Introduction: Setting the DS1307 Real Time Clock Using the Serial Monitor

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About: Why would i buy something ready made when i can make it myself with half the features for twice the money? DIY!

The hardware is the standard setup and is as follows.

SDA of the RTC to pin 4 of the Arduino.
SCL of the RTC to pin 5 of the Arduino

Then of course pos and neg.
Just ignore the gizDuino info in the setup picture. left side of the page.

Complete details of this RTC can be found here.  Just click on Technical Manual on the left side of the page.

Step 1: Code

Copy and past this into the Arduino IDE and burn to the board. For this i am using an ACEDuino that has a ATMega 328P.
To set the date and time is all done is the serial monitor, which is the easiest i have found. 

///////////////////////////////////////////
// RTC data and time setter              //
//                                       //
// This sample program allows the user   //
// to set the date and time of an RTC    //
// using I2C.                            //
//                                       //
// Codes by:                             //
// eGizmo Mechatronix Central            //
// Taft, Manila, Philippines             //
// http://www.egizmo.com                 //
// April 15, 2013                        //
///////////////////////////////////////////

#include <Wire.h>
const int DS1307 = 0x68; // Address of DS1307 see data sheets
const char* days[] =
{"Sunday", "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday"};
const char* months[] =
{"January", "February", "March", "April", "May", "June", "July", "August","September", "October", "November", "December"};

// Initializes all values: 
byte second = 0;
byte minute = 0;
byte hour = 0;
byte weekday = 0;
byte monthday = 0;
byte month = 0;
byte year = 0;

void setup() {
  Wire.begin();
  Serial.begin(9600);
  delay(2000); // This delay allows the MCU to read the current date and time.

  Serial.print("The current date and time is: ");
  printTime();
  Serial.println("Please change to newline ending the settings on the lower right of the Serial Monitor");
  Serial.println("Would you like to set the date and time now? Y/N");

  while (!Serial.available()) delay(10);
  if (Serial.read() == 'y' || Serial.read() == 'Y')

  // This set of functions allows the user to change the date and time
  {
    Serial.read();
    setTime();
    Serial.print("The current date and time is now: ");
    printTime();
  }


  Serial.println("Thank you.");
}

// Continuous function for converting bytes to decimals and vice versa
void loop() {
}
byte decToBcd(byte val) {
  return ((val/10*16) + (val%10));
}
byte bcdToDec(byte val) {
  return ((val/16*10) + (val%16));
}


// This set of codes is allows input of data
void setTime() {
  Serial.print("Please enter the current year, 00-99. - ");
  year = readByte();
  Serial.println(year);
  Serial.print("Please enter the current month, 1-12. - ");
  month = readByte();
  Serial.println(months[month-1]);
  Serial.print("Please enter the current day of the month, 1-31. - ");
  monthday = readByte();
  Serial.println(monthday);
  Serial.println("Please enter the current day of the week, 1-7.");
  Serial.print("1 Sun | 2 Mon | 3 Tues | 4 Weds | 5 Thu | 6 Fri | 7 Sat - ");
  weekday = readByte();
  Serial.println(days[weekday-1]);
  Serial.print("Please enter the current hour in 24hr format, 0-23. - ");
  hour = readByte();
  Serial.println(hour);
  Serial.print("Please enter the current minute, 0-59. - ");
  minute = readByte();
  Serial.println(minute);
  second = 0;
  Serial.println("The data has been entered.");

  // The following codes transmits the data to the RTC
  Wire.beginTransmission(DS1307);
  Wire.write(byte(0));
  Wire.write(decToBcd(second));
  Wire.write(decToBcd(minute));
  Wire.write(decToBcd(hour));
  Wire.write(decToBcd(weekday));
  Wire.write(decToBcd(monthday));
  Wire.write(decToBcd(month));
  Wire.write(decToBcd(year));
  Wire.write(byte(0));
  Wire.endTransmission();
  // Ends transmission of data
}


byte readByte() {
  while (!Serial.available()) delay(10);
  byte reading = 0;
  byte incomingByte = Serial.read();
  while (incomingByte != '\n') {
    if (incomingByte >= '0' && incomingByte <= '9')
      reading = reading * 10 + (incomingByte - '0');
    else;
    incomingByte = Serial.read();
  }
  Serial.flush();
  return reading;
}


void printTime() {
  char buffer[3];
  const char* AMPM = 0;
  readTime();
  Serial.print(days[weekday-1]);
  Serial.print(" ");
  Serial.print(months[month-1]);
  Serial.print(" ");
  Serial.print(monthday);
  Serial.print(", 20");
  Serial.print(year);
  Serial.print(" ");
  if (hour > 12) {
    hour -= 12;
    AMPM = " PM";
  }
  else AMPM = " AM";
  Serial.print(hour);
  Serial.print(":");
  sprintf(buffer, "%02d", minute);
  Serial.print(buffer);
  Serial.println(AMPM);
}


void readTime() {
  Wire.beginTransmission(DS1307);
  Wire.write(byte(0));
  Wire.endTransmission();
  Wire.requestFrom(DS1307, 7);
  second = bcdToDec(Wire.read());
  minute = bcdToDec(Wire.read());
  hour = bcdToDec(Wire.read());
  weekday = bcdToDec(Wire.read());
  monthday = bcdToDec(Wire.read());
  month = bcdToDec(Wire.read());
  year = bcdToDec(Wire.read());
}

Step 2: Open the Serial Monitor

Open up the serial monitor and this what you will see. The date and time will not be the same but that's OK we are here to correct this.
Please follow along with the pictures for the input sequence.
If you mess up just start over until you enter everything correctly.