NCM109 and 4 IN-18 tubes

[despres.phParticipant]

Hi everybody,
I bought a clock based on NCM109 v1.2 and a NCT318 v1.1, for 4 tubes IN-18.This model is always sold as is.
Unfortunately, even the latest firmware is not completed for the 4 tubes version, only for 6 and 8 tubes.
Temperature is not displayed (always 00:00)and so the tuning is not possible; year cannot be set as described.
The operating manual is not really made for 4 tubes version.
It seems that the firmware will not evolve…
If somebody may have a look to the code, at least to avoid/suppress displayed temperature (00:00).. I am a hardware guy not a programmer.
Thanks in advance.

• This topic was modified 1 year, 5 months ago by  despres.ph.

[Jason MartinParticipant]

For suppressing the temperature display… I would look for the code

if (TempPresent)

My firmware, I don’t recall if the one that I am looking at has been heavily modified or just slightly ;), has this at line 1150. The entire block that I am thinking that you could change is:

if ((millis() - lastTimeAntiPoisoningIterate) > 100)
    {
      lastTimeAntiPoisoningIterate = millis();
      if (TempPresent)
      {
        if (menuPosition == TimeIndex) stringToDisplay = antiPoisoning2(updateTemperatureString(getTemperature(value[DegreesFormatIndex])), getTimeNow());
        if (menuPosition == DateIndex) stringToDisplay = antiPoisoning2(getTimeNow(), PreZero(day()) + PreZero(month()) + PreZero(year() % 1000) );
        if (menuPosition == TemperatureIndex) stringToDisplay = antiPoisoning2(PreZero(day()) + PreZero(month()) + PreZero(year() % 1000), updateTemperatureString(getTemperature(value[DegreesFormatIndex])));
      } else
      {
        if (menuPosition == TimeIndex) stringToDisplay = antiPoisoning2(PreZero(day()) + PreZero(month()) + PreZero(year() % 1000), getTimeNow());
        if (menuPosition == DateIndex) stringToDisplay = antiPoisoning2(getTimeNow(), PreZero(day()) + PreZero(month()) + PreZero(year() % 1000) );
      }
      // Serial.println("StrTDInToModeChng="+stringToDisplay);
    }

You can simply comment out:

if (menuPosition == TemperatureIndex) stringToDisplay = antiPoisoning2(PreZero(day()) + PreZero(month()) + PreZero(year() % 1000), updateTemperatureString(getTemperature(value[DegreesFormatIndex])));

That should make the clock show the time, then the day and month only and will still perform the anti-poisoning function to keep your tubes as healthy as possible.

Please keep in mind, I only recently finished my Nixie Clock, NCT412-6 v1.1 with IN-12A’s running on NCM109 v1.2. So I am trying to figure out the code as well 🙂

• This reply was modified 1 year, 5 months ago by  Jason Martin. Reason: Bad Code Blocks

[despres.phParticipant]

Thanks you very much for the tips !
All works well : time and date. Just as I wanted.
Your clock has 6 tubes. Normally, it should woks as on the operation manual.
Good luck for the firmware : unfortunately, it’s not commented… 🙁

[Jason MartinParticipant]

I know, right!

I was surprised to see that there wasn’t a 4 tube version in the code, but I think it considers it a Do Not Care state since it will just display the information regardless of all of the tubes being there or not.

Here’s to enjoying the clocks!

[Author]

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