How do I connect DS3231 RTC with four 6.5'' 7 Segment Displays?

Projects General Guidance
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I am a student who is trying to create a digital clock as my school project but got stuck on showing time from the RTC on the seven segment displays. I am using four 6.5" 7 segment displays, each representing a digit. The board I'm using is a Arduino Mega ADK and the RTC is DS3231. I know how to show time on the serial monitor, but not with the displays.

Please help, I need the code and the circuit layout!

Thanks!

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I am a student who is trying to create a digital clock as my school project but got stuck on showing time from the RTC on the seven segment displays. I am using four 6.5" 7 segment displays, each representing a digit. The board I'm using is a Arduino Mega ADK and the RTC is DS3231. I know how to show time on the serial monitor, but not with the displays.

Please help, I need the code and the circuit layout!

Thanks!

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6.5" is large for a 7 segment display! Do you know their voltage and current requirements, and if they are common anode or common cathode? Are they individual digits or a single 4-digit display?

I would expect the segments need a voltage of 9 or 12V. If they are common anode individual digits, I would recommend using 4 X tpic6c595 or tpic6b595 chips, one to drive each digit.

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First, you need to know the details of your 7 segment displays. If they are bare displays with a shit ton of pins on the back, you are going to need to read up on multiplexing. If they already have a driver board, then you need to share that info if you expect any relevant help here.
There are many libraries made for putting info on 7 segment displays. But as I said, you need to know the detailed specs on your displays because there are several ways they could be made and no one here can help you until you show a data sheet for them.

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Moderator merged topics

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PaulRB:
6.5" is large for a 7 segment display! Do you know their voltage and current requirements, and if they are common anode or common cathode? Are they individual digits or a single 4-digit display?

I would expect the segments need a voltage of 9 or 12V. If they are common anode individual digits, I would recommend using 4 X tpic6c595 or tpic6b595 chips, one to drive each digit.

Thanks for replying!

I checked my display and it should be a common anode and is individual digits, so I guess I get some tpic6c595 or tpic6c595 chips. But I don't really know how to use it, any suggestions?

The size of the displays are also wrong (I don't know how I got those measurements), so it's supposed to be around 2 inches each and I have four single displays.

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If the displays are only 2", not 6.5", there may be ways to drive all 4 digits with a single chip. You must find out their voltage and current requirements. This is important.