Introduction: MSP430 & RTC (Real Time Clock) Module

About: Hi! I'm a Ph.D Electronics & Telecommunications engineer. I'm interested in microcontrollers, programming (C, Python), retro computers, embedded systems...

In this instructable, we'll see how to use the RTC (Real Time Clock) Module with the MSP430 Microcontroller.

The RTC Module uses a DS1302 Timekeeping Chip, ypu can find the datasheet of the device here:

https://datasheets.maximintegrated.com/en/ds/DS130...

Supplies

MSP430 Launchpad, Code Composer Studio, Jumper cables, RTC Module (DS1302 Chip with quartz crystal and battery)

Step 1: Connections

The connections that you can see in the picture:

5V pin on the MSP430 Launchpad --> Vcc on the RTC Module

GND pin on the MSP430 Launchpad --> GND on the RTC Module

P1.4 pin on the MSP430 Launchpad --> CLK on the RTC Module

P1.0 pin on the MSP430 Launchpad --> DAT on the RTC Module

P1.5 pin on the MSP430 Launchpad --> RST on the RTC Module

Step 2: Code & Conclusion

There are two codes associated with this setup:

https://github.com/selimg76/microcontroller/blob/m...

with the code above, you can setup the seconds,minutes, hour... values of the RTC Module and do a one-time read at the time you complete writing these values. This code is only for setting up the values on the timekeeping chip.

The second code:

https://github.com/selimg76/microcontroller/blob/m...

reads the 8 bytes for getting the seconds, minutes, hour, date of month, month, day of the week (1 to 7) ,year and the control register values. Reading these values ten times a second (the delay in the while (1) loop is 100 miliseconds) it checks a condition and turns on the on board LED (P1.6) accordingly.

Controlling the RTC Module and integrating it with your microcontroller gives you lots of opportunities: you can sutomate tasks based on the weekday, on a specific time of the year or according to the seasons.. There are lots of application areas that you can use in smart homes, smart farms etc.

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https://www.youtube.com/c/drselim

Thank you for your time and see you in another instructable!