Ever wanted a binary alarm clock? Me too. So I looked around on Instructables, because there are many good ones around.
What's even better: they're based on the Arduino, one of my favourite toys.
My favourite is this one: http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Binary-Alarm-Clock/. It inspired me a lot and yes I took the code as a base for my project. But this one is far too big for me. I wanted something I can take with me when I visit Hacking Conventions and don't want to miss the early lectures. Nothing is more annoying, if you finally got some tickets for the con, go there and don't wake up after a long (really long.....) hacking and builing night and miss a workshop you'd really want to join.
So what's small enough to fit in a pocket and is also a really great case for projects like this? Yes, an ALTOIDS tin :)
Actually this instructable isn't complete at the moment. First I thought, I'd just share some pictures, but some friends asked for an instructable, so I'll add a detailed how-to the next days.
The pictures on this side are from the first version. You will find newer (but not really better pictures, because my camera died and so I shot a lot of pictures with a crappy web cam or used some for the parts I found on Google) pictures in the following steps.
As said, the pictures are sometimes blurry and crappy. That's why I've entered this to the pocket-sized contest. I really need a new camera.... ;) Please vote 4 me :)
What's even better: they're based on the Arduino, one of my favourite toys.
My favourite is this one: http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Binary-Alarm-Clock/. It inspired me a lot and yes I took the code as a base for my project. But this one is far too big for me. I wanted something I can take with me when I visit Hacking Conventions and don't want to miss the early lectures. Nothing is more annoying, if you finally got some tickets for the con, go there and don't wake up after a long (really long.....) hacking and builing night and miss a workshop you'd really want to join.
So what's small enough to fit in a pocket and is also a really great case for projects like this? Yes, an ALTOIDS tin :)
Actually this instructable isn't complete at the moment. First I thought, I'd just share some pictures, but some friends asked for an instructable, so I'll add a detailed how-to the next days.
The pictures on this side are from the first version. You will find newer (but not really better pictures, because my camera died and so I shot a lot of pictures with a crappy web cam or used some for the parts I found on Google) pictures in the following steps.
As said, the pictures are sometimes blurry and crappy. That's why I've entered this to the pocket-sized contest. I really need a new camera.... ;) Please vote 4 me :)
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Signing UpStep 1: Things you need
Ok, lt's see what we need. If you're a geek like me, you'll have most of the parts lying around...
For my pocket binary alarm clock I used:
An Arduino. I used a Duemilanove, which fits really good in an Altoids tin. Wonder if there's a deal between the people behind the Arduino project and ALTOIDS ?!?! There must be one, because they're made for each other ;)
Display:
- 11 LEDs, I used different colors for minutes and hours. For my first version (as seen in the introduction pictures) I used yellow and green ones. The final version has now ultra bright red and blue ones. Looks far better :)
- 11 1kΩ resistors
ProtoShield (no, we don't want to spend 16 bucks or more for a ready to use one, we do it on our own):
- Perfboard with separate solderpads for each hole, we will build a super cheap shield in this project
2 x 8pin male header
2 x 6pin male header
Sound:
- 1 Piezo Speaker, you could use other speakers too, but it'll be hard to fit it in the tin. If you've got a unused computer case check, if there's something you can use. My one is out of one. Pretty small and all you've got to do is to cut of the connector to the mainboard.
Setting time and alarm
- 2 Buttons for setting hour and minutes
- 1 Switch to change between time and alarm time
Other stuff
- Hookup wire (solid core wire!!!)
- Electrical tape (for insulation)
- Solder (if you don't like the smell of melting solder use a fume extractor. You don't have one? Look around here on instructables.com, you'll find a lot of DIY versions here
- and of course an ALTOIDS tin (the best case for all pocket stuff things)
Tools:
- A soldering iron
- helping hands (at least if you're not a multi handed mutant member of the X-Men)
- Wirecutter and wirestripper
- Drill, or something else to make holes in the case for buttons.
- Dremel or tin snip scissor to cut the openings for the USB port and power connector
- Saw to get the perf board to the right size (I once tried to do this with scissors but the only thing I got was a lot of mess....)
- A multimeter for testing connections is great, but you can do this nice little project without it
For your security:
- Safety glasses (ok they don't look cool, but if you snip off some LED legs and they hit your eye, you don't look cool either...)
For your convenience:
- your favourite drink (my fav is Club Mate)
- good music
- maybe some sweets for the breaks
For my pocket binary alarm clock I used:
An Arduino. I used a Duemilanove, which fits really good in an Altoids tin. Wonder if there's a deal between the people behind the Arduino project and ALTOIDS ?!?! There must be one, because they're made for each other ;)
Display:
- 11 LEDs, I used different colors for minutes and hours. For my first version (as seen in the introduction pictures) I used yellow and green ones. The final version has now ultra bright red and blue ones. Looks far better :)
- 11 1kΩ resistors
ProtoShield (no, we don't want to spend 16 bucks or more for a ready to use one, we do it on our own):
- Perfboard with separate solderpads for each hole, we will build a super cheap shield in this project
2 x 8pin male header
2 x 6pin male header
Sound:
- 1 Piezo Speaker, you could use other speakers too, but it'll be hard to fit it in the tin. If you've got a unused computer case check, if there's something you can use. My one is out of one. Pretty small and all you've got to do is to cut of the connector to the mainboard.
Setting time and alarm
- 2 Buttons for setting hour and minutes
- 1 Switch to change between time and alarm time
Other stuff
- Hookup wire (solid core wire!!!)
- Electrical tape (for insulation)
- Solder (if you don't like the smell of melting solder use a fume extractor. You don't have one? Look around here on instructables.com, you'll find a lot of DIY versions here
- and of course an ALTOIDS tin (the best case for all pocket stuff things)
Tools:
- A soldering iron
- helping hands (at least if you're not a multi handed mutant member of the X-Men)
- Wirecutter and wirestripper
- Drill, or something else to make holes in the case for buttons.
- Dremel or tin snip scissor to cut the openings for the USB port and power connector
- Saw to get the perf board to the right size (I once tried to do this with scissors but the only thing I got was a lot of mess....)
- A multimeter for testing connections is great, but you can do this nice little project without it
For your security:
- Safety glasses (ok they don't look cool, but if you snip off some LED legs and they hit your eye, you don't look cool either...)
For your convenience:
- your favourite drink (my fav is Club Mate)
- good music
- maybe some sweets for the breaks
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now i'm working on the buttons
The only thing left is a battery and fix on few code glitches.
As for a guide how to make it is pretty much the same you only have to solder carefully and re-arrange some pins assignment.
ps (used 1mm 3v leds, 330 ohm resistors but i would suggest 400ohm)