Nixie tubes are gas-discharge tubes from the 1970s used to display characters, primarily numbers 0-9, although other types were also made. Filled mostly with neon gas, they light up orange when a high voltage is applied to their terminals. Nixie tubes are most associated with Soviet technology, but many countries produced them during their popularity. For more information, visit our What is a Nixie Tube? page.

In our NIX4 and NIX6 models, we use Soviet-made IN8-2 (also known as ИН8-2) tubes. These tubes feature a large 18x12mm digit size. The IN8-2 is an upright, soldered-in tube with a fully formed ‘5’ digit, unlike the upside-down ‘2’ used in similar tubes of this size.

Our NIX4F front-view model uses front-view Soviet-made IN12 (also known as ИН12) tubes, which also have the same digit size. However, these tubes are socketed and use an upside-down ‘2’ element as the ‘5’ digit.

These tubes have not been manufactured for many years, and the ones used in our clocks are generally over 40 years old. They have been salvaged from obsolete laboratory test instruments and old military equipment. For more information, please visit our What is a Nixie Tube? page.

We have found that unless the tubes are damaged (for example, by a drop), they have proven to be quite reliable. However, as they age, the edges of some digits like ‘2’ can start to flicker when first turned on or at low brightness. This usually only lasts a few seconds.

To maximise tube life, we recommend that you use the on-off timer to turn the clock 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.

The IN8-2 tubes used in the NIX4/NIX6 models are soldered directly to the PCB, so we don’t recommend user replacement. However, 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 for instructions.

If you require tube replacement outside of warranty, we offer a repair service. We are committed to supporting our products and will be glad to assist you, including guidance on case disassembly and tube replacement.

The main difference lies in the type of display tubes used. The NIX4/NIX4F/NIX6 clocks utilise rarer and more expensive Nixie tubes which glow orange, while the VF4 uses slightly smaller vacuum fluorescent display tubes that glow green. Although tube types are Soviet-made, Nixie tube technology is older, with most Nixie tubes produced in the 1970s and 1980s. VFD tubes, on the other hand, were produced from the 1980s.

Apart from these differences, both clocks share the same features and are still meticulously designed and handcrafted. While the VF4 makes for a visually appealing desk clock, the larger digits and the formed nature of the Nixie tubes in the NIX4/NIX4F/NIX6 make them easier to read from a distance.

Over time, the digits inside your Nixie tubes may develop ‘cathode poisoning’ because the same digit is displayed for a prolonged period. This results in dark spots on the digits. To minimise 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.

Our clocks are powered via USB-C, just like many phones, cameras, and other electronics. It’s important to use a good quality power adapter because the display will automatically dim if the voltage is too weak. NIX Labs recommends our own power adapter for best performance, but spare phone chargers, your computer, and powered USB hubs usually work fine too.

Our clocks do not have a battery and need to be plugged into an external power source to work. Each model has a built-in supercapacitor that keeps the time for about five days when unpowered, and your settings are always saved permanently.

Our clocks are manufactured in-house using a combination of machinery and manual processes from globally sourced parts. Since they are made with natural products, including timber, and vintage tubes from different manufacturers, it’s normal for there to be some variation between individual products and the photographs on our website. We take great care when finishing our products, but please accept that there may be small cosmetic blemishes and tooling marks.

Yes, of course! The USB WebApp is great for those who want to customise their clock and make it truly their own. However, all essential functions can be easily set using the built-in buttons. Your clock comes with a quick-start leaflet that demonstrates how to use the buttons and outlines the additional settings that can only be changed with the WebApp. If you only want to set the time and never touch it again, that’s perfectly fine. All your settings are permanently saved, so you don’t have to worry about having reset everything back after a power outage.

For the latest features and improvements, we recommend using the online WebApp. You can download a copy for offline use from our support page. While you can change all your settings, please note that some features (including Diagnostics and Firmware Update) will no longer function due to browser security restrictions.

Your Nixie clock contains lead (Pb) and should not be disposed of in regular rubbish. NIX Labs can arange to collect your clock within Australia, or you can check with your local council for disposal instructions.

The online WebApp uses WebUSB to communicate with your Nixie device via USB cable. WebUSB is a feature built into Chromium-based browsers, including Chrome, Edge, and Vivaldi. 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 improve our products, and for more information, please refer to our privacy policy.

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 individually calibrated before dispatch. The expected lead time is stated on the product page. In stock clocks will usually be dispatched within 1-5 days, although there may be short delays occasionally. If this occurs, we will contact you. After placing your order, you will receive an immediate order confirmation email. We will then email you again with an update and/or tracking number, usually within a few days. We use Australia Post, which delivers to most Australian destinations within 3-7 days.

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 us so we can provide a solution. At our discretion, we may offer a refund (minus postage costs) if you return a clock in perfect condition with all accessories.

We are constantly developing new designs and may release upcoming products to the website that are still under development. Occasionally, we may experience delays in obtaining the necessary parts to make our clocks, which may result in them being marked as out of stock. In these cases, direct ordering will not be available, but we may accept pre-orders or expressions of interest. To stay updated with our latest work and behind-the-scenes action, please follow us on Instagram!

NIX Labs is a small business founded in 2017 by Michael, an Electronic Design Engineer, and Nathan, an Information Security Specialist. We are passionate about combining retro technology with modern electronics to create unique timepieces. Based in Brisbane, Australia, we design, manufacture, and support all NIX Labs clocks locally.

We love designing new products. Please contact us with your requirements to see if we can help.

We stock some of the most common Nixie tubes and may be able to repair damaged or non-functional clocks from other makers. Please take a look at our repair service to see if we can help.