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Make this 7 Segment Digital Clock with Beep Alert Circuit

Last Updated on December 5, 2024 by Swagatam 14 Comments

In this post I will show how to construct a digital clock using 7 segment LED display with Arduino controlled design.

Table of Contents
  • How the Circuits Works
  • The Design:
  • Pin configuration of IC 4026:
  • The beeper circuit:
  • Program Code:

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:

warning message: electricity is dangerous, proceed with caution
Test Result of 7 Segment Digital Clock

Here is a completed prototype using cardboard and scrap materials:

P 20160808 222200 1

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:

  • 1.  How to Make a Simple Math Calculator using Arduino
  • 2.  Arduino Digital Clock Using RTC Module
  • 3.  Learning Basic Arduino Programming – Tutorial for the Newcomers
  • 4.  Arduino PWM Signal Generator Circuit
  • 5.  How to Make LED Air Pollution Meter Circuit with Arduino
  • 6.  How to Interface 4×4 Keypad with Arduino

Filed Under: Arduino Projects Tagged With: Alert, Beep, Clock, Digital, Segment

About Swagatam

I am an electronics engineer and doing practical hands-on work from more than 15 years now. Building real circuits, testing them and also making PCB layouts by myself. I really love doing all these things like inventing something new, designing electronics and also helping other people like hobby guys who want to make their own cool circuits at home.

And that is the main reason why I started this website homemade-circuits.com, to share different types of circuit ideas..

If you are having any kind of doubt or question related to circuits then just write down your question in the comment box below, I am like always checking, so I guarantee I will reply you for sure!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Uttam Dutta says

    July 25, 2017 at 4:17 pm

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

    Reply
    • Swagatam says

      July 26, 2017 at 7:32 am

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

      Reply
    • kwintpy says

      December 10, 2017 at 1:46 pm

      ahh can you make an alarm clock?

      Reply
      • kwintoy says

        December 10, 2017 at 1:47 pm

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

        Reply
        • Swagatam says

          December 10, 2017 at 5:42 pm

          If possible I’ll update the design soon

          Reply
          • kwintoy says

            December 11, 2017 at 6:03 am

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

            Reply
          • kwintoy says

            December 11, 2017 at 6:48 am

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

            Reply
            • Swagatam says

              December 11, 2017 at 7:47 am

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

              Reply
          • kwintoy says

            December 11, 2017 at 3:18 pm

            can we use the same code?

            Reply
            • Swagatam says

              December 11, 2017 at 5:48 pm

              No that won’t work…

              Reply
  2. Uttam Dutta says

    July 23, 2017 at 3:41 pm

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

    Reply
    • Swagatam says

      July 24, 2017 at 2:36 am

      common cathode, it's been provided in the diagram

      Reply
  3. Ujjwal Sikriwal says

    August 24, 2016 at 5:55 pm

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

    Reply
  4. Swagatam says

    August 11, 2016 at 3:51 pm

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

    Wish you all the best!!

    Reply

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