Vacuum Fluorescent Displays VFDs Explained - F-J's Physics - Video 203

Here I explain how VFDs work by building a fun project which you will see more of in future F-J's Physics videos!
Many thanks again to PCBWay for sponsoring this video
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Please consider supporting my work by 'buying me a coffee' at
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It helps me buy bits and pieces to make these videos!
Very many thanks, F-J

[@Jawst]

OOOOooooo I love VFDs. lol I tried to explain to my girlfriend why I want to keep my vintage stereo, but she's finding it hard to understand why I need it in my life 😂

[@AnthonyFrancisJones]

Yes! Strike a deal! You keep your stuff and she gets to keep hers! You will end up regretting it if you get rid of your stereo! I still have mine from when I was a kid. You can see some of it in the 19" rack just below and to the right of the reel to reel in the videos sometimes!

[@cocusar]

one simple optimization for the last digits would be to use diodes in an array connected to the anondes to select the digits, and using pull down resistors for all anodes. for instance, the digit 8 would have diodes on all anodes (except the dot). the diodes would have their own anodes common together per digit. so in order to turn on the 8, you just connect the diodes' anode for the digit 8 to Vcc

[@AnthonyFrancisJones]

Yes, that's a great solution - it reminds me of 'diode logic'. In this case I just wanted to be a bit retro and use up those old 2mm plug sockets. Thanks for watching and your excellent suggestion. More VFD stuff to come in the future!

[@cocusar]

@@AnthonyFrancisJones Thank you for uploading, as always. Sorry for not being able to support you on patreon, but it's difficult for us in Argentina.

[@AnthonyFrancisJones]

No problem at all! Great to have you on board and keep the comments coming!

[@tuopeeks]

Remember having an old Casio calculator with a VFD that had faintly whistling from the inverter circuit to drive the anodes. Probably can’t hear that frequency any more. Now wondering why your display faded when touched, but it reminded me that you can influence the display with a magnet. 🙂

[@AnthonyFrancisJones]

Yes, we have a VFD desktop calculator too. Funny how you can now generate the higher voltage without the need for whining power supply! They are very low current devices anyway. True, they are a kind of mini CRT and so a magnet would deflect the electrons (I don't what to try this with mine!). I changed out the tube and it works fine now. I suspect a bad tube base connection or perhaps a fault in the tube where the electric fields were not quite right and a small bit of static electricity or perhaps conduction through the glass to ground (?) was causing the problem. Anyway, its fine now! Good to hear from you again! Best wishes, F-J

[@markgreco1962]

Old calculators also

[@AnthonyFrancisJones]

Yes Mark, you are quite right. They had lots of uses. Should have included a shot of Barry practising maths on his VFD display calculator!

[@paulstubbs7678]

Nice tubes, and nice construction, but flying leads to change the display......no. I came here to see how you were driving them, as in connecting them to an Arduino, or ESP... etc, so a very limited build. (I know the voltages and how to cut & bend Perspex) I was kind of hoping for a nice and easy driver - nay sneaky, using readily available parts, not rare and hard to get stuff from Russia etc, pity

[@AnthonyFrancisJones]

Paul, sorry this was not what you were looking for and I get your point. I wanted to build something very retro so one could actually see directly how the voltages were changed (you can probably bend perspex a bit better than me too!) However, if you want to use an Arduino or similar there are plenty of driver boards. You could connect so you switch each filament off or anode voltage or even use the grid by switching a negative bias voltage onto it so should be really easy to do with the cheapest of kit. Hope that helps a bit and if you get something working do let me know!