Nixie tubes are a 1970s-era gas-discharge tube that is used to display characters, in our case numbers 0-9, but other types were made too. They are filled with mostly neon gas, and when a high voltage is applied to its terminals, the corresponding character lights up orange. Nixie tubes are most associated with Soviet technology, but many countries produced these tubes when they were popular. For more information, check out our What is a Nixie Tube? page.
In our NIX4 and NIX6 models, we use Soviet-made IN8-2 (aka ИН8-2) tubes with a nice large 18x12mm digit size. The IN8-2 is an upright, soldered-in, tube which has a fully formed ‘5’ digit as opposed to the upside-down ‘2’ used in similar tubes of this size.
Our NIX4F front-view model uses end-view Soviet-made IN12 (aka ИН12) tubes with the same digit size however they is socketed and uses an upside down ‘2’ element as the ‘5’ digit.
These tubes have not been made for many years, and the ones used in our clocks are generally more than 40 years old. They have been removed from things such as obsolete laboratory test instruments or old military equipment. For more information, check out our What is a Nixie Tube? page.
The main difference is that the NIX4/NIX4F/NIX6 uses Nixie tubes whereas the VF4 uses vacuum fluorescent display tubes, so whilst it is a tube clock they are not Nixie tubes. Both tube types are Soviet-made but the Nixie tube technology is older - most tubes we have were made in the 1970s-1980s, with the VF-tubes being 1980s+. The real Nixie tubes of the NIX4/NIX4F and NIX6 are rarer and more expensive, plus the clock’s digit size and the clock itself is a little larger - this photo from our Instagram shows them side by side.
Other than that they have the same features and are still designed and handmade in Brisbane. The VF4 makes for a nice desk clock, but the larger digits and formed nature of the Nixie tubes makes the NIX4/NIX6 easier to read from a farther distance. You may also like to check out our What is a Nixie Tube? page.
The IN8-2 tubes that we use in the NIX4/NIX6 models are soldered directly to the circuit board and the case is glued, so we don’t recommend user replacement. In the NIX4F front-view model, the IN12 tubes are socketed and can be replaced by a suitably skilled person - refer to the User’s Guide. Unless the tubes are damaged (a drop for example) they have proven to be quite reliable, however as they age the end tails on digits like ‘2’ can start to flicker when first turned on or at low brightness, although in most cases this only lasts several seconds. Should you require tube replacement outside of warranty, our single-tube replacement service including return shipping Australia-wide starts at $50 - please contact us for details. We are committed to supporting our products and will be glad to assist you with out-of-warranty support, including guidance on case disassembly and tube replacement. To maximise tube life, use the on-off timer to turn them off when not needed, and the anti-poison feature to maintain even digit illumination. Refer to the User’s Guide for instructions on these features.
Over time, the digits inside your Nixie tubes may develop ‘cathode poisoning’ due to the same digit being shown for a long time. This results in dark spots on the digits. To reduce this effect, an anti-poisoning pattern using all the digits can be shown up to once every 10 minutes. Refer to the User’s Guide for instructions on how to enable this feature.
Your clock is powered with a USB cable, just like many phones, cameras and other electronics. It is important to use a good quality power adapter because the display will automatically dim if the supply is too weak. NIX labs recommends our own power adapter for best performance, but spare phone chargers, your computer, and powered USB hubs do usually work fine.
Our clocks do not contain a battery and have to be plugged into an external power source to work. All models have a built-in supercapacitor that keeps the time for about 5 days when unplugged, and your settings are saved permanently.
Yes, of course! The USB WebApp is great for those who want to customise their clock and really make it their own. But all essential functions can be set easily using the built-in buttons. Your clock comes with a quick-start leaflet that shows how to use the buttons, as well as what extra settings can be changed with the WebApp. If you only want to set the time and never touch it again that’s completely fine. All your settings are saved permanently, so you don’t have to worry about having to change everything back after a power outage.
The online WebApp uses WebUSB to communicate with your Nixie device. WebUSB is a feature built into Chromium based browsers including Chrome, Edge and Opera. Your connection is secured with HTTPS, and all processing is done on your PC (client side). We may use analytics and error logging to help imporve our products - please refer to our privacy policy.
For the latest features and improvements, we recommend using the online WebApp. You can download a copy of the WebApp for offline use from our support page. You’ll be able to change all your settings, but the pop-up boxes (including Diagnostics and Firmware Update) will no longer work due to browser security restrictions.
Your Nixie clock uses materials that contain lead (Pb), so it must not be disposed of in your regular garbage. NIX labs can arrange for free collection of your old unit within Australia, or you can check with your local council for disposal instructions.
Delivery within Australia is free, and postage rates for international destinations can be seen on the checkout page. If your country is not listed, please contact us for more information.
Our clocks are hand made and are each individually calibrated on demand before dispatch - the expected wait time is stated next to the ‘Buy Now’ button on the product page. In stock clocks will usually dispatch in less than a week however from time to time there may be short delays (we will contact you if this is the case). After placing your order you will receive an immediate order confirmation email and then we will email you again with an update usually within 2-3 days. We use Australia Post which reaches most Australian destinations in 3-7 days.
We are constantly developing new designs and may release new products to the website that are still under development. In this case direct ordering will not be available but we may accept pre-orders or expressions of interest via our contact page. To keep up to date with our latest work and behind the scenes action follow us on Instagram!
We’re committed to providing our customers with the highest quality products. If you’re unsatisfied with your purchase or experience a problem, please contact us so we can provide a solution. At our discretion we may provide a refund minus postage costs if a clock is returned to us in perfect condition with all accessories.
NIX Labs is a small business founded in 2017 by Michael, an Electronic Design Engineer, and Nathan, an Information Security Specialist. We’re passionate about combining retro technology with modern electronics to create unique timepieces. We design, manufacture, and support all NIX Labs clocks right here in Brisbane, Australia.
We keep stock of some of the most common Nixie tubes and may be able to repair clocks from other makers - please contact us to see if we can help.
Please contact us with your requirements to see if we can help.