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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Meter Clock

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jman

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Joined: 12/06/2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 711
Posted: 10:38pm 03 Jun 2014
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Hi All
Thought I would post my meter clock in case anybody else wanted to make one
The images are a little fuzzy (TBS resize issue)





The PCB below is the version without the 5V regulator and PWM backlight


The PCB below is the version with the 5V regulator and PWM backlight



I have attached the circuit diagram, gerbers, meter scales and Micromite source should you wish to make your own.
I have a couple of both types of PCB should anybody want one unfortunately the both contain an error that requires a track to be cut a wire link to be added.
I will do this should anybody want one.

Meters were sourced on Ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/271365409590?var=570246171842&ssPage Name=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

RTC Module also sourced on Ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/ARM-RTC-I2C-DS1307-AT24C32-Real-Time -Clock-Module-2-8CM-x-2-7CM-/301141332978?pt=LH_DefaultDomai n_0&hash=item461d6c13f2


Basic operation as below
On first power up the meters will sweep from 0 to full twice
If the DS1307 has not had the time set before the seconds LED (D1) will be on.
To set the time press and hold the rotary decoder switch down for more than 3 seconds
This will allow the time to be set using the rotary encoder a second press of the rotary encoder button will set the minutes a third press
will save the time to the DS1307 and D1 will start to flash a 1 Hz
A short press of the rotary encoder button will allow the backlight brightness to be set using the rotary encoder in this mode a second press saves the brightness level to eeprom. If the power is lost the clock will get the time from the DS1307 and the brightness level from the eeprom.
The backlights are diffused LED’s of your colour choice these are fitted to the meters by drilling two appropriately sized holes (3mm or 5mm) at the bottom (two required) of the two meters.

The meter scales were done using MeterBasic from here http://www.tonnesoftware.com/meterbasicdownload2.html

The clock is powered by a DC source 7.5-12VDC 100ma is more than adequate
U3 is to set theDS1307 modules supply voltage Jumper on 1-2 is for 5V and 2-3 is for 3.3v Most will require 5v
Q1 is any general purpose PNP transistor
The rotary encoder connections are (1-2 switch) ( 3 common 4 is left and 5 is right)
Meter connections are 1-2 Minutes 3-4 Hours
The current PWM percentage and time is updated once minute and can be monitored via the serial port
If the brightness is adjusted this can also be monitored via the serial port.


Regards
Jman

2014-06-04_082300_MClock.zip
 
Frank N. Furter
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Joined: 28/05/2012
Location: Germany
Posts: 947
Posted: 11:49pm 03 Jun 2014
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Hi Jman,

very nice!!! COOL!!!

Thanks!

Frank
 
plasma
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Joined: 08/04/2012
Location: Germany
Posts: 437
Posted: 07:31am 04 Jun 2014
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this is sooo mad ! i like it!
 
WhiteWizzard
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Joined: 05/04/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2934
Posted: 08:54am 04 Jun 2014
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where's the seconds meter??
 
mindrobots
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Joined: 21/05/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 32
Posted: 09:33am 04 Jun 2014
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Very clever! You see so many ways of displaying time, this could be a first for metered time!!

Thank you for such a complete project.

Rick
 
bigmik

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Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2949
Posted: 11:15am 04 Jun 2014
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Excellent Jman,

This is worthy of being published in a magazine.. Have you considered sending it to Silicon Chip or other Mag?

Mick


Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<
 
jman

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Joined: 12/06/2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 711
Posted: 11:53am 04 Jun 2014
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Hi
Thanks for the kind words

As luck would have it was published in Silicon Chip Circuit Notebook
this month

Regards
Jman

 
WhiteWizzard
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Joined: 05/04/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2934
Posted: 12:20pm 04 Jun 2014
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@John,

I have just read your article in June's SC magazine - NICE work. It is such a good use of the MicroMite utilising not only PWM, but also a rotary encoder.

But the thing that made me smile the most was that you were 'rewarded' a higher amount than the Arduino Alarm Clock on page 82 (and rightly so!!).

WW

PS: now I know why you didn't have a Second's meter (due to LED1
 
WhiteWizzard
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Joined: 05/04/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2934
Posted: 12:24pm 04 Jun 2014
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@John - I forgot to ask you in my previous post the following question; purely out of curiosity, what made you choose a DS1307 RTC over a PCF8563 for which the MicroMite has a built in function?
 
jman

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Joined: 12/06/2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 711
Posted: 01:00pm 04 Jun 2014
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@WhiteWizzard

1. I had one
2. really cheap small modules on Ebay
3. I like the free EEprom
4. Replaceable with a DS3231 module

Regards
Jman
 
vasi

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Joined: 23/03/2007
Location: Romania
Posts: 1697
Posted: 02:50pm 04 Jun 2014
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Superb project!
Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton
Elvish name: Mablung Miriel
Beyound Arduino Lang
 
viscomjim
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Joined: 08/01/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 925
Posted: 04:49pm 04 Jun 2014
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One day I hope to be able to bang out code as smooth as yours... Jyou'retheMAN!!!! Very nice project!
 
jman

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Joined: 12/06/2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 711
Posted: 03:36pm 02 May 2015
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So I finally put in a box that matches my Radio











Jman
 
viscomjim
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Joined: 08/01/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 925
Posted: 01:04am 03 May 2015
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Nice work! This has been one of my favorite uMite "projects". The case looks great.

Edited by viscomjim 2015-05-14
 
viscomjim
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Joined: 08/01/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 925
Posted: 08:43am 13 May 2015
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Jman, I used the link you provided for the meters from ebay. I checked them out and that listing has quite a few meter types to choose from using a drop down menu. Which ones did you wind up using for this project and why?
 
jman

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Joined: 12/06/2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 711
Posted: 09:34am 13 May 2015
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  viscomjim said   Jman, I used the link you provided for the meters from ebay. I checked them out and that listing has quite a few meter types to choose from using a drop down menu. Which ones did you wind up using for this project and why?


I used the 50UA meters as these only require 50UA for full scale deflection

Regards
Jman
 
viscomjim
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Joined: 08/01/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 925
Posted: 09:46am 13 May 2015
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Got it! Thanks!
 
palcal

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Joined: 12/10/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 1989
Posted: 12:20am 14 May 2015
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A real cool project, I have ordered a couple of meters but larger than the ones you used. Would it be possible to make a 12 hour version, maybe with an indicator for PM.
Paul.
"It is better to be ignorant and ask a stupid question than to be plain Stupid and not ask at all"
 
Justplayin

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Joined: 31/01/2014
Location: United States
Posts: 327
Posted: 07:37am 14 May 2015
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  Quote  A real cool project, I have ordered a couple of meters but larger than the ones you used. Would it be possible to make a 12 hour version, maybe with an indicator for PM.


How about a meter that sweeps back and forth for the seconds? With the meter mounted upside down it would look sort of like a pendulum. It would give the clock some animation.

--Curtis
I am not a Mad Scientist...  It makes me happy inventing new ways to take over the world!!
 
jman

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Joined: 12/06/2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 711
Posted: 09:31am 14 May 2015
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  palcal said   A real cool project, I have ordered a couple of meters but larger than the ones you used. Would it be possible to make a 12 hour version, maybe with an indicator for PM.
Paul.


Sure

Jman
 
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