For hackers, making clocks with traditional non-clock projects is a ritual.Whether it’s flashing LEDs or steering gears to move hands, we have carefully designed our own cognitive methods when currently. [SIrawit] A new approach was taken to this, through Use an ammeter to tell the time.
The clock is mainly constructed using CMOS IC. CD4060 generates a 1HZ clock signal, and then passes it to a parallel counter to track hours, minutes and seconds. [SIrawit] Decided to keep the ammeter running as expected, instead of replacing internal parts and keeping only the needle and surface. In order to convert the digital signal into a changing current, he used a series of MOSFETs connected in parallel to the low end of the ammeter, and current-limiting resistors of different sizes. By appropriately adjusting the size of these resistors, precise movement of the needle can be achieved by turning on or off the MOSFET.You can view the schematic and learn about how to GitHub page of the project (At the time of writing, the most recent submission is In the “pcb” branch).
In addition to the custom PCB that houses all the electronic devices, the PCB also helps to form the housing. Although the main body of the housing is made of a redesigned junction box, [SIrawit] There is a PCB on the aluminum substrate made for the front panel. Although the circuit board has no actual traces or electrical significance, it is a cheap and simple way to obtain precisely cut aluminum sheets for your project with a clear white solder mask.
We like to see cool and unique ways to tell the time, such as using a digital tube to spell out the time in binary!
[via r/electronics]