Kindly Morrow
6-Tube Nixie Clock Walnut Case Arduino Compatible Alarm
Six genuine nixie tubes, individually addressable, glowing amber through a walnut and aluminum case. The high-voltage supply is handled onboard. You write the firmware, pipe in the data, and decide what six digits mean.
Built around an Arduino-compatible MCU with exposed GPIO pins and 5V logic, it talks to the Arduino IDE out of the box, no proprietary toolchain. Each tube is independently controlled, so digit-level animation, pulse routines, and live data feeds are all on the table. The walnut case (350x100x120mm) is warm without being precious.
Things to build with this
- Wire a DS3231 RTC module to the GPIO pins and build a multi-timezone display that cycles through three office locations every 10 seconds, using the RTC's drift-compensated output to keep each zone accurate without NTP
- Add an ESP-01 to the UART pins and write a sketch that fetches a single stock price via HTTP every 60 seconds, then animate it right-to-left across all six tubes using the independent tube addressing to scroll one digit at a time
- Build a Pomodoro timer that counts down 25 minutes on the tubes, then triggers a custom fade-pulse routine across all six digits simultaneously during the break interval, using a rotary encoder on the GPIO breakout to adjust session length without reflashing
Key Features
- 6 genuine nixie tubes: individually addressable, classic amber-neon glow at 170V DC (converted onboard)
- Arduino-compatible MCU: exposed GPIO breakout, 5V logic, compatible with standard shields and modules
- Onboard HV supply: handles the 170V rail internally, you interact at 5V only
- Built-in alarm and timer functions: fully reprogrammable via firmware, no lock-in
- Walnut and aluminum enclosure: 350x100x120mm, desk-ready without dominating the surface
- Includes power supply and starter firmware examples: flash immediately on first connect
- GPIO breakout routed for expansion: add buttons, rotary encoders, sensors, or a Wi-Fi module without case modification
Frequently Asked Questions
What microcontroller is inside, and can I replace the firmware completely?
It uses an Arduino-compatible AVR-based board. Yes, you can flash entirely custom firmware via the Arduino IDE. The included starter examples are a reference point, not a restriction.
Do the nixie tubes require high voltage, and do I need to manage that?
Nixie tubes run at 170V DC, but the onboard supply handles that conversion. You interact with the control logic at 5V. No external HV supply needed, and no HV lines are exposed at the GPIO breakout.
Can I drive this from an ESP32 or Raspberry Pi instead of an Arduino?
Yes. The GPIO pins accept 5V logic. A Raspberry Pi will need a level shifter for its 3.3V outputs. An ESP32 running at 3.3V logic will similarly need shifting. The Arduino IDE is the default path, not the only one.
How do I add NTP time syncing for automatic correction?
Wire an ESP8266 or ESP-01 to the UART pins on the GPIO breakout. Write a sketch that fetches NTP time and writes it to the tube driver on a regular interval. The breakout is specifically routed for this kind of addition and requires no case modification.
Why we stock this
Curated by Kindly Morrow. We test and vet every product before it hits the store. If we wouldn't use it in our own builds, we don't sell it.
Things to build with this
Fun projects to try once you get your hands on it.
Split-flap board connected to Claude
Hook up a display to the Claude API and have it show you a new message every morning. Motivational quotes, weather, or passive-aggressive reminders to drink water.
Spotify now-playing display
Show the album art and track name on your desk display. Looks incredible on e-ink. Updates every time the song changes.
Real-time crypto/stock ticker
Pull prices from an API, show them on the display. Flip between assets. Try not to check it every 30 seconds.
Ambient room dashboard
Temperature, humidity, air quality, and time on a bedside e-ink screen. Updates every 5 minutes, uses almost no power. Looks like a museum label.
