I started looking around to find out how to connect my Tiny RTC I2C to my UNO and found people are having problems with them. I don't have the chops to pull off the different workarounds suggested-I need an RTC that works from the getgo.
I don't know how many versions of RTC there are, but I did see DS3231 and DS1307.
I 'think' I diagramed a schematic to hook up four 50W LEDs and four LDD1500L modules with the ability to dim the LEDs individually with pots. I hope to run three LEDs for 12 hr. and one LED for 13-14 hr. If that's not doable with one clock, I'll run everything for 12 hr.
If there's an RTC that can take 12V that would be good because the fans are 12V and I plan on running 12V to the UNO as well. Or, I can use an additional 5V wall wart.
If someone could please suggest which RTC might be the best fit for my reef tank project, I'd appreciate it. If you've read this far, thank you.
The 1307 is the original RTC and there will be more libraries compatible with it I suspect. Several
chips are software-compatible with it too.
Once you have an RTC you can schedule whatever you want, to the second, minute, hour, day, month
or whatever. Using more than one clock would be pointless.
I looked at my RTC under magnification and it has a DS1307ZN chip on it, so maybe I'm OK there. I looked at the data sheet and realized I'll need to give it 5V, not 12V. So I'll give the UNO 5V as well.
saltyjoe:
I don't know how many versions of RTC there are, but I did see DS3231 and DS1307.
DS3231 modules are much more accurate than DS1307 modules
So if you don't need the small battery buffered RAM within the DS1307, use the DS3231!
And if you should decide to use a DS1307 instead: NEVER use those crap modules labeled "Tiny RTC".
DS1307 is acceptable only if the module is NOT "Tiny RTC". Tiny RTC is pure crap, with circuit design mistakes which can make the module unusable in some cases, and Tiny RTC modules are highly inaccurate (much more than typically with DS1307).
Yeah, the one I have is a Tiny version 1307. I'm not worried if the time was off by a minute or two, but I sure don't need hardware problems.
Thanks much, I have the DS3231 on the way. Meanwhile, I'll try to figure out how to connect it to the other components in my schematic, find the right library and see if I can come up with a sketch.
I was laying in bed last night and realized I needed a clock right after that warm fuzzy feeling of thinking I've got this handled, I'll solder it up first thing-HA!