Yes, thats what i meant by in parallel with the 5v regulator. I have them both running straight off the power supply and I get similar results.

The thing is though, the nixie tube works fine off the 750ma power supply, as long as i get the 5v somewhere else. So i found a 1.6A power supply, and I still have the same problem, even though more than twice as much amperage is available. I thought this was weird because obviously the nixie tube is getting enough power from 750ma, which leaves more than 750ma more available for everything else. Is this an incorrect assumption?

Hmm, it's still not working, even with a 750ma power supply. The only way to get it to work is to give the 74141 its own separate 5v source. The LM317t is draining it's 5v down to 3-4v still, whether It's in parallel with the 5v regulator or pulling from the 5v regulator. I'm only using one nixie tube, could it require more than 750ma?

My multimeter only goes up to 200ma, and its more than that.

Hmm yeah I figured I should try powering it differently before asking. Thank you for the tips, I'll give them a try tomorrow.

I'm trying to use my LM317t to take the arduino 5v to 1.5v, which is the voltage I need for my transformer to power my nixie tubes. I can use my nixie tubes off a AA battery from the transformer just fine. And I can get 1.5v out of my LM317t just fine. But when I try to connect the 1.5v into the transformer, my arduino voltage drops to 3 to 4v. This makes my 74141 not work, and I would imagine isnt good for the arduino/atmega. Can anyone help me out, what's going on here?

thanks

Im using the DS1307 library that comes with the arduino software, but it doesnt seem to have a "isrunning?" command which is causing problems for me. Is there a better library, or a way to preform this inquiry?

cool, thanks

If I have an integer, how to I see how many digits it is, and how to I grab single numbers from certain places? Like the number 45, how do I get that it is 2 digits, and how do I ask for the first digit to get 4 and the second digit to get 5?

thanks

okay, so we are updating the display so quickly that we can do it a bunch of times before checking for button presses, and clock updates? then every so often we take a moment to do those other things?

What is the best method of multiplexing a display, while still being able to do other things? For example, reading my RTC and listening for button presses while running though a 4 digit display. The only thing I can think of is to put the display in a for loop, or while loop and give it about 50 rolls or so before going through the rest of my required code for updates. And the button listening could go with the multiplexing loop.

Is there a more practical, or common way?

Wait, the output of the regulator, or the transistor?

Thanks. I'll give this a try soon

Okay, I got the lm317, and Ive got it down it 1.5v with a 220 and 47ohm resistor. It is producing the correct voltage when i test it with a multimeter, but when i hook it up to my transformer, it drops to less than a volt, and my transformer hisses at a very high frequency.... any advice?

This is more of a nixie question than arduino, I'm sorry, I just don't really know a batter place to ask...

I read that multiplexing nixies increases their life(does any know if that's true?). Also it would be nice to have less wiring and only need to power two at a time. Does anyone know if the 74141's used to drive nixies can be used on their anodes too? Or if not, can I use an npn transistor rated for 200v with the ardiuno?

Thanks

Okay, so just be be clear... A 10uf cap connecting the power and ground, both before and after the voltage regulator. And a .22uf and .1uf capacitor in series between the power out of the regulator and in the atmega?

Okay. Is that in addition to the 10uf capacitors in that tutorial?