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TimeDuino- 7 Segment Arduino Clock (No shift registers needed!)

TimeDuino- 7 Segment Arduino Clock (No shift registers needed!)
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Hey all instructable goers! This is my first project. Yes, I know those words usually get the stereotype "This isn't going to be a good project" attitude, but I have been waiting a long time for a project that is worthy of possibly breaking the first project attitude- at least for a while anyway.

This project would be about medium level for a novice, but *hopefully* still provide somewhat of a challenge for more experienced users, as they get into the code and work on improving this.  "This" that I have mentioned multiple times, is an Arduino clock, based off of a 4 digit display. I have named this project the "TimeDuino". Its a simple 4 digit clock, driven with Arduino and transistors. Well, enough boring you with the introduction, lets get to the project!

Well, a few more things actually :)
1. In the spirit of instructibles and the growing DIY world, feel free to use this project, hack it, open it, tear the code apart, and in any way you want destroy/hack/DIY it to your hearts content. I want everyone to be able to access the project, and not have to worry about proper permissions. I really like the quote from MAKE: Magazine, which states "If you cant open it, you dont own it". So OWN this project! Open it, hack it, tear it apart and make it your own. Go beyond the step by step instructions and really customize it! I really enjoy electronics, and i want to share that enjoyment with others.

2. Feedback is appreciated. Tell what you do or do not like! What needs upgraded and what needs reverted to a previous version? These things (though I might not be able to complete all of them) really help and make it easier to create something that is liked by the community. Have a question? Ask it in the comments, or PM me. I'd be happy  to help as much as I can.

Many thanks, and on to the project! :)
-Astroboy907

 
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Step 1Parts Needed:

Parts Needed:
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1x Arduino. I used an UNO (but any version should work). Make sure it has a 16MHZ timer chip on it, otherwise timer functions will be off (until I update with an RTC [Real Time Clock].  To tell if it has the timer, it should have a silver oblong piece on the PCB, with 16.000 printed on it.

1x Power supply for Arduino (not shown)

1x Breadboard. A half size board will work, but a full sized one is easier to work with (I'm using 2 half size boards together. 

Breadboard Jumpers - quite a few are needed.

7x 2N3904 NPN type transistors (maybe 8 for AM/PM support, working on that)

8x resistors. Try for a value greater than 200 ohms and less than 1k. I'm using 220 ohms. (10x if I get AM/PM support)

7x 1k ohm resistors. These will keep your Arduino from overheating (8x if i get AM/PM)

1x 4 digit 7 segment display. I used a common anode display (but a common cathode would work with editing the code). Make sure it has a colon! One used in project-  Sparkfun COM-09481
also available in red, green, and yellow (blue costs 50c more than the other colors. I got 2 just in case [but these are almost unbreakable if you remember to use resistors])

*Note that if you want to just build it w/out testing, you don't need the breadboard and jumpers. I wanted to test mine first but I'm gonna build a finished up prototype when I get some other parts.
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54 comments
1-40 of 54next »
Mar 22, 2012. 3:15 AMaclock says:
Hi.
Is a good project but i search v.1.8 clock + RTC/Ds chip
Ok for singe full file code .pde or txt (for Software Arduino V.1) .
Please Link download.
Regards.
Eu.
Jan 25, 2012. 2:18 PMdrbogger says:
I noticed there's a bug, where after the clock cycles a few times, the hour1 digit does not turn off when it's suppose to... Any ideas on a fix?
Jan 25, 2012. 2:29 PMdrbogger says:
I found a fix!

The issue seems to be with counter2

It sets counter2 = 1, but it never resets it back to 0..

I added the code to reset it here:

if(hour2counter == 25){
hour2counter = 1;
hour2 = 1;
hour1= 0;
counter2 = 0;
}
Oct 4, 2011. 12:25 AMeng.enayyah says:
sorry for replaying here and thanks for this great project

sorry again but i need you immediatehelp ,, can you please tell me if it possible to replace the arduino with a microprocessor??
coz i'm working on my first hardware project and i'm requested to use a microprocessor and i like your project very much

if you have any advice or suggestions
for me i would be happy to know them

please help,,too much nerves
Aug 1, 2011. 9:42 AMRobot Lover says:
You should totally add a real time clock! 5* I noticed you already ordered the chip, but here is a kit that has all the components for  the clock: http://www.makershed.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MKAD19
Aug 1, 2011. 4:41 PMRobot Lover says:
If you got the kit above, it would come with the ds1307. I've never used them but this one looks pretty simple to use.
Aug 3, 2011. 8:03 AMRobot Lover says:
You could go to makershed.com and search for it. Talk to you later! ( ;
Sep 21, 2011. 3:43 PMRobot Lover says:
sweet! You should post an update to this instructable!
Sep 22, 2011. 9:55 AMRobot Lover says:
I was thinking of making one of these but for a wrist watch. Can't wait to see your finished clock!
Sep 22, 2011. 6:15 PMRobot Lover says:
I order from tayda too!
Oct 2, 2011. 9:46 AMRobot Lover says:
Yeah you should! I have never used one before so I don't really know how to interface it.
Jul 10, 2011. 6:37 AMlissajous1 says:
Hi Astroboy907,

Can you please help again? please? You sound so nice. My counter works fine but when I setup a basic 555 to feed into pin(13) pwm. It works good but it runs at same speed as if i was to inject 10 hz versus 10khz. It's weird, it's not faster or slower. Would it be something in the millis area? I can't seem to get it. : (
If you have time, you sounded very busy last time. I apologize for interrupting you. : )

Please can you help me?

Lacy
Jul 17, 2011. 6:13 AMlissajous1 says:
Hi Astroboy907,

My project is a simple vending machine, I've got the basic part finished. 25 cent, 10 cent, 5 cent increments figured out. But when i try to inject a frequency, the counter moves at same speed regardless of 10 hz vs. 1khz. I finally fixed the part when to start and stop the count once the timer signal is removed. This last part I cannot understand or figure out "same frequency speed". Oh I am using the arduino duemilanove. I hope this is enough information. Your the sweetest guy : )
Can you help this one last time?

Lacy
Aug 2, 2011. 4:24 PMlissajous1 says:
Hi Astroboy907,

I tried dividing the millis value by 10 but i got some really weird results. If u could maybe help me with some code and make a very slow signal pulse generator with the arduino duemilanove that would work. Please..... Please......... : (

Please Astroboy can you help me, I've tried everything

Lacey
Jul 31, 2011. 12:54 PMlissajous1 says:
Hi Astroboy907,

I tried dividing the millis value by 10 but i got some really weird results. If u could maybe help me with some code and make a very slow signal pulse generator with the arduino duemilanove that would work. Please..... Please......... : (

Lacey
Aug 7, 2011. 5:47 AMlissajous1 says:
Hi astroboy907,

I just wanted to thank you for all your wonderful help, I finally figured out what was wrong. I was using pin input 13 instead of interrupt (0) which of course is pin 2, which corrected everything for me using the RISING command. Now it works great!!! Thank you again for your patience : )

Your a GREAT PERSON : )

Lacey
Jul 20, 2011. 6:06 PMlissajous1 says:
Hi astroboy907,

k, will try thank u sweetie : )

Lace
Jun 24, 2011. 9:14 AMVick Jr says:
Every other transistor switch circuit I've seen has the emitter going to ground and the collector connected to load,  as in here. Can you explain why yours are backwards with collector to ground?
Jun 8, 2011. 6:30 PMlissajous1 says:
Hi Astroboy907,

I got it working, it's pretty cool. I changed the coding around a little for my own personal reasons. I changed the code so it would count up from 0 to 9999. I'm having a problem trying to get the code to increment more than just 1 digit at a time. I think its the [ i] counter not sure. I want to increment by 25 or 50 and so on. How would i accomplish this? Please can you help me?

Very nice instructable, works great : )

Lacy
Jun 8, 2011. 7:47 PMlissajous1 says:
Okay I will wait till end of June, Sorry didn't read that post.

: )

Lacy
Jun 11, 2011. 12:51 PMlissajous1 says:
Yes!!!! Thank You!!! It Works!!!

thank you so much!! astroboy907!!!

: ) )

Lacy : )
Jun 11, 2011. 10:01 AMlissajous1 says:
HI astroboy907,

OK, Thanks for responding. I hope u feel better soon. : ) I will try it out and see what happens.

Thx Again, : )

Lacy
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