How to Make a Digital Clock

Last Updated: October 14, 2024 References

Digital clocks can be used to tell time at a glance. They quickly became more popular than the older sweep hand clocks, now known as analog clocks. The time derived by analog clocks came from either a pendulum or a spring. Pendulums are unusable on moving platforms, such as a ship, and springs unwind more and more slowly as they release stored up tension. The use of sweep hands allowed these mechanical time bases to be presented in a mechanically driven display. With the perfecting of multivibrator chips, electrical circuits could be built that could accurately keep time under a wide range of conditions. As the time base had switched from mechanical to electrical, the time display had to follow suit. Display devices called 7 segment displays were designed to allow the time to be shown numerically. While many digital clocks are available commercially, you can also build your own from components. Follow these tips to learn how to make a digital clock.

1

Identify an electronics parts supplier.

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Choose a vendor that offers basic integrated circuits of the generic 74xx and 40xx families, and discrete components, such as resistors and capacitors.

2

Gather your materials.

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If the breadboard does not come with clips, which are wires that can be plugged into the breadboard to connect integrated circuits, purchase the required clips. ^{[1]
X
Research source} The data sheet will show how to wire connect the 7805 and the supporting discrete components. ^{[2]
X
Research source}

3

Create a 5 volt power source.

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Acquire the 7805 and support components and build them up on 1 corner of the breadboard. Consult the manufacturer's data sheet for the 7805 to get the required pin-to-pin wire connections for this circuit. Plug the components into the breadboard to physically support them. ^{[3]
X
Research source}

4

Define a 1 Hz time base.

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It will show how to wire the 4060 to operate as a time generator in conjunction with a 4013 flip flop IC. Support discrete components and the wiring of the support discrete components will be shown on the data sheets. ^{[4]
X
Research source}

5

Generate the 1 Hz time base.

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Acquire the 4060, 4013, breadboard sockets for those parts, and all discrete support components identified in the data sheets. Consult the manufacturer's data sheet for the 4060 to get the required pin-to-pin wire connections for this circuit. Plug the components into the breadboard to support them.

6

Prepare the physical components of the clock.

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Then, mount 6 7447 display driver ICs in a line beside the 7490 ICs. Mount 6 light emitting diode (LED) displays in another line, arranged so that they are side by side as the digits of a digital clock should be. All of these devices must be plugged into breadboard sockets, which are in turn plugged into the breadboard.

7

Connect the display drivers and create the counter section.

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From there, refer to the 7490 data sheets. Wiring from the rightmost device to the leftmost device, wire the first 4 7490s as a count by 10, a count by 6, a count by 10, and a count by 6. Wire the fifth 7490 as a count by 2 and the sixth 7490 as a count by 1 for the 12-hour clock. Wire the fifth 7490 as a count by 4 and the sixth 7490 as a count by 2 for the 24-hour clock. ^{[5]
X
Research source}

8

Sequence the time clocking signals.

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Generate a consistent clock signal with a specific frequency. Then, divide that signal into smaller time increments, with each increment forcing the display to update the corresponding digit on the clock. Perform the following steps:
- Connect the 1 Hz time base of the clocking input (In B, pin 14) to the clocking input of the first 7490. This 7490 is the seconds counter.
- Wire pin 11 of the first 7490 to the clocking input of the second 7490. This 7490 is the tens of seconds counter.
- Provide the ability to set the minutes section of the counter. Wire the output from pin 8 of the second 7490 to the normally closed contact of a single pole double throw switch. Wire the normally open contact of the switch to the 1 Hz time base. Wire the wiper of the switch to the clock input of the third 7490. This 7490 is the minutes counter.
- Wire pin 11 of the third 7490 as the clocking input of the fourth 7490. This 7490 is the tens of minutes counter.
- Provide the ability to set the hours section of the counter. Wire the output from pin 8 of the fourth 7490 to the normally closed contact of a single pole double throw switch. Wire the normally open contact of the switch to the 1 Hz time base. Wire the wiper of the switch to the clock input of the fifth 7490. The fifth 7490 is the hours counter.
- Connect pin 6 or pin 7 of the fifth 7490 as the clocking input of the sixth 7490. This 7490 is the tens of hours counter. Use pin 6 of the fifth 7490 for the American 12-hour clock. Use pin 7 of the fifth 7490 for the 24-hour European clock.
- Attach the 12 volt battery to the 7805 regulator using the 12 volt battery socket.

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Can I print out the "things I need" list?

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Yes, you can.

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Can I get a circuit diagram of the digital clock?

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Do a Google image search for "circuit diagram of a digital clock," you'll see many examples.

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How do I make a powerful amplifier?

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Look for an MD8002A Audio Amplifier. It will provide simple circuit diagrams that you can use.

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Things You'll Need

Electronics breadboard with clips
Integrated circuit sockets for electronic breadboarding
Voltage regulator and support discrete electronics
Time base generator and support discrete electronics
Counter integrated circuits
Light Emitting Diode (LED) display driver integrated circuits
Display driver integrated circuits.
Seven segment Light Emitting Diode (LED) displays
Push button switches
12 volt battery and 12 volt battery socket

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How to Make a Digital Clock

Steps

Identify an electronics parts supplier.

Gather your materials.

Create a 5 volt power source.

Define a 1 Hz time base.

Generate the 1 Hz time base.

Prepare the physical components of the clock.

Connect the display drivers and create the counter section.

Sequence the time clocking signals.

Community Q&A

Tips

Things You'll Need

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