besides my BASIC skills are a close match to what C can do. Hell, I wrote BASIC code for a small crypto unit that would cypher a digital bitstream going in, in 512-byte block cyphers. Mainly used for secure RF.

What its intended purpose for the time was sending secure transmissions over CB. (dont ask me why, just something to do, and it worked). an MP3 decoder/encoder IC VS1053 would be used as an encoder as a 64kbps mono MP3 which gives you ALOT of time before you have to rebuffer, plus it was convenient for the 115.2kbps RS232 port on the AVR. So i would buffer 512bytes, scramble it, and re-transmit it as pilot toned ASK over CB (which worked horribly, required a strong signal but at least it worked).

the receiver would detect the pilot tone to signal the decoder to kick in. Once it kicked in, it would decode the ASK into a bit stream which the AVR would decode back into 512byte blocks, decrypt them, and send them to the MP3 decoder IC at the other end. it worked as a test of concept but it was REALLY buggy, mainly do to the method i sent the signal over the RF line, ASK. I coulda used like manchester or some other means of modulating the digital signal, but i didnt know how, and i still dont to an extent.

:thmbsp::scratch2: Give me picture on FIP11AMW8 please or pdf
I HAVE NEC FIP 11GM6 NO 421-421
i search MOST SOPHISTICATED VFD display on vcr;hi-fi;air-cond,etc..still tune for ithttp://radiokot.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=8441&start=40http://www1.synapse.ne.jp/takata/av/toshiba_a-e50/toshiba_a-e50_09.jpghttp://www1.synapse.ne.jp/takata/av/toshiba_a-e50/toshiba_a-e50_11.jpghttp://7113.fc2web.com/rc-x90.htmlhttp://ist1-1.filesor.com/pimpandhost.com/1/_/_/_/1/X/n/q/U/XnqU/Picture%20147_m.jpg (http://www.pimpandhost.com/image/14151432-original.html) http://7113.fc2web.com/rc-x90-010.jpg

Somewhere in my parts pile, I have a rather large VFD from an old satellite receiver (I think), it's about 8" long and has roughly 10 or 12 grids of pixels (10 x 15 each or something like that) that can be used to spell out letters, numbers etc. Sort of like a small marquee sign, but it's VFD instead of LED / LCD. I bet you'd have fun with it! Make me a good offer and it's yours......

I have a bookshelf stereo system (1999 model Aiwa CX-NA888) with what I believe is a VFD display for functions, AM-FM digital tuner, etc. The characters, however, seem to be formed by individual dot-matrix display units; they also can display the on-off states of certain functions by scrolling across the width of the display until manually turned off. The display resembles the "Futaba" VFD (which appears to be scrolling as the one on my stereo does) mentioned in another post; the Futaba display also looks like mine when all functions are displayed at once, e. g. after a power outage. Mine will also show a built-in game which Aiwa calls "Demo" when power is restored after an outage, and the clock will flash 12:00 until reset -- not unlike most VCRs with VFD clock displays.

I don't work on VFDs that often, because Gottleib was the only pinball company that used them. Their system1 and system80 games used a seven-segment VFD with 6 digits (possibly seven). These things often start going dim, and we found if left on for a few hours...it brightens up. One tech suggested applying a tiny bit of voltage higher than the normal filament voltage...just enough the glow redish-orange. A few seconds of this usually livens these VFDs up if they haven't gassed. I don't know why exactly this works when so many other VFDs start going dead and never work again.

However, I love a good VFD to a point. My EQ has a nice bluish spectrum analyzer bar display on it. After 30 years it still looks outstanding. No dimming...no issues. I get what looks like ghosting...like if one bar is maxed out...ill see a faint glow from another bar...its either some kind of weird reflection or something because I've done everything but look at the voltages driving the VFD with a scope. My Onkyo cassette deck has a VFD on it that was causing a harmonicy buzzing when it was turned on..when I changed the belt and took the cassette transport out it stopped doing that.

But, yeah, I've always liked the physical look of a good vfd meter...seems faster and sharper than most LED implmentations.

Sent from my SPH-M910 using Tapatalk

I dont have a datasheet on the NEC FIP11AMW8, I just hand figured all the pins and configurations.

Also it seems the only site that carried them are now gone. :-(

Usehttp://wayback.archive.org/web/

Oh. I meant gone from "stock" Meaning you cant purchase them anymore.

I guess i got mine while i could. shoulda got more.

Here is a youtube video of mine when I built a breadboard based VFD controller that ran off the PC parallel port back in 2006 i think it was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_U-Fb5F-Ww

Here is the FIP display I was referring to.

Here is pretty much my entire collection of VFDs. There are a few I missed which I will post later, mainly the 50 or so Soviet-era Russian VU meters.

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/4257/dsc00015pm.th.jpg (http://img829.imageshack.us/i/dsc00015pm.jpg/)
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/6884/dsc00016dj.th.jpg (http://img826.imageshack.us/i/dsc00016dj.jpg/)
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/577/dsc00017jv.th.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/i/dsc00017jv.jpg/)
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/4613/dsc00018lv.th.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/i/dsc00018lv.jpg/)
http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/1641/dsc00019mjl.th.jpg (http://img545.imageshack.us/i/dsc00019mjl.jpg/)

some more of them

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6131/dsc00020as.th.jpg (http://img215.imageshack.us/i/dsc00020as.jpg/)
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/7523/dsc00021pp.th.jpg (http://img826.imageshack.us/i/dsc00021pp.jpg/)
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/7080/dsc00023ll.th.jpg (http://img28.imageshack.us/i/dsc00023ll.jpg/)
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/5213/dsc00024f.th.jpg (http://img441.imageshack.us/i/dsc00024f.jpg/)
http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/5315/dsc00025sg.th.jpg (http://img831.imageshack.us/i/dsc00025sg.jpg/)
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/551/dsc00026li.th.jpg (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/dsc00026li.jpg/)
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4654/dsc00027tn.th.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/i/dsc00027tn.jpg/)
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/5039/dsc00028xy.th.jpg (http://img819.imageshack.us/i/dsc00028xy.jpg/)
http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/5018/dsc00029eb.th.jpg (http://img828.imageshack.us/i/dsc00029eb.jpg/)
http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/5241/dsc00030no.th.jpg (http://img828.imageshack.us/i/dsc00030no.jpg/)

And the last of them. This is a large collection. lol. :banana:

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/4442/dsc00031mf.th.jpg (http://img33.imageshack.us/i/dsc00031mf.jpg/)
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/8067/dsc00032ls.th.jpg (http://img638.imageshack.us/i/dsc00032ls.jpg/)
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/8374/dsc00033dkg.th.jpg (http://img841.imageshack.us/i/dsc00033dkg.jpg/)
http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/7199/dsc00034r.th.jpg (http://img829.imageshack.us/i/dsc00034r.jpg/)
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/9250/dsc00035fl.th.jpg (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/dsc00035fl.jpg/)
http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/1075/dsc00036ew.th.jpg (http://img830.imageshack.us/i/dsc00036ew.jpg/)
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/4400/dsc00037gl.th.jpg (http://img35.imageshack.us/i/dsc00037gl.jpg/)
http://img864.imageshack.us/img864/1217/dsc00038vk.th.jpg (http://img864.imageshack.us/i/dsc00038vk.jpg/)

Here is the FIP display I was referring to.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=420169
philips-dcc900http://www.dutchaudioclassics.nl/img/info/visuals/philips-dcc900.jpghttp://www.dutchaudioclassics.nl/philips_dcc900_dcc_recorder/http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/6884/dsc00016dj.jpg:banana: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCCjUtI9LEA&feature=related)

AND i haw dream to mod my VCR grundig vs220
http://ist1-1.filesor.com/pimpandhost.com/1/_/_/_/1/X/x/Y/6/XxY6/Picture%20024_m.jpg (http://www.pimpandhost.com/image/14191930-original.html) with
http://www.vintagecassette.com/srv/images/46910http://www.hifi-wiki.de/images/1/11/Technics_RS-BX_707.jpg=http://videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=173377&d=1329650152

Here are the few that I forgot:

the graphics VFD was a chip-on-glass one that I had gotten, no datasheet or pinout available, so i had to reverse engineer it myself. Although with the ghosting, I never did get too much further with it. My guess was it was a 3.3V VFD that I was driving with 5V.

Here is the 50+ russian VFDs that I had gotten.

Shown is the new control board I had developed for them, So i can control the tubes digitally. Unfortunately the project was sidelined becuase I used 2 ICs that are no longer available. the LM9022 and A6810.

Oh, and I cannot forget this gem:

Here is a set of GM VFDs that I re-purposed for use in a golf cart, digital cluster. It worked until the rain finally got it. lol.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=420169
1987-8
GOLDEN AGES OF VFD HI-FI UNITS:thmbsp::thmbsp::drool::tresbon:

i`m fanatically impression-ed of TV icons on VCR displays this is my tread-
http://vintageelectronics.betamaxcollectors.com/forums/showthread.php?711-my-vcr-scans/page8

FOR COLOR SYSTEM MAC;NTSC 3.58;4.46;ME SECAM NM PAL
TV-I,BG;BS\BROADCAST SATELLITE\
SOUND-NICAM;SAP;STEREO;DUAL
TV FREQUENCY
S-VPS;PDC;VDS;TXT

ON THE SAME TIME ON VFD+LEVEL METER+S.A./SPECTRUM ANALIZER\+WEEKLY DAYS+DEWhttp://nationalmaclord.web.fc2.com/vcr/nv900hd_7.jpghttp://ist1-2.filesor.com/pimpandhost.com/1/_/_/_/1/Y/R/3/8/YR38/Picture%20010_m.jpg (http://www.pimpandhost.com/image/14503606-original.html)

Hiya guys, I'm neo, and new. Seems like you guys know a lot about VFDs and the workings of one. I have a VFD from my bike which has no display at all. Initially, I though it was a broken solder point (now fixed) which wasn't driving power to it. However, after some dismantling and getting to the display it self, I *think* the display is busted. Seems like there's "burn marks" inside the display.
Not sure if that's the case, so, need some help verifying it.

From what I can gather after poking a multimeter at it, the VFD is getting power, it even makes this.. well, kinda discharging sound when the ignition is turned on. None of the solder points seem broken, cracked or otherwise unusable. On the PCB I see test points labelled 5v, Anode & GND. Probing with the tester reveals that there's no breaks in the circuitry. So, I'm guessing it's the tube. The two "burn marks" on the left of the tube in the picture is what's got me pretty sure.. well, sure as one can get anyway.

Appreciate if you guys could help me confirm this. If it's busted, I'm pretty sure there's no way to fix it short of replacing the tube itself... So, yeah.. anything you guys got.. And thanks :)

http://www.mynetimages.com/598c56945a_th.jpg (http://www.mynetimages.com/viewimage/598c56945a)

Nope, that tube is perfectly fine. If those "getters" were white, then I would worry. but they are not. they are normal color.

the VFD is fine, your problem is in the circuitry. your missing the filiment voltage, or anode voltage, or the VFD driver IC is bad. one of the 3.

take your pick .

I would suspect an electrolytic capacitor (or more) in a DC-DC converter circuit to run the VFD from 12V could well be at fault. Not too uncommon for capacitors to fail and displays go dim or out completely.

Thanks for the feedback guys. Yeah, I did some more reading on VFDs yesterday and apparently those getters aren't really burn marks, they're part of the manufacturing process (of course you guys would already know this, but new to me, heh)

It seems now I'll need to do a lot more probing. A whole lot really. The tube is mounted on a PCB which is connected to yet another PCB via 2 sockets, so tracing is gonna be a major pain. But at least now I have some ideas on what I should be looking for.

Thanks again. Really appreciate it. I'll post again soon once done with all the probing.. -sigh-

-K

But wait, there's more.

A VFD is a tube and can be used as a Triode. There's a www site showing it off.

A video of an experiment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiszksJs9C8

I hope this will enrich your VFD interest.

Woah. That's just a lil bit above my level. Playing around with 120-180 volts.. hmmm.. Don't think I have anything up to that level yet. All I got for tinkering is a 12v DC transformer and a teeny variable 1.5-12v AC-DC.. I play around with automotive and some computer electronics which almost never goes over 12v.. Really interesting though. Mayhaps that dead VCR in the corner has some use later on..

Anyway, to the VFD at hand. Today after riding and parking in the dark, I noticed that the wires are indeed getting some current. They were faintly glowing.. Which means you guys were right, the VFD isn't dead. Something else is. Now just need to figure out what.. Gonna have to dismantle it again over the weekend or when I gots some free time.. Well, at least I know the re-soldered broken trace did do *something*


p/s: the attached isn't actually my tube but it's doing the same thing :D

A voltmeter can tell you what's going on there. Besides the filament voltage, most VFD take 35-40V to light up. If it is installed in equipment, the anode or grid segments may be 'scanned' with a voltage from the display driver IC, each one in turn being high or low, to light up the desired segments. Don't be surprised if the filament is at a negative DC potential and the anodes near GND. A scope can show you what is being pulsed or scanned.

About the higher voltages, at some time, if you work with them, it can only make you a better tech and wiser collector.

Thanks for the tip Opcom. Looks like I've got a good deal to learn about VFDs. Really interesting tech these.. We'll see soon how I get on.. :)

i have the VFD module from a wrecked Pioneer CT-F600 cassette deck, i'd like to use it as a VUmeter in a small portable PA amp i'm building, would it be possible to use this module with the 12 volts supply available in the amp?

Yes, you should be able to. However, I dont know if it requires DC rectification and time constant beforehand. I think it does. But you still need to supply a proper filament voltage. Usually 5V with a dropping resistor will suffice, but even brightness will be a factor.

http://data.manualslib.com//pdf/34/3308/330723-toshiba/images/trx2000_5_bg.jpgSomewhere in my parts pile, I have a rather large VFD from an old satellite receiver (I think), it's about 8" long and has roughly 10 or 12 grids of pixels (10 x 15 each or something like that) that can be used to spell out letters, numbers etc. Sort of like a small marquee sign, but it's VFD instead of LED / LCD. I bet you'd have fun with it! Make me a good offer and it's yours......http://images34.fotosik.pl/23/e00566578e0987ef.jpghttp://images34.fotosik.pl/23/8011428632123dee.jpghttp://cache-cdn.kalaydo.de/mmo/8/394/958/08_-221322991_detail.jpghttp://slovenskainzercia.sk/x-sk/inz/1742/1742402-satelitny-prijimac-pace-mss-1000-1.jpghttp://home.swipnet.se/~w-33972/images/m140f.jpg

http://audioidiots.com/Sony/brochures/1995%20ev-s9000%20DE/groot/p005i1.jpghttp://audioidiots.com/afbeelding.groot.php?itemID=6451http://audioidiots.com/afbeelding.groot.php?itemID=3752http://audioidiots.com/afbeelding.groot.php?itemID=6383http://www.napazar.net/media/post_images/big/4/492d1c903d2be10618448871d42da5fa.jpghttp://www.geocities.jp/sigechan_junk/img1911.jpghttp://www.napazar.net/media/post_images/big/3/bfd3b50c34ae168a56ce3692c12ed0a6.jpghttp://www.magnatmuseum.nl/WP%20HiFi%20Vintage%20MuseuM/wp-content/uploads/JVC-HR-D470-Hi-Fi-4-Head-Stereo-Video-Cassette-Recorder.jpghttp://audioidiots.com/Sony/diversen/mijn/middel/2010-12-23-22-07-08.jpghttp://audioidiots.com/Sony/diversen/mijn/groot/2010-10-16-20-37-18.jpghttp://audioidiots.com/afbeelding.groot.php?itemID=6421http://audioidiots.com/afbeelding.groot.php?itemID=6686

oooooo purtyfull.

Here are the few that I forgot:

the graphics VFD was a chip-on-glass one that I had gotten, no datasheet or pinout available, so i had to reverse engineer it myself. Although with the ghosting, I never did get too much further with it. My guess was it was a 3.3V VFD that I was driving with 5V.

I found out that these VFDs were used in the 2008ish era chrysler factory radios.

A few new ones added to my collection, AND a noritake VFD sample from noritake themselves, KS0108 compatible!
http://imageshack.us/a/img837/7320/4jn3.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/837/4jn3.jpg/)


http://imageshack.us/a/img703/7591/8ta3.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/703/8ta3.jpg/)
http://imageshack.us/a/img17/4640/2ypo.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/17/2ypo.jpg/)
http://imageshack.us/a/img801/4353/t4s9.th.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/801/t4s9.jpg/)

I have been at it again.

These Futaba displays are actually on ebay right now for a mere $2.50 a piece. So i got a few and built a circuit.

Another thing I want to note, is Noritake now has a shopping e-commerce site setup for sales and Also, they offer free samples on a couple of their products.

They have a few selections for cheap discount prices if your into development for microcontrollers, or arduino, etc.. They offer the C libraries for their 7000 series for arduino. They are also running a special for 50% off on their modules. This is by no means an advertisement or sales promotion, Its just something I found awesome that they are doing. Thats all.

http://videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=179614&d=1375467937http://videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=179617&d=1375467937 vcr is victor hr-z1http://bokenasu.oops.jp/junk/z1/z1_12.jpghttp://bokenasu.oops.jp/junk/z1/z1.htm

i DONT know were COME from your is, mbates14 but here some USA locations of FUTABA http://goo.gl/maps/uRzcb
http://www.futaba.com/corporate/locations/index.asp
GOOD TRIP

Speaking of fluke and futaba, I need to find a replacement VFD for my fluke 45 benchtop. They are long since discontinued.

here my new profile here:banana:

and someting cool
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Noritake-VFD/208763672482987
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KbKSW_fkKw
https://goo.gl/maps/R1qYAhCcLnN2

Hey, since you're the VFD master, maybe you can help me with my Pioneer CT-F850. My VFD is completely blank. It was working before the cassette deck was shipped to me, but is not working now. Here's the service manual: http://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/pioneer/ct-f850.shtml


I've taken some readings from the chips, board, and fluoroscan meter itself.

First off, there are two wires marked 3v AC on the board. Those measure at 1.3v AC between them. They are fed from the power supply board, and measure 1.3v there as well.

The display reads 1.3v AC between pins 1 and 33.
I'm also getting 15v DC (B+) at pins 3, 5, 18, and 32. (measured to the pin marked ground on the board that the display is soldered to)

On the chips, I'm getting 1.25v DC on pin 1, and 15v DC on pin 9. Everything except pin 18 is zero. Pin 18 is roughly 2.4v DC. (The voltage to this pin is adjusted via the VU meter level trimpots)

Any idea what's wrong with this thing? Something took a hit during shipping, but what could cause this?

Basically, if it's an easy fix, I'd like to keep the deck. If the VFD is toast, I'll return it.

Charles.

If I am reading the diagram properly, it looks like the VFD filament comes from the dial lamp winding on the power transformer via a resistor network consisting of R650-R653. Check these for opens/off value. You want to see 3VAC across the ends of the filaments, and you have less than half that. Does the unit otherwise work? Did the unit get shifted into 240V power settings, perhaps?

Yeah, the unit otherwise works, and there's no 120/240 switch on this unit. I've checked the transformer winding outputs and they're the correct voltage. I'll try disconnecting the wires from the VFD and see if they read the proper voltage then. Maybe the 1.3v is because of the load of the VFD. If the VFD cracked or leaked somehow would it still draw current even though nothing is displayed?

I'm assuming supplying 5v DC to the filaments for a second or so wouldn't be a good idea. I don't really have an AC power source that I can generate to test otherwise.

Hmm, I do have another cassette deck that I can temporarily swap the VFD out of. I can try that too.

Charles.

7.2v AC on the transformer windings, 6.2v AC on the supply to the filament, with the filament supply wiring detached from the filament board. Will take apart the other cassette deck shortly.

Charles.

Well nevermind, the VFD is broken, the glass nodule on the back is cracked clean through and there's no vacuum left inside. That's why it's not working.

Charles.

That would explain the low voltage. A filament will draw much higher current in air than in a vacuum, at least until it burns open....

Hey, I got a replacement VFD off of eBay for $25. It was for a CT-F800, but it looked like the same part and I took a chance. It was the correct part! It included the control board and everything, so I just hooked it up and screwed it in place, and it worked perfectly first time. Now all I need to do is re-belt this deck and then adjust it with my test tapes, meters, and signal generators, and it'll be good to go.

Charles.

awesome you got it fixed. I got enough VU meter style VFDs laying around here to choke a horse. Even the one you needed. Anyways...

Here is my latest project that I have been working on:

I have a whole crate of these I got from a contact out of the Ukraine. I am designing a "retro" audio spectrum analyzer using individual VFD tubes.

And... Here it is. First power-up after assembly, but before any code is written yet for the MCUs.

That looks awesome. I really like VFDs.

I'm curious.
How often do people approach you inquiring about your sources?
I got an Itron alphanumeric display here I've spent two years trying to find a replacement for because the evacuation nipple broke off during rough handling.

Almost never. Usually its eBay.

What is the part number/pic of it? I may have it.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YycAAOSwlfNcB7y9/s-l1600.jpg

Ooohhhh nice display. I'd like to get one myself somehow.

It's A DOUBLE STACKED VFD Like THIS https://youtu.be/r76PGXgeVKg?t=4:banana:https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/uicAAOSw~oNaded3/s-l1600.jpg

LOL
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LOGIC-CONTROLS-BEMATECH-REAR-MOUNT-VFD-DISPLAY-FOR-LE1015-MONITOR-W-BRACKET/233085671741?hash=item3644fd193d:g:JSAAAOSwAbxcC~6 f

COOL https://www.ebay.com/itm/Silverstone-SST-FP54S-Drive-Bay-VFD-Display-Silver-New-Old-Stock/233099326554?epid=1300568681&hash=item3645cd745a:g:jX0AAOSwbKVcQYdWhttp://www.kosbo.com/img/VFDelipce/EliVFD_22.jpg

And... Here it is. First power-up after assembly, but before any code is written yet for the MCUs.

WHEN You Not Have THIS https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/p0sAAOSwI01cRRYU/s-l1600.jpghttps://www.ebay.com/itm/AK2515-Musikspektrumanzeige-VFD-Display-Audio-Music-Spectrum-VU-Meter-Indicator/163497315497?hash=item2611330ca9:g:p0sAAOSwI01cRRY U:tresbon:https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/unAAAOSwHWtb2NQe/s-l1600.jpg

It's A SIMILAR
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Studer-4ch-Vfd-Bargraph-1-990-640-00-Meter-Display-From-D940-Mixer/153323281007?hash=item23b2c79a6f:g:SBsAAOSw3VpbNHC V

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SAMSUNG-20S401DA1-RISCN1-20S401DA1-DOT-MATRIX-VFD-CUSTOMER-DISPLAY/163085046027?hash=item25f8a0510b:g:4igAAOSwuHJa~~J e


Do Not BUY - It's BURNED
https://www.ebay.com/itm/BABCOCK-SM-0120-VFD-display/192554647975?hash=item2cd526c1a7:g:UpcAAOSwfLxbDt1 D

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YycAAOSwlfNcB7y9/s-l1600.jpg

Do you know where I could find and buy this particular one? It's too cool

http://www.icpdf.com/NEC_datasheet/UPD75CG16HE_pdf_370030/#view

https://manualzz.com/doc/32237869/fip%C2%AE-products-selection-guide:banana::yes:
WOOOOOOOOWWWW
https://www.cnet.com/au/reviews/beyonwiz-dp-s1-review/

https://oled.jimdo.com/2015/03/22/futaba-m11bt222a-vfd-vacuum-fluorescent-display-module/
http://www.princeton.com.tw/en-us/products.aspx
https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=670x10000:format=jpg/path/sde779bdfc82a6443/image/i7d1ae3582841168b/version/1427038824/image.jpg

http://www.beyonwiz.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=8828&sid=d4d1af383d9a3a791334782c4c071661

Ooohhhh nice display. I'd like to get one myself somehow.

www.futaba.co.jp/en/display/vfd/lineup_by_type.html
It's A
Biplaner VFD

http://www.futaba.co.jp/en/dbps_data/_material_/radicon_eng/Display_and_Module/vfd/images/lineup_by_type04.jpg
http://danyk.cz/digitrony.html
Two layer display handles more information.
It also creates three-dimensional appearance.

Umm. I dont think you are understanding what I mean, you missed the word "particular" in my last post. I know WHAT it is, and how its designed. seen many of them. So I will re-iterate: I am just curious where to find THAT PARTICULAR display.

Nevermind, I found it! took some digging but luckily it was on eBay. Adding that one to the collection.

HERE ANOTHER Biplaner VFDhttps://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20020410/vx4200d.jpgCQ-VX4200D:thmbsp:https://auctions.c.yimg.jp/images.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/image/dr000/auc0410/users/0ba923cb638858029e18e94fa74255966a593906/i-img854x640-1540621852tpnrsy1000896.jpghttps://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/b346825051https://auctions.c.yimg.jp/images.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/image/dr000/auc0409/users/1281b8171206ab70fbb1ccfbd2f5de9cce13e151/i-img1200x900-1536587449cr1ns314035.jpghttps://jp.japex.ru/ylot/m278187763https://auctions.c.yimg.jp/images.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/image/dr000/auc0502/users/26d21467db054b8a74e31f2780e81ab0e630b1ec/i-img640x480-1550992423nf98md40618.jpg:tresbon::yes:https://auctions.c.yimg.jp/images.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/image/dr000/auc0411/users/819a2e95d0ac59a64c8c7de397ea3e9d665609a4/i-img1200x675-1542560415vjk5th58179.jpghttps://auctions.c.yimg.jp/images.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/image/dr000/auc0411/users/819a2e95d0ac59a64c8c7de397ea3e9d665609a4/i-img1200x675-1542560417ujpgvo58179.jpg

Fujitsuhttps://www.winstar.com.tw/uploads/editor/images/technology/oled/2015/oled-stn-vfd-chart.jpg30,000 Hours =
3.4223838 Years:nono:https://www.winstar.com.tw/technology/oled/4.html

30,000 Hours =
3.4223838 Years:nono:

I have a Pioneer DT-400 timer here from 1979 with a VFD that's been plugged running now continuously for 40 years. Only issue has been the electrolytics, and the power switch relay got stuck in the ON position, but other than those, after well over 340,000 hours the VFD continues on...

http://www.videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=198337&stc=1&d=1551722779

Some day I will get around to making something with these DT-1704Bs. I love that there is no backing to the digits, not even a sheet of mica.

http://videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=199098&stc=1&d=1566412756

You could probably add a color changing back light if you wanted.


Some day I will get around to making something with these DT-1704Bs. I love that there is no backing to the digits, not even a sheet of mica.

http://videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=199098&stc=1&d=1566412756

The digital dash in my 83 Lincoln...

Nice! Ah, back in the day when car makers actually made all the displays match each other.

WITCH/WHO IS big FTD divide by cm/2
-SONY EV-S9000http://www.videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=202047&stc=1&d=1609168613https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/z44AAOSwjkhfl-jW/s-l1600.jpghttps://www.picclickimg.com/00/s/NDgwWDY0MA==/z/5L4AAOSwlHRfl-jV/$/Sony-EV-S9000-High-End-Hi8-Video-Videorecorder-VB-_57.jpg OR
-Victor　S-VHS　HR-Z1http://bokenasu.oops.jp/junk/z1/z1_11.jpghttp://bokenasu.oops.jp/junk/z1/z1_12.jpghttp://www.videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=202045&stc=1&d=1609168037http://www.videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=202046&stc=1&d=1609168072

i think my be a panny to be win with 2-3 vfd vcr`s- NV 10000http://niga2.sytes.net/av/v10k_05.jpghttp://niga2.sytes.net/av/v10k_06.jpgNational NV-850HDhttp://nationalmaclord.web.fc2.com/850hd_front1.jpghttp://nationalmaclord.web.fc2.com/850hd_front2.jpghttp://nationalmaclord.web.fc2.com/850hd_front3.jpgPanasonic VTR NV-FS900http://niga2.sytes.net/av/fs900_9.jpg

https://www.dutchaudioclassics.nl/img/info/marantz/Marantz-dpm7-digital-amplifier/groot/Marantz-DPM7-digital-amplifier-009.jpghttps://www.dutchaudioclassics.nl/Marantz/https://www.dutchaudioclassics.nl/img/info/marantz/marantz-cdr1/groot/Marantz-cdr1-012.jpg

http://nice.kaze.com/av/st-636.htmlhttp://nice.kaze.com/av/st-636_07.jpghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9aYt-yG96w:thmbsp:

https://auctions.c.yimg.jp/images.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/image/dr000/auc0201/users/cd3960b7b50ffc75110efd4fe46d93330bc68a3e/i-img480x480-1610558880cbgw5q37388.jpghttps://auctions.c.yimg.jp/images.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/image/dr000/auc0201/users/cd3960b7b50ffc75110efd4fe46d93330bc68a3e/i-img480x480-1610558880ebsgdl37388.jpghttps://blog-imgs-49-origin.fc2.com/2/u/f/2ufxuhg4/2012blog-139.jpghttps://blog-imgs-49-origin.fc2.com/2/u/f/2ufxuhg4/2012blog-133.jpg

I kinda have a thing for VFD's as well.