hello, kind of grasping at straws here. i got this kit off aliexpress and finally decided to try it . They don't give you much instruction just a circuit diagram and the parts. I got it all together and when i first powered it on it actually worked!

all 4 nixies did the count down and all was well. As soon as i pushed one of the buttons to set the time all four nixies went to being all lit up at once. not sure where to go next???

http://imgur.com/FCWTFH9

http://imgur.com/bn9bhTl

 

Too bad that you already wired the components the way you did. You should have used perf board construction technique.

Scan the circuit diagram on a printer/scanner or at least take a photo with your smart phone taken directly from above with the sharpest and highest resolution. We need to be able to read all the fine print on the diagram.

 

They don't give you much instruction just a circuit diagram and the parts.

Take the creases out of the schematic, take a well-focused picture, and post to this site.

The screen capture of what you posted is unreadable:

As soon as i pushed one of the buttons to set the time all four nixies went to being all lit up at once. not sure where to go next???

Which button?

 

 

I tried grounding several of the nixie pins one at a time and they do display the number. seeming the STC15W408AS chip is no longer functioning?

 

 

There are four push-buttons:

S1 = NS4
S2 = NS3
S3 = NS2
S4 = NS1

What are their assumed functions and what actually happens when you press each push-button?

 

they are to set the time. But when i first pushed them the entire clock stopped working and the nixie tubes just went like in the video above. almost like the controller died or something. Now nothing happens when i press them. also the 2 neon dots dont run either which is controlled through the chip aswell.

 

When you press any push-button, the nixie tubes all go dark or go bright?
If they all go bright that could mean something different is happening.

Then what happens when you take your finger off the push-button?

 

Yeah it was like a one time thing. On first boot up it ran and the nixie all counted from 9 ,8,7.... then landed on default time normally so I decided ok it works so let's set the time . I pushed a button (probably a coincidence ) and it went to like it is in the video permanently . Something must be blown or shorted right ? Still have 170v and can manually ground pins and get nixie to show numbers that way.

 

Are you saying that the system no longer works? Does it count down 9, 8, 7... as it once did?

I cannot see clearly what is happening in the video. If all the numbers on each nixie tube are lit, then it means that the counter IC is running at a high frequency.

It is difficult to trouble shoot such problems without an oscilloscope. If you don't have and oscilloscope, you have to improvise so that you have an idea of what is happening.

Does your DMM have a frequency range setting?

 

no oscilloscope. my dmm does have hz /freq. setting though. and yes it no longer works. no count down.

 

From the pics I would say your soldering technique could improve - some connections look no good.
It's hard when there are so many different metals here and the rod busses need extra heat too.
It looks like not enough heat/too fast a technique, or soldering tip too small or low temp. Rosin core solder is best for this kind of stuff.
The TO-3 voltage regulator at the top, the case leads are not properly soldered- which would be bad if the case (ground) went floating and was not connected, its 5V output could go way above that.

With any repair, you start by doing a visual inspection, with a magnifying glass and bright light depending on your eyes.
There's many places where a bus wire could touch something nearby and short-circuit.

Confirm the HV driver's soviet K155ID1 grounds are connected. Use an Ohmmeter. The 'HC595 driver IC's need that as well.

Second step is to measure and check the power supply voltages. For some reason there are two 5V regulators, one for the MCU (VCC) and another for the HV drivers/latches (VCC2). Are you getting 5V at each rail?