One of the most basic components of circuits, and I don't really understand it. Atleast for my application. I'm using Nixie Tubes, and I am supposed to have a resistor on their common anodes.
Here's two scenarios:
1) I tune my power supply to about 135-139 volts. I put a 1k resistor on the anode of a nixie tube and test it with a multimeter. It pulls 2.5mA which is exactly what I am looking for. But the data sheet says I need 180 (nominal) volts to ignite it. Apparently not. I was told this may make for unreliable striking but here's scenario 2 which confuse me about that.
2) I tune my power supply to 180 volts. I put a 18k resistor on it and the multimeter reads 2.5mA. Great looks good. But I test with my voltmeter the voltage after the resistor and it is 135v, approximately the same as just using 135v PS and the 1k resistor in scenario one.
So at this point I am very confused. Why bother turning the power supply up to 180 volts? I'm thinking that there is a property of resistors that I might not understand or something of that sort.
on a side note I got everything counting and working great on the clock, just need to make sure I'm not going to burn things out if left on at this point and build an enclosure by this thursday
Here's two scenarios:
1) I tune my power supply to about 135-139 volts. I put a 1k resistor on the anode of a nixie tube and test it with a multimeter. It pulls 2.5mA which is exactly what I am looking for. But the data sheet says I need 180 (nominal) volts to ignite it. Apparently not. I was told this may make for unreliable striking but here's scenario 2 which confuse me about that.
2) I tune my power supply to 180 volts. I put a 18k resistor on it and the multimeter reads 2.5mA. Great looks good. But I test with my voltmeter the voltage after the resistor and it is 135v, approximately the same as just using 135v PS and the 1k resistor in scenario one.
So at this point I am very confused. Why bother turning the power supply up to 180 volts? I'm thinking that there is a property of resistors that I might not understand or something of that sort.
on a side note I got everything counting and working great on the clock, just need to make sure I'm not going to burn things out if left on at this point and build an enclosure by this thursday