Post by RC Tractor Guy on Aug 12, 2014 9:55:27 GMT
Hello guys,
So I've received a few emails on using VFDs so I taught I better start a thread about it to cover what me and a few viewers have figured out so far. Here is the video I'm referring to.
First thing we need to figure out is our pinout and in most cases this can easily be done by a simple visual inspection. The filament is usually two wires crossing your display from left to right with the outside pins being clearly connected. You can also see the grid pin connection through the glass which means that the remaining pins are probably anode pins.
Check out this great image from Vintage Calculators Web Museum and check out their site for other interesting displays.
And I've added a little text to this image of a VFD which might help some of you to figure out your pins
If your display is different feel free to post a close up image of it and we'll try to identify the pins for you.
Now you need to drive it some way so the simplest way is to get a 12 volt DC power supply (or wall wart I think the americans call them) and a 3.3 volt regulator that is good for a couple of 100mA. Your regulated 3.3 volts can power the filament. You then need to control the VFD grid and anode pins. I haven't gotten this far and there will be a video when I do but another viewer has over taken me so we have a bit of information. To supply the 12 volts we are looking at a circuit like the image below for each grid and anode pin.
Here is a little instructional video on transistors for anyone who is new to them.
I plan to control my VFD with an Arduino Mega and use it in a signal generator. Anyone else got an interesting plan?
There are plenty of drivers out there built to do this and it would be equally challenging trying to figure out how to use those too but this is how I want to do it so if you go down the driver route then maybe post a link to the driver and explain how you used it so others can follow if they wish.
So I've received a few emails on using VFDs so I taught I better start a thread about it to cover what me and a few viewers have figured out so far. Here is the video I'm referring to.
First thing we need to figure out is our pinout and in most cases this can easily be done by a simple visual inspection. The filament is usually two wires crossing your display from left to right with the outside pins being clearly connected. You can also see the grid pin connection through the glass which means that the remaining pins are probably anode pins.
Check out this great image from Vintage Calculators Web Museum and check out their site for other interesting displays.
And I've added a little text to this image of a VFD which might help some of you to figure out your pins
If your display is different feel free to post a close up image of it and we'll try to identify the pins for you.
Now you need to drive it some way so the simplest way is to get a 12 volt DC power supply (or wall wart I think the americans call them) and a 3.3 volt regulator that is good for a couple of 100mA. Your regulated 3.3 volts can power the filament. You then need to control the VFD grid and anode pins. I haven't gotten this far and there will be a video when I do but another viewer has over taken me so we have a bit of information. To supply the 12 volts we are looking at a circuit like the image below for each grid and anode pin.
Here is a little instructional video on transistors for anyone who is new to them.
I plan to control my VFD with an Arduino Mega and use it in a signal generator. Anyone else got an interesting plan?
There are plenty of drivers out there built to do this and it would be equally challenging trying to figure out how to use those too but this is how I want to do it so if you go down the driver route then maybe post a link to the driver and explain how you used it so others can follow if they wish.
