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DIY Digital Clock Kit
Kit Source: eBay or Banggood
Price: Approximately £5
Build Time: 1-2 Hours
Assembly Tutorial Video: TechyDIY on YouTube
Tools: Needle Point Soldering Iron, Small Side Cutters, Solder
Updated Firmware: https://github.com/zerog2k/stc_diyclock
When my electronic alarm clock stopped working at some point in 2019 I didn't go to Argos or search Amazon for a suitable replacement. No, that would of been way too easy and saved me loads of time. Instead I decided to buy a kit from eBay and make my own! The kit uses large LED's that are easily viewable from across the room at night. Other features are an alarm, temperature reading, the day / date as well as auto dim / brightness. The RTC uses a button cell to keep the time settings whilst the LED display uses 5 Volts from a USB mains phone charger.
I had noticed several build videos for these kits on YouTube come up in my suggestions, mostly likely because the algorithm knows I tend to watch IT and Electronic related content. It's also been years since I did any practical electronic work for fun! The results have been quite rewarding and you can't beat the pricing on these kits. There is also choice of white, green, blue or red LED's so being a bit of a retro freak I decided to go for green which reminds me of my first mains electronic alarm clock, green screen monitors and the the Sci-Fi film The Matrix!
Here are the build pics in sequence. Click on each one to get the larger image. Your browser controls to get back!