Lost on RTC Usage

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello everyone,

Coming here, because I have searched and googled and read considerable amounts, yet... I'm lost.

Not looking for a step-by-step, but rather a general direction on how to use an RTC module.

The Setup:
Arduino Uno board
DeadOn RTC - DS3234

I believe I know how the wires should be attached.
From SparkFun's product page comment's:
Pin 13 SCK
Pin 12 MISO
Pin 11 MOSI
Pin 8 SS

Although my board doesn't have "SCK", it has "CLK".

Once I have those 4 wires plugged in... what now?
Do I have to plug in all the other wires (GND and VCC)?

And once that is done... here's where I'm lost:
What do I do?

I read in Sparkfun's comments that there's a library made by maniacbug, over at GitHub.
I downloaded RTClib.cpp and RTClib.h

Yet, from there... how do I... do... something with it?

My end goal: Turn ON a pin at a preset time, and turn it off at another time.

I'm at a loss as to how make this go.
In the sketch, should I include the library?
And if I include it, does the program "grab" it?
Does it have to get uploaded onto the Uno board?

Sorry for the barrage of questions... it's just that I'm without direction as to what to do.

Thank you very much for your help and feedback!
Will keep this thread updated with the progress.
=)

Reference: Here's a recent thread from these forums: Problem with Real Time Clock Module

2

WaxFlywheel:
I downloaded RTClib.cpp and RTClib.h

Yet, from there... how do I... do... something with it?

Like with all libraries, you download the entire contents of the RTClib folder. Then you put that folder inside of a folder called "libraries" in your sketchbook folder.

Then you restart the Arduino IDE and try the examples. File -> Examples -> RTClib

3

Thank you!
Going to do that now!

4

To be clear, that Github project should be in a Folder called "RTClib" which is then placed inside of "libraries".

5

Do I have to plug in all the other wires (GND and VCC)?

Yes. Otherwise, you are trying to talk to a dead chip. Generally, unless there is a seance involved, that doesn't work to well. Even then, it often fails.

In the sketch, should I include the library?

Works better than just admiring the pretty code.

And if I include it, does the program "grab" it?

No. The program is well mannered, and keeps its hands to itself.

Does it have to get uploaded onto the Uno board?

Your program does. That program makes calls to functions in the library.

6

I was looking for something else on the RTC and found that post.
I struggled a lot with it and if anyone else one day need help, here is what helped me the most:

Regards
Alexandre Bessy