Arduino-powered LED Clock

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Summary of Arduino-powered LED Clock

This project details the construction of a simple LED clock using an Arduino Nano and single-color LEDs that display time to the nearest half hour. It involves assembling the components on a breadboard, using a DS1307 real-time clock IC for timekeeping, and creating a custom laser-cut acrylic case to house the clock neatly. The project requires soldering, wiring, and programming the Arduino via the Arduino IDE.

Parts used in the LED Clock Project:

Arduino Nano
400 tie-point Breadboard
Ribbon Cable
DS1307 RTC IC
32.768 kHz Crystal
12 x 10mm LEDs
12 x 180 Ohm resistors
2 x 10k Ohm resistors
0.1" spaced, 12 wire ribbon cable (7" long)
Jumper wires
18" x 6" 1/8" acrylic

A fun, simple LED clock, that will give you the time to the nearest half hour using single-color LEDs. Parts needed are as follows:

Arduino Nano
400 tie-point Breadboard
Ribbon Cable
DS1307 RTC IC
32.768 kHz Crystal
(12) 10mm LEDs
(12) 180 Ohm resistors
(2) 10k Ohm resistors
0.1″ spaced, 12 wire ribbon cable, 7″ long
Jumper wires
18″ x 6″ 1/8″ acrylic

The tools needed for this job are:

Laser Cutter
Soldering iron, flux, solder
Wire cutter
Wire stripper
Needle-nose pliers
Vice (optional)
Hot glue gun
Arduino IDE installed on a computer

Step 1: Laser-cut clock casing

The first thing that needs to be done for this LED clock is to design the clock case! This gives the layout of your LEDs as well as a good housing to use to help keep the assembly very neat and simple. I attached my illustrator file that can be used on a laser cutter with 1/8″ acrylic and is designed to snap together.

Arduino Clock V3.ai346 KB