A review of a $1.65 Chinese DIY clock kit - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Chumanista
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2016, 10:37:53 pm
content: Hello again!I reviewed a really decent clock kit from Aliexpress.It turned out to be surprisingly easy to assemble, I recommend it to anyone who wants to train soldering THT.

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 02:36:14 am
content: You should post to the original video site - that powering on the module with wire tails left on the bench-top is a sure-fire way to kill circuits!

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 05:14:32 am
content: What is the Aliexpress link?I like these type of posts - cheap Aliexpress itemsthanks (if there is a link)edit: From his YT video commentshttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/High-Quality-C51-4-Bits-Electronic-Clock-Electronic-Production-Suite-DIY-Kits-Free-Shipping/1952168223.htmlSure is cheap

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 09:04:41 am
content: Well, that'd save me the trouble of designing and ordering a PCB then parts for a tiny repair project I need to do but do you know if the LED module is common anode or common cathode (I'm thinking Common anode)?Instructions for the kit:http://www.nt9k.com/stuff/clockmanual.pdf

author: joseph nicholas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 10:08:35 am
content: I like these kits, but I wish they would put the all the parts except the display and controls on the back. They should make the board a bit bigger to accommodate 4 corner holes for mounting it in a case.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 10:18:29 am
content: Microcontroller basedPrice of course

author: nowlan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 11:03:07 am
content: Price is right, but Im not a fan of preprogrammed micrcontrollers for clocks. Feel like learning isn't as good.

author: Chumanista
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 11:09:56 am
content: @joseph nicholas:There are bigger, really nice looking clock with all the circuitry hidden behind the displays:http://www.aliexpress.com/item/4-Bits-Electronic-clock-production-suite-LED-electronic-clock-DIY-kit-SCM-LED-digital-clock-parts/32299259947.html@EEVblog:And it's a microcontroller with no support for ISP! I really wanted to write my own code, with time from an ESP8266 and other features, but I have no way to program it.There exists AT89S2051 with SPI support but the availability is really low and the price much higher than the kit.Still, a nice toy to do some soldering.@SL4P:Why is it a problem? It always worked for me without any issues.@ez24:There are many stores, i linked to three of them in my video description.@nowlan:Sadly at this price this is all there is. IMO it's a good tool to learn soldering and you can always learn programming on an Arduino.

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 08:22:28 pm
content: Quote from: Chumanista on August 30, 2016, 11:09:56 amThis looks so interesting I am going to start a new topic on it. There are a lot of clever people here and maybe someone can use this to make something else. Because it has a case and display.thanks

author: Chumanista
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 08:37:58 pm
content: @ez24:Sadly it seems they are using some obscure micro again. But there is also this:http://www.aliexpress.com/item/DIY-DS1302-Rotating-LED-Electronic-Digital-Clock-Kit-51-SCM-Learning-Board-5V/32659009100.htmlAnd it has ISP pins broken out.EDIT: It is based on the AT89S52 and somebody wrote a guide on modifying and programming it:http://blog.copcea.ro/2015/02/07/ec1204b-clock-schematic-upgrade-firmware/

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 08:47:20 pm
content: Quote from: Chumanista on August 30, 2016, 08:37:58 pmNot that obscure, it's a flash derivative of the 80C5x.http://www.stcmcu.com/datasheet/stc/stc-ad-pdf/stc15f204ea-series-english.pdf

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 08:51:12 pm
content: Quote from: Chumanista on August 30, 2016, 11:09:56 amI purchaseda similar one from Banggoodfor my 10 yr old son to put together. It went together easy enough and works well. The case is very nice. I do have 2 complaints: It's 24 hour time format only and the light adjusted display does not dim enough at night. My son has it at his bedside and has to turn it face down at night. An easy resistor change fix, I'm sure but I just haven't gotten to it yet.

author: Chumanista
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 08:54:06 pm
content: @mtdoc:It turns out it is quite easy to reprogram it, there is an alternative code with both the option for 12h and changing the display dimming:https://github.com/zerog2k/stc_diyclock

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 09:33:45 pm
content: Quote from: Chumanista on August 30, 2016, 08:54:06 pmVery nice. Thanks!