LED Clock

Please find my Arduino clock project using the UNO board and Adafruit's Neopixels. It is a work in progress, so please be patient with my tutorial.....It will become more detailed as I get some time up my sleeve. The code and wiring details are to be found on GitHub (see links ahead).

Step 1: Parts Required.

x1 10K resistor

x1 430R resistor

x1 LDR (light dependent resistor)

x1 12 LED Neopixel ring (Adafruit)

x1 60 LED Neopixel ring (Adafruit) - note that the ring comes in four parts

x1 RTC DS1307 (real time clock)

x1 Arduino UNO R3 board

x1 breadboard

wires

Step 2: The Hardware Layout (As Per Fritzing Design).

https://github.com/SteveDeDomenico/Arduino-Uno-LED...

You can download the Fritzing diagram to help assist in the wiring of the project. Note that the resistor is a 10K one.

Step 3: The Code.

https://github.com/SteveDeDomenico/Arduino-Uno-LED...

The code can be found at GitHub for download. As I get some time, I will discuss some of the code in more detail.

Step 4: Videos of It Working.

Not the best of videos, but I thought it would be nice to show it working. I will upload better ones demonstrating some of the features.

Step 5: The RTC.

The RTC DS1307 was used to help keep the correct time. Refer to the Fritzing diagram for correct wiring.

Step 6: The Separate Rings.

The small ring (12 LEDs) is used for the hour hand and the larger ring (60 LEDs) is used for the minutes and seconds hands. An LDR (Light dependent resistor) has been incorporated into the build to adjust the brightness of both rings. These rings can be purchased from the Adafruit website. Note that the 60 LED ring comes in four parts and needs to be soldered together.

Step 7: The UNO Board.

I used the UNO board, but others work just as well.

Step 8: An Artistic Finish to the Project.

A laser cut case was used to complete the project.

Step 9: Night Effect.

Note that the light sensitive resistor makes the LEDs less bright in the dark.

Comments

[Hero drent]

mr De Domenico. I am an old dog trying to learn a new trick. CNC wood milling. I like making digital clocks. See the photo's. I am using your ino file. With some small modifications. Like led colours. I am using a ds3231 rtc module and single ws2812 leds in 2 sizes. The single leds give you the possibility choosing your own circle size. But i cannot make my own sketches for the arduino. I am too old and the electronic part is just a means and not an end. Because in my country ( the Netherlands) we have DST, the clock is not running properly half of the year. Therefore i am asking you. Could you please make a modification in the ino file for me. Two or three push buttons for stepping up the minutes and the hour timing leds. I would be very gratefull. With the very best wishes. Hero Drent. e-mail: [e-mail]

[dancopy]

Hi!
I liked your Clock, but how do I create another "strip3" to control Hours, Minutes and Seconds separately? Thanks

[hungarianpeter]

Hi Steven, Have you tried to add two bottoms to set the time manually? Do you think if it would be hard to do it?

[hungarianpeter]

Hi Steven, could you help me identify the resistors in the ciruit? CapedBandit asked about the 430 ohm, and I get the LDR, but in the final circuit, what is next to the RTC? Is it 10k? Sorry, I am an absolute beginner with not much electrical background. Thank you

[StevenDeDomenico]

I will have a look and let you know. Sorry for the ambiguity.

[hungarianpeter]

thanks

[StevenDeDomenico]

Anything between 300 to 500 Ohm is used for the signal to the Neopixel ring.

[StevenDeDomenico]

Hi CapedBandit, I added the 430 ohm resistors as I read somewhere that it may save the neo pixels when you turn on the power. Steve.

[capedbandit]

I have all the parts, but I see in your completed pictures, you have resistors in line with the input to the rings. There is no mention of this anywhere. What are the ohms and what are they for?

[StevenDeDomenico]

Thank you brmarcum, maybe we can improve on the code? The 60 LED needs to be soldered together at the back, but there are specific instructions on the Line in and Line out. You need to leave the final set unsoldered for the wires to attach to. Only Line in is required unless you want to link several 60 LED rings.

[brmarcum]

Well, looks like you beat me to it. I have something similar in mind, but I didn't know about the 60 LED ring before. Nice project.