VFD Without computer

[ComputerWizKid]

How can I make my vfd run without the computer? I have the infamous BG Micro VFD. and all I want is a VFD(I don't like the new LED ones and I love the look of a VF Display) alarm clock so how hard would that be to do? Possibly with date.

 

[damonpip]

This would be very difficult unless you know a lot about electronics. Basically you'd need a PIC microcontroller to display text on the VFD and some sort of electronic clock that can talk to the PIC

 

[PottedMeat]

yeah its pretty difficult if you dont know much about electronics -

one way to do it:
use a PIC18 series microcontroller
use MPLAB + the free C18 compiler microchip puts out
write a program in C using the HD44780 LCD lib + a realtime clock in software
...but then you gotta write the hex file into the pic and you gotta build a programmer for that

 

[Jeffyboy]

Yup...PIC chips... best choice. The Programmers are usually available on ebay.
Plus you'll want to get some erasable chips for playing with...and an EEPROM eraser... it's all a big investment too

Jeff