4-Digit Digital Clock kit

Key Features

• Calculates and displays the date based on the user-set starting date.
• Adjusts display brightness based on ambient light using an LDR.
• Measures and displays temperature using a thermistor.
• Alarm function, set for any time and the alarm will sound via the 5V buzzer.
• Hourly chime feature; set the device to chime on the hour at user-defined time of the day (e.g.: can be set to not chime at night, or to not chime at all).
• RTC module which ensures timekeeping during power loss via a 3V battery.

Kit Components

All components required to build the device including:

• Printed Circuit Board
• STC15W408AS MCU
• 7 segment LED display block (4)
• DS1302 Trickle-Charge Timekeeping Chip
• 32.768kHz Oscillating Crystal
• Light dependent resistor
• 22 pF ceramic capacitor (3)
• 104 ceramic capacitor
• Glass encapsulated NTC thermistor
• S8550 transistors (4)
• 10 KΩ metal film resistor (8)
• 330 Ω metal film resistor (9)
• Side mount tactile switch (2)
• Buzzer
• DIP-8 IC socket
• DIP-28 IC socket
• USB to DC cable
• 3V Battery retainer clip
• DC power socket
• Acrylic case
• Phillips self-tapping screws (4)

Age: 12+

Difficulty: Intermediate

Time to assemble: 2-4 hours

Young children require adult supervision when soldering

The Digital Clock Electronic STEM kit provides insights into some key scientific principles including:

Circuitry and Electricity

Learn about the flow of electricity and the function of components in electronics. Understanding the function of individual electronic components is crucial for electronic engineers.

The kit introduces LED digital display tubes and demonstrates how they provide meaningful visual output from a circuit.

It illustrates how transistors act as electronic switches or amplifiers, which they do by controlling the flow of current in a circuit based on the input signal.

It covers capacitors which store and release electrical energy, acting as temporary reservoirs that smooth voltage fluctuations, filter signals, and facilitate timing functions in electronic circuits.

It includes resistors which are for controlling current to protect sensitive components such as low voltage LEDs.

The kit employs sensors - a thermistor which records real-time temperature and a light dependent resistor which detects light level. This is then fed into the circuit and adjusts the power to the LED display in order to control brightness. These important features demonstrate how sensors can take external inputs to perform various functions within an electronic device.

Soldering Techniques

Gain practical experience in soldering, a fundamental skill in electronics. This process involves melting solder to make secure electrical connections. For engineers wishing to design their own electronic devices, traditional soldering skills are essential for prototyping.

Integrated Circuits (ICs)

The kit includes integrated circuits which give insight into the complex electronics that power today's devices. You will learn about the role of ICs to process and control aspects of the circuit. This knowledge is foundational for understanding advanced electronic systems.

Button Mechanism

The buttons in the kit highlights the concept of manual control and input. You will discover how a button can be used to switch between various functions of the device. This provides a basic understanding of manual control in electronics.

Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

Assembling the kit involves working with a printed circuit board. Learners gain insight into PCB design. They can explore the intricacies of the PCB to learn how connections are made. They also learn how parts are strategically arranged on PCBs to ensure devices are as small as possible while also having low interference between components.

Practical Problem Solving

Building the digital clock encourages budding electronics engineers to troubleshoot and problem-solve. They learn to find issues in the circuits and how to fix problems. This promotes a practical approach to solving real challenges in electronics.