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You are here: Home / Arduino Engineering Projects / Make this 7 Segment Digital Clock with Beep Alert Circuit

Make this 7 Segment Digital Clock with Beep Alert Circuit

Last Updated on June 23, 2021 by Swagatam

caution electricity can be dangerous

In this post we are going to construct a digital clock using 7 segment LED display with Arduino controlled design.

How the Circuits Works

The proposed 7 segment clock circuit is inexpensive and even beginner in Arduino can accomplish it with ease. This clock consists of four 7 segment displays, two for hours and two for minutes.

The display is paired with IC 4026 which is designed for driving 7 segment displays. Each IC 4026 is controlled by Arduino.

This clock has beep alert function, which beeps every beginning of the hour, giving a rough idea about time without looking at the clock. This clock does not have alarm function.

The Arduino code doesn’t need any special library for compile the program. The clock has very minimalist design, just four displays and two LEDs for AM/PM indicator and no fancy functions other than beeping every hour.

Author’s prototype:

Test Result of 7 Segment Digital Clock

Here is a completed prototype using cardboard and scrap materials:

The Design:

The circuit consists of four IC 4026 for controlling four 7 segment displays and the brain of the clock arduino. Two pull down resistors are connected to reset pin of IC 4026 to avoid accidental reset due to static charge. AM/PM indicator connected to arduino in combination with 330 ohm current limiting resistor.

Note: 220 ohm to 330 ohm resistor should be connected each segments of display. 

7 Segment Digital Clock with Beep Alert Circuit

Pin configuration of IC 4026:

Pin configuration of IC 4026

The beeper circuit:

The beeper circuit is just a monostable multivibrator designed using IC555. When a negative pulse is fed to pin #2 of IC555, it beeps roughly for one second. This audio alert helps the user to keep a rough idea about the time. The pin #2 of IC555 should be connected to pin # 10 of arduino.

IC 555 buzzer circuit

Program Code:

//---------Program developed by R.Girish---------------//
int mint=13;
int hrs=11;
int beep=10;
int rst=8; // reset to mint ic.
int rsth=9; //reset to hrs ic.
int am=7;
int pm=6;
int y=0;
int t=0;
int x=0;
void setup()
{
pinMode(beep,OUTPUT);
pinMode(hrs,OUTPUT);
pinMode(am,OUTPUT);
pinMode(pm,OUTPUT);
pinMode(mint,OUTPUT);
pinMode(rst,OUTPUT);
pinMode(rsth,OUTPUT);
}
void loop()
{
digitalWrite(beep,1);
digitalWrite(13,0);
delay(10000);
delay(10000);
delay(10000);
delay(10000);
delay(10000);
delay(10000);
digitalWrite(13,1);
t=t+1;
if(t==60)
{
digitalWrite(rst,1);
digitalWrite(rst,0);
digitalWrite(hrs,1);
digitalWrite(hrs,0);
digitalWrite(beep,0);
digitalWrite(beep,1);
x=x+1;
y=y+1;
t=0;
delay(2000);  // error fixing (varies with temperature)
}
if(x==13)  // display 1'O clock after 12'O clock.
{
digitalWrite(rsth,1);
digitalWrite(rsth,0);
digitalWrite(hrs,1);
digitalWrite(hrs,0);
x=1;
}
if(y<12)
{
digitalWrite(am,1);
digitalWrite(pm,0);
}
if(y>=12)
{
digitalWrite(pm,1);
digitalWrite(am,0);
}
if(y==24) y=0;
}
//---------Program developed by R.Girish---------------//

How to set time:

Being very minimalist design the “reset button” can be used to set time. But the user has to set the time with the help of reference clock. The user has to reset the arduino at exactly 12’O clock. One this is done the clock updates the time on its own.

Note: Since the above explained 7 segment digital clock using Arduino does not have “real time clock chip”, for maintaining accurate time, there is possibility that the time may lead/lag due to change in the ambient temperature.

To rectify this here are the steps:

•    If your clock leads the time of reference clock by few seconds it need to be slow down, note down the difference and enter the value in the program in milliseconds.

delay(2000);  // error fixing (varies with temperature)  This will slow down few seconds every hour.

•    Replace 2000 with your value.

•    If you clock lags set the “delay(0); //error fixing(varies with time)” and make the following changes in the program:

delay(10000);
delay(10000);
delay(10000);
delay(10000);
delay(10000);
delay(10000);
to
delay(10000);
delay(10000);
delay(10000);
delay(10000);
delay(10000);
delay(9700);

Replace “delay(9700);” with your value to speed up the time every minute.

These steps do not guarantee that time will be always accurate, but it helps to maintain the time with minimal inaccuracy. The proposed design is 12 hour clock.

You'll also like:

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  • 2.  Line Follower Robot Circuit using Arduino
  • 3.  Arduino PWM Signal Generator Circuit
  • 4.  Introduction to EEPROM in Arduino
  • 5.  High Current Motor Control Circuit using Arduino
  • 6.  How to Make LED Air Pollution Meter Circuit with Arduino

About Swagatam

I am an electronic engineer (dipIETE ), hobbyist, inventor, schematic/PCB designer, manufacturer. I am also the founder of the website: https://www.homemade-circuits.com/, where I love sharing my innovative circuit ideas and tutorials.
If you have any circuit related query, you may interact through comments, I'll be most happy to help!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Uttam Dutta says

    July 25, 2017

    What modification hard ware and software will be required for common anode type display for little bigger size like 1.5 inches display

    • Swagatam says

      July 26, 2017

      According to me, the same design can be used for the mentioned display also!

    • kwintpy says

      December 10, 2017

      ahh can you make an alarm clock?

      • kwintoy says

        December 10, 2017

        alarm clock, like the same with that 7 segment LED.

        • Swagatam says

          December 10, 2017

          If possible I’ll update the design soon

          • kwintoy says

            December 11, 2017

            okay, hope you can make it this week .
            thanks..

          • kwintoy says

            December 11, 2017

            Sir, instead of 4026 IC, we got 4511. Is there a way we could use this IC instead of the 4026?
            Thanks ^_^

            • Swagatam says

              December 11, 2017

              Kwintoy, it is possible but the circuit configuration will be different

          • kwintoy says

            December 11, 2017

            can we use the same code?

            • Swagatam says

              December 11, 2017

              No that won’t work…

  2. Uttam Dutta says

    July 23, 2017

    What kind of 7 seg display is used, CA or CC type, can I use 1 inch size 7 seg display

    • Swagatam says

      July 24, 2017

      common cathode, it's been provided in the diagram

  3. Ujjwal Sikriwal says

    August 24, 2016

    How can I write output of arduino to any txt file in my pc only…

  4. Swagatam says

    August 11, 2016

    That's great Mr.Devendar, I am glad you liked it!

    Wish you all the best!!

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