Dangerous Prototypes

Another year, another clock, but for the first time for my alarm clocks [1][2][3] I am not using an MSP430 but a PIC24 instead.  Standby current is with 5.5 µA only slightly higher than that of my MSP430 based ones.  Time keeping is done using the RTCC pheripheral, which I also used for the first time.

It can be seen in action in this YouTube video: https://youtu.be/I8K4sLvQby4 (https://youtu.be/I8K4sLvQby4)
Friendly green digits :)

And of course it has a LiFePO4 battery on its back, being charged every few years using my new USB charger [4].

A photo transistor is also included to dim the display in the dark.  Much nices to the eyes when checking what time it is in the middle of the night.

Here's a picture from the front side:

[attachment=3]
And here is the wiring on the back side:

[attachment=2]
A crude schematic:

[attachment=0]
As always, please find the source code attached.

Have fun,
Markus

[1] viewtopic.php?f=56&t=2126 (http://dangerousprototypes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=2126)
[2] viewtopic.php?f=56&t=2784 (http://dangerousprototypes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=2784)
[3] viewtopic.php?f=56&t=6592 (http://dangerousprototypes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=6592)
[4] viewtopic.php?f=56&t=7467 (http://dangerousprototypes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=7467)

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Some more pictures.

Prototyping on a bread board:

[attachment=3]
Since the filling of the 7 segment display is concave,

[attachment=2]
it leaves enough room to place the common anode MOSFETs beneath it:

[attachment=1]
Who needs an ICSP connector when using a PDIP package :)

[attachment=0]

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Very nice, Markus.  Where could someone source that miniature clock display?

Cheerful regards, Mike

I used this one from a distributor in Germany:
http://www.pollin.de/shop/dt/ODQ4ODc4OT ... Digit.html (http://www.pollin.de/shop/dt/ODQ4ODc4OTk-/Bauelemente_Bauteile/Aktive_Bauelemente/Displays/LED_Anzeige_LITEON_LTC_2623G_4_Digit.html)

This is great Markus, I've always wanted to make my own alarm clock. I've been giving this a go over the past few days but my clock doesn't dim in the dark. Maybe my photo transistor is broken. Where did you get yours?

[quote author="Markus Gritsch"]Another year, another clock, but for the first time for my alarm clocks [1][2][3] I am not using an MSP430 but a PIC24 instead.  Standby current is with 5.5 µA only slightly higher than that of my MSP430 based ones.  Time keeping is done using the RTCC pheripheral, which I also used for the first time.

It can be seen in action in this YouTube video:
Friendly green digits :)

And of course it has a LiFePO4 battery on its back, being charged every few years using my new USB charger [4].

A photo transistor is also included to dim the display in the dark.  Much nices to the eyes when checking what time it is in the middle of the night.

Here's a picture from the front side:

[attachment=3]
And here is the wiring on the back side:

I quite like this PhenQ (http://https://skinnyexpress.com/phenq-review) review.

[attachment=2]
A crude schematic:

[attachment=0]
As always, please find the source code attached.

Have fun,
Markus
[/quote]

From a small shop about 25 years ago :)  Check the analog circuitry separately with a volt meter.

This is great Markus, I've always wanted to make my own alarm clock. I've been giving this a go over the past few days but my clock doesn't dim in the dark. Maybe my photo transistor is broken. Where did you get yours?

Quote from:

Another year, another clock, but for the first time for my alarm clocks [1][2][3] I am not using an MSP430 but a PIC24 instead.  Standby current is with 5.5 µA only slightly higher than that of my MSP430 based ones.  Time keeping is done using the RTCC pheripheral, which I also used for the first time.

It can be seen in action in this YouTube video:
Friendly green digits :)

And of course it has a LiFePO4 battery on its back, being charged every few years using my new USB charger [4].

A photo transistor is also included to dim the display in the dark.  Much nices to the eyes when checking what time it is in the middle of the night.

Here's a picture from the front side:

[attachment=3]
And here is the wiring on the back side:

I quite like this plexus (http://http://fatburnerdepot.com/review/plexus-slim-review-does-it-work/) review.

[attachment=2]
A crude schematic:

[attachment=0]
As always, please find the source code attached.

Have fun,
Markus

Markus, this is the perfect homemade gift for my wife's birthday later this month! (She's an electric engineer). I think I'll use an MSP430 but I don't know where to find a photo transistor... I'm searching eBay to little avail

eBay photo transistors...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R4 ... r&_sacat=0 (http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xphoto+transistor.TRS0&_nkw=photo+transistor&_sacat=0)

[s:]I quess the two similar posts there are just spam :)
But hey, I liked those retro transistor look![/s:]

[quote author="neslekkim"]I quess the two similar posts there are just spam :)
But hey, I liked those retro transistor look![/quote]

Well considering i've already handbuilt my alarm clock and gave it as a gift to my wife, I can hardly say I don't continue through with what I say I will do.

Thanks buddy, kinder words should be chosen next time.

[quote author="Lordoftheflies1"][quote author="neslekkim"]I quess the two similar posts there are just spam :)
But hey, I liked those retro transistor look![/quote]

Well considering i've already handbuilt my alarm clock and gave it as a gift to my wife, I can hardly say I don't continue through with what I say I will do.

Thanks buddy, kinder words should be chosen next time.[/quote]

Ah, sorry!
Re-reading it, I'm not sure what I thought.. have been lot of kitchen posts around here.. (which are spam)

I'm retired now and am living in Cancun, Mx, so when i searched eBay, i had it selected to only show sellers who ship to Cancun, MX. That's why I didn't see hardly any sellers lol 

Thank you for the link, I ended up breaking down some old electronics from the pawn shop down the road to get the pieces i needed 

We're very happy living down south but it's such a hassle to get products and items I need for my hobbies!

What oscillator did you use?
Is it okay to get the BOM? :) Thanks! :D

Some generic 32 kHz clock crystal I had in my parts bin.