Equinox Clock

I just put online a side-project I've been working on. It's based on an Arduino Pro Mini.

It's a clock and at first reading the time may require some getting used to (hours = 3 colored blocks, minutes = 1 colored block, seconds = fading row of blocks).

Youtube vid: Equinox Clock - YouTube

The clock is equipped with 60 RGB LEDs making any color palette possible. In this version the color palette cycles through the colors of the rainbow twice a day. There is a light sensor to make sure that the intensity is tuned down in the dark.


Daisy-chaining the Tlc5940s

More info
More info on how it was made

Wow! Can I buy one?

That very nice I had pondered how to make a cock using color and not numbers.
Looks like you've done it!
Con-grats

jerryb

Pretty impressive! It looks very elaborate. Parts must have cost a small fortune, too.
How did you make the enclosure?

Thx for the kind reactions!

The enclosure was made with parts made in a lasercutter. By gluing 6mm thick laser cut mdf parts on top of eachother it wasn't a lot of work to assemble.
Because I had the pcb's and had used connectors and cables to connect them, putting the electronics together was easy and reliable. Though the connectors and cables made it more expensive. Actually the connectors and cables are the most expensive part of the whole thing. I just didn't want to go through the hassle of making all of the wiring by hand :slight_smile: .

Very very nice. I submitted it to hackaday but your vid on youtube (linked on your site) is private so I can't view it :frowning:

Mowcius

Thanks! Working on the youtube movie problem. I've had some trouble with it before.

edit: Should be working now. Please let me know when it doesn't.
Really weird problem because it was set on public and according to the stats quite some people saw the movie. Let's hope it's fixed now.

Though the connectors and cables made it more expensive

Speaking of that, where did you get your cables? ;D Honestly I have been looking everywhere for a cable of that nature, and it looks like you have found a source?

Great job! It looks awesome!

Yeah, the video is working fine now. Looks even better when you see the video.

I might have to make my own circular clock now although it won't be with RGB LEDs and it won't be quite as nice as that :slight_smile:

Mowcius

KnuttyD, It also took me some time to find the right cables and connectors.
The one I used are called picoflex. I got them from RS Components.

mowcius, good luck with your circular version !

mowcius, good luck with your circular version

Well I have access to a laser cutter and 10 shift registers waiting for a project.
Maybe I will use my CCShield for this though, 70 outputs with 2 M5451 chips.

Mowcius

So, can you reveal roughly how much this cost you?
It is always interesting to know. :slight_smile:

I want one... badly... It's not even the clock that I like.. It's the design and the construction... Well done, VERY well done...

As was asked... How much? :smiley: You should find a manufacturer and produce these... I know people that would likely spend well over $150 for something like this...

Thanks! Well, building this prototype cost me around 500 euros on materials and parts. However I didn't have to pay for the lasercutter and ordered more pcbs than I actually needed for this project. The modular nature is very easy for other projects as well.
I'm not really sure what it would cost in larger quantities. I guess the casing could be relatively expensive and the cost of the pcb and parts would go down. It also takes some time to assemble the thing.

I guess the casing could be relatively expensive and the cost of the pcb and parts would go down. It also takes some time to assemble the thing.

Well if anyone gets the electronics sorted and wants a case, I can do that kind of thing. It should not be too expensive.

and ordered more pcbs than I actually needed for this project.

What PCBs do you have left over? Anything that might be useful in another project?

Mowcius

Well if anyone gets the electronics sorted

The electronics shouldn't be more complicated than the bi-color dual matrix LED shields I make (and sell), essentially 180 LEDs driven by 4 shift registers plus a darlington array. Arranging them in a circle would be some challenge. Arranging them NICELLY would be even a bigger challenge.

What PCBs do you have left over? Anything that might be useful in another project?

I've got about 20 TLC boards and 100 LED boards that haven't found their way into a project yet. A few weeks ago I started with another clock. A very different one. But haven't had time to finish it.

The electronics shouldn't be more complicated than the bi-color dual matrix LED shields I make (and sell), essentially 180 LEDs driven by 4 shift registers plus a darlington array. Arranging them in a circle would be some challenge. Arranging them NICELLY would be even a bigger challenge.

That is exactly the reason why I didn't use a matrix. I've used TLC5940s. They can be daisy-chained so I figured I could also chain them with pcb's and cables. It's just a long string of tlc's going round.
It also gave me a nice resolution on the LEDs (4096).
Unfortunately the LED were of poor quality and there was some color difference between them.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that this is not about the electronics, but about the design and realization, which I will never be able to accomplish with my skills (and tools). Somehow similar to the QlockTwo idea. Back to electronics: I think one can also daisychain 8-bit shift registers, one for every 2 RGB LEDs, for a total of 30 pieces, no PWM though, if that is indeed needed.

Somehow similar to the QlockTwo idea.

I have finished my acrylic design for this and I am going to do some tests tomorrow...
I am currently downloading EAGLE again so I can sort out a board for it although it will probably be done on stripboard cos shift registers are pretty simple like that.

Mowcius

Your clock just got picked up by Gizmodo! :slight_smile:

And since they don't really create their own content, you were also mentioned at

http://thedailywh.at/post/1081900747/kickass-clock-of-the-day-bram-knaapens

and

http://tv.gawker.com/5631991/arduino+powered-equinox-clock-will-shock-awe-tell-time

and

Congrats!