Introduction: A Cute Date, Time and Temperature Display Unit
Hi friends,
In this instructable, I am going to explain the procedure for making a date, time and current temperature display unit by using, Arduino pro mini, an RTC and eight digit seven segment display in a very compact unit, which is a useful device and a fun, hope you like it and make it and put it on your desk.
Step 1: Components and Materials Needed in This Project
In order to make this project you need some electronic and some mechanical components as follows:
COMPONENT NO/ LENGTH
1- Arduino pro mini........................................................................................1
2- Eight digit 7-segment display.....................................................................1
3- Real time clock module -DS3231 ..............................................................1
4- LM317 linear regulator with variable output voltage...................................2
5- breadboard wires....................................................................................10/10 cm
6- Rocker switch..............................................................................................1
7- Female jack ................................................................................................1
8- 25 mm* 40 mm electrical duct .................................................................17 cm
9- Small screws .............................................................................................7
Step 2: Tools
Tools for making this project are as follows:
1- Hack saw
2- Paper cutter
3- Plastic sheet cutter
4- Small drill
5- Soldering iron
6- Solder
7- Wire stripper
8- Breadboard
9- Multimeter
10-Power Supply
11- Super Glue
Step 3: How to Make the Display Unit
Making this project is not difficult but it should be divided in a few steps as follows:
Software and electronic circuit
- The first step is programming the Arduino pro mini- 5 V, the relevant software is provided here and should be first downloaded, the library of DS3231 should be downloaded and added to your Arduino IDE libraries, and then upload the program to your Arduino pro mini. In order to program pro mini read the following instructable:
https://www.instructables.com/id/Program-Arduino-P...
and do according to the instructions provided there, of course you should use an Arduino UNO as explained in that instructable. I do not see any difficulty in doing that.
- Use a breadboard for constructing the circuit and test the connections, the connections are according to the program but I quote it here - see table - a note of caution, because Arduino pro mini and eight digit 7-segment use 5 V, so you should set one of the LM317 modules for 5 V output and use another LM317 module to set pot for 3.3 V output for RTC D3231 input voltage. Of course you can make this two voltage converters by using LM317 IC but it may not become as compact as these ready made modules. use power supply to feed 12 V to the LM317 modules to activate the circuit and see the result,if the result is good so start making the mechanical parts.
- Now start making the mechanical part, by preparing a piece of 17 centimeter long electrical duct with the said dimensions, first draw a rectangle on the body and cut it by using plastic sheet cutter for inserting the rocker switch, then cut two pieces of duct cover for both caps, cut a hole to insert jack and us a drop of superglue to fix it, then cut a rectangle on the cover of electrical duct on the center of that surface, the dimension should be 6 cm*1.5 cm for the eight digit 7- segment display, mark the holes of display on the cover and use drill to make four holes then screw the display to the cover, then fix pro mini, RTC and two LM317 modules inside the duct with screws and close the cover and both caps of the sides, and enjoy your display unit.
