Looking for someone who possibly could fix my VFD tube - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Theofiilus
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 06, 2022, 06:02:58 pm
content: Hi, i know this might not be the right place for something like this but as the subject says i'm trying to find someone who could possibly fix my VFD tube. On the ninth week saturday i ordered VFD watch from Nixoid watches. Last week i got my watch. It took long time to come because Nixoid is Ukranian and we all know what's currently going on over there. The watch has been great. It was bright battery lasted long and i was super happy with it. I used it twice. Today when i came home washed my hands (but didn't put the watch under water of course)after that i realized that half of my watch does'nt work anymore. I'm afraid it got tiny bit of water in and got destroyed. I carefully opened the watch. no signs of water. I googled a little bit found new tubes for cheap price but it's russian site i can't buy from there. I personally don't have skills nor tools to fix the tube itself. So i'm trying to find someone who could possobly fix it. Unfortunately i have no idea what's wrong with it. The black spot is still fine so it shouldn't be a leak in the tube. I try to put both before and after pics of the watch to this post. Thank you if you even read this.

author: Theofiilus
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 06, 2022, 06:03:43 pm
content: This is the before picture

author: Theofiilus
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 06, 2022, 06:25:17 pm
content: AAND obviously i didn't mean fix it for free. But i guess no one can help meat least i tried.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2022, 06:34:37 pm
content: QuoteWow you managed to wait a whole 23 minutes before deciding no ones intrested

author: Theofiilus
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 06, 2022, 06:38:36 pm
content: I didn't decide. It was a guess. Was made after comparing other posts.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2022, 08:12:58 pm
content: There's nothing wrong with the display (what you call, the tube), it's the electronics driving it. You should remove the battery connection immediately to prevent further damage (corrosion).P.S. Looking at the photos, there doesn't seem to be any waterproofing around the display at all, just gaps. That's seems to be a bit of a cr*p design decision, susceptible to the slightest splash or contamination. I hope you didn't pay much for it (although it looks as if you did), it was an accident just waiting to happen.

author: strawberry
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2022, 08:14:59 pm
content: tube seems fine (filament glow) but powersupply is dead (15-30V)

author: Manul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2022, 08:25:55 pm
content: You should wait, a fellow citizen might take interest.Many in this forum could potentialy fix your watch, including me, but the economy of such a deal is doubtful if you consider shipping cost, time and effort. The watch is relatively cheap. Best bet is some adequately skilled local person / friend.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2022, 08:28:34 pm
content: If the problem was the tube the only option would be to replace it. The tube appears to be ok though since some digits are lighting up, so the problem is very likely the electronics. It's entirely possible somebody here will be interested in repairing it, I already have too many projects and am on the wrong side of the world but with a bit of patience you may find someone.

author: Theofiilus
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 07, 2022, 02:08:46 pm
content: If i'll get this fixed i'll try to find a way to get some kind of gasket to this watch.

author: Manul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2022, 03:54:18 pm
content: Quote from: Theofiilus on June 07, 2022, 02:08:46 pmConformal coating the PCB and components would also help massively. Or some encapsulation material. Just be careful with buttons, charging connector and so on. Might not be easy to do, but would be very useful.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2022, 04:42:26 pm
content: As others said it is likely the power supply that got water damaged, not the tube. The tube is sealed.

author: Uunoctium
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2022, 07:02:17 pm
content: I bet, the H-bridge driving filament with AC is down and outputs DC now.