This project imitates the appearance of a Nixie-tube watch on the M5Stack M5Stick-C’s LCD. It uses software—not physical Nixie tubes—so the tutorial does not call for high-voltage tubes or their associated circuitry. Carlos Orts published the project on June 15, 2019; its instructions describe compiling an Arduino sketch and switching among three display faces.
What the Nixie tube watch actually is
Despite the name, this is not a wearable clock built from glass Nixie tubes. The M5Stick-C’s small LCD displays a software imitation of the tubes’ visual style. In the project story, author Carlos Orts says a physical Nixie clock had been on his mind, but describes real tubes as high voltage, expensive, and difficult to wear. Those are his reasons for simulating the look, not a formal safety assessment or a measured cost comparison. Read the Hackster project tutorial.
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Orts wrote, “To build a Nixie tube clock is a perpetual project on my mind.” The quote and project were published on June 15, 2019.
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What the project uses
The tutorial names one M5Stack M5Stick-C as its hardware and Arduino IDE as its development software. It also lists two icon source files, vfd_18x34.c and vfd_35x67.c. The icons support the simulated display; they are not physical tubes. The tutorial’s component list and instructions.
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- ESP32-C5 Core Processor: Equipped with ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 module, it supports dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and provides strong math for IoT edge AI applications
- 2.8" Touchscreen Display:Built-in 2.8" TFT color touchscreen, plug and play, support intuitive touch interactive operation
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- (Wide Interface) Compatible with Arduino (USB-C), TF card slot, UART, FPC-IO and other interfaces, and is fully compatible with Arduino development environments, allowing for quick prototyping development
The project tutorial reports these M5Stick-C specifications: an ESP32 Pico at 240 MHz, 4 MB of flash, 320 KB of RAM, and an 80 × 160-pixel LCD. These are figures stated in the 2019 tutorial, not independently verified current specifications. Project hardware specifications.
How the original tutorial says to load it
The 2019 instructions outline a basic Arduino workflow. They do not establish a currently tested setup path, so treat these as the original project’s directions rather than guaranteed instructions for present-day hardware or software.
Rank #2
- 2.4GHz Dual Mode WiFi + Bluetooth Development Board
- Support LWIP protocol, Freertos
- SupportThree Modes: AP, STA, and AP+STA
- Ultra-Low power consumption, Compatible with Arduino IDE
- ESP32 is a safe, reliable, and scalable to a variety of applications
- Install the development environment; the tutorial names Arduino IDE.
- Open and compile the
M5StickC_Nixie_tube_ClockArduino sketch. - Connect the M5Stick using a USB-C adapter, then load the program onto the device.
The tutorial does not identify the adapter model or spell out all compatibility requirements. It also does not confirm whether the original sketch and its setup work unchanged with current Arduino IDE releases or M5Stick-C revisions.
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The tutorial describes three faces for the simulated watch. It says to switch among them with the M5Stick’s switch. It does not provide further detail here about the faces’ layouts or how each one displays time, so those specifics should not be inferred from the project description.
Rank #3
- This kit includes 3 ESP32-C5 development boards, 1 Type-C data cable, and 40 DuPont wires. The development board features a 32-bit single-core RISC-V processor with a maximum operating frequency of 240 MHz.
- Equipped with 4MB Flash and 384KB SRAM, providing ample storage space for complex applications and firmware to ensure stable and smooth project operation.
- With 32 GPIO pins, it easily connects to various sensors, displays, and peripherals. Equipped with a USB Type-C port and a CH340X chip, it enables simple and efficient programming and debugging.
- Supports Wi-Fi 6 dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) for lower latency and stronger interference resistance; simultaneously integrates Bluetooth (supporting low-power mode), Zigbee, and Thread to meet diverse IoT connectivity needs.
- Compatible with for Arduino IDE development environment, its extensive online resources significantly lower the learning curve, enabling both beginners and experienced developers to quickly get their projects started.
What to check before trying the project
- Use the documented board as the reference: the project names the M5Stick-C, not a generic ESP32 board. Another board may differ in its screen, controls, connection method, and compatibility with the project files.
- Confirm you can obtain and connect the hardware: the 2019 tutorial does not establish current product availability, and it does not identify the USB-C adapter model.
- Expect to verify software compatibility: current Arduino setup instructions and compatibility with newer M5Stick-C versions are not established by the project sources.
- Do not buy physical Nixie tubes for this build: the display effect is rendered on the M5Stick-C LCD.
M5Stack’s Project Hub lists the project under the same title and credits Carlos Orts, with a date of June 15, 2019. View the M5Stack Project Hub listing.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- 2.4GHz Dual Mode WiFi + Bluetooth Development Board
- Ultra-Low power consumption, works perfectly with the Arduino IDE
- Support LWIP protocol, Freertos
- SupportThree Modes: AP, STA, and AP+STA
- ESP32 is a safe, reliable, and scalable to a variety of applications
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