Pocket High Voltage Generator Upgrade
HV Generator open output voltage – limited internally to under 200V. The red LED lit up to indicate the voltage limit has reached.
The Pocket High Voltage Generator that I made a few weeks ago proved to be a very handy tool. I have been testing Zener diodes very often since I use many Zeners in 12V to 91V range.
However I wanted to give it a bit more power so that I can test Nixie tubes clearly – the previous design can only give less than 0.5 mA through most Nixie tubes, some digits don’t lit up completely.
I made some upgrades to the components to give it a modest 2 – 5 mA (depending on the voltage) output. While still keeping the same form factor.
Upgraded HV Generator can comfortably drive Nixie tubes at 1 – 2 mA of current.
Now this circuit has enough oomph to shock you if you accidentally touch the output! Not the dangerous level, but it IS shocking. Perhaps one can use this as an electric Jack-in-the-box…
I’m sharing the PCB design of this project. Which can be purchased or downloaded via OSH Park.
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R48 Battery Life Improved
After looking through the firmware very closely, I figured out a way to reduce power consumption of R48 via firmware tweaking. (Aggressive use of CPU “idle” mode while waiting for PWM pulse to output, etc.)
I managed to reduce the power consumption up to 43%. In my tests the batteries are lasting 50% or more longer!
All R48 will be shipped with the new, improved firmware as of today. If you already have R48, please send in for free upgrade.
How to receive the free firmware upgrade
- Please send your R48 to the address below.
The LED Artist
12A Louis PL
FL 2
Brooklyn, NY 11233 USA - Send only the R48 unit, without batteries or chargers.
- We will pay for the return postage. (Please pay for your postage to send in.)
- Make sure to clearly indicate the return address.
- The upgraded R48 will be sent back via USPS First Class mail.
- Enjoy the longer battery life!
Aurora 9×18 and 18×18 Firmware Update
I discovered a bug that prevents start up at the power on. The condition is relatively rare, but if your Aurora 9×18 mk2 or Aurora 18×18 is suffering from occasional lookup at the power up, please reprogram the PIC with the updated firmware.
This firmware (version 1.4) is also revised to keep the speed change setting in the EEPROM (note: speed adjustment is only possible via IR remote), so that your set speed will be restored after power off/on.
Please let me know if there are any issues with this updated version.
- Aurora 9xx18 mk2 firmware: aurora9x18mk2-1.4.hex
- Aurora 18×18 firmware: aurora18x18-rev2d-v1.4.hex
Firmware Updates to the New Auroras
Aurora 9×18 mk2 and Aurora 18×18 firmware has been revised to detect the Audio Interface connection at the start up. The Aurora’s will check to see if the Audio Interface is connected to them, and disable the color organ modes (there are two). Which means you don’t have to go through two empty program modes when pushing the button to change modes without the Audio Interface connected.