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This guide provides step-by-step instructions to build and program the Tech-Box.io LED Word Clock kit, purchasable in the Tech-Box.io Shop (Shop Now). Source code and the required libraries and drivers are also available for download within this guide, making it easier than ever to complete your Arduino inspired project!

Below and on the following pages you will find sections for the downloads, electrical wiring, programming, and housing assembly. Be sure to read each part and step fully and carefully as you continue through the guide! Throughout this guide, there will be keywords with highlighted links that you can click to learn more about a particular component or phrase.

Hint: Click HERE to open the above image in a new window for quick and easy reference throughout this guide!

• (A) Two-Tone Acrylic Housing -- This is used to build the case that houses all of the electronics. (Note: A breakdown of housing components as Parts A-1 through A-7 is shown below)
  
  
  
  
  
  
• (B) Two Clock Faces: "Five Thirty" and "Half To" -- The “FiveThirty” face illustrates time in the style: “Five : Thirty”, “Twelve : Forty”, and “Eight : Even” as examples. The “HalfTo” face illustrates time in the style: “Five To Twelve”, “Half To Three”, “Fifteen To Nine”, and “Twenty Of Six”. You will be able to choose from either clock face for your kit. (Note: A breakdown of clock face options as Parts B-1 and B-2 is shown in the image above, under Part (A))
  
  
• (C)  Nano Board Arduino Compatible Microcontroller -- This is the "brain" of the kit and is known as a microcontroller. It controls all of the other components/parts through its inputs and outputs and is where the code for the project is uploaded to
  
  Note: The reset (RST) button on this microcontroller RESTARTS the program from its first line of code, it does NOT completely reset the entire controller.
  
  
• (D) DS3231 Real Time Clock (RTC) -- This is a highly precise clock that accurately keeps the current time, even when disconnected from power, and communicates that "real" time to the Nano Board microcontroller
  
  
• (E) 8x8 LED Matrix -- This is an 8-by-8 matrix of individually controllable LED's (Light Emitting Diodes) that operate on the RGB (Red-Green-Blue) color scheme. This means that each LED on the matrix can display Red, Green, and Blue, and will display various combinations of these colors to create each color of the rainbow
  
  
• (F) 30-Pin Breadboard -- This is the base where all of the kit's components will be placed or connected and is the foundation for electronics prototyping
  
  
• (G) CR2032 Coin Cell Battery -- This is a coin cell battery that is used to keep the DS3231 Real Time Clock powered when the Word Clock is disconnected from power. This allows the DS3231 RTC to continue tracking time precisely without external power. This battery will already be installed in the DS3231 RTC when it arrives, DO NOT remove it or you will have to re-program the DS3231 RTC
  
  
• (H) Mini USB Cable -- This cable will act as both the programming cable (when connected to the Nano Board and your computer) and as the power cable (when connected to the Nano Board and US Wall Plug) for this kit
  
  
• (I) US Wall Plug (Only included if selected at time of purchase) -- This is an AC-to-DC power adapter (like the ones used for cell phone chargers) and converts the power from your wall outlet to power that can be used by the Nano Board and other components in this kit
  
  
• (J) Male-to-Male (M-M) Breadboard Jumper Wires -- (Qty. - x4) -- These wires have exposed metal pins on each end of the wire. These pins can be inserted into the breadboard holes to connect separate parts of the breadboard or other components. The wires may come attached to each other, but can be easily separated as shown in the image below
  
  
  
  
  
  Note: The colors of the wires provided in your kit are randomized. Therefore, the colors used in this guide do NOT matter and your wiring does NOT have to match the color scheme used in the following photos. You are free to use whichever colors you prefer when wiring this kit.
  
  
• (K) Male-to-Female (M-F) Breadboard Jumper Wires -- (Qty. - x3) -- These wires have an exposed metal pin on one end of the wire and a plastic slot on the other end into which another metal pin can be inserted. These wires can be inserted into the breadboard holes to connect other components with exposed pins. The wires may come attached to each other, but can also be easily separated as shown in the image above, under the Male-to-Male Breadboard Jumper Wires
  
  Note: The colors of the wires provided in your kit are randomized. Therefore, the colors used in this guide do NOT matter and your wiring does NOT have to match the color scheme used in the following photos. You are free to use whichever colors you prefer when wiring this kit.
  
  
• (L) 330Ohm Resistor -- This piece introduces electrical resistance to the circuit it is placed in. For this kit, it is used as a "current limiting" resistor which is meant to limit the current or power being drawn from the Nano Board by the LED Matrix. If the current draw was not limited, it could damage the Nano Board over time. This resistor will keep the power draw at a safe level for both the Nano Board and LED Matrix components
  
  
• (M) 470uF (micro-Farad) 10-Volt Capacitor -- This piece introduces electrical capacitance to the circuit it is placed in. For this kit, it is used to create a small reserve of energy for the LED Matrix to pull from during its maximum power draw. Thus, this piece "smooths" the power drawn by the LED Matrix to flatten the peaks of the current drawn and to provide more consistent illumination from the LEDs
  
  

Downloads

All required downloads for this kit are linked below. This list is only for reference, and you do not need to download them at this time. You will be able to download each file when it is used later in the guide.

1. Tech-BoxIO_LED_Word_Clock.ino

Electrical Assembly

The first step when assembling this kit is to start assembling all of the electrical components. The following instructions will walk you through the assembly process, with step-by-step images provided underneath each step:

1. Begin by locating the bottom of the LED Word Clock housing (Part A-5) and position it with the black side facing up. Peel the protective backing off of the Breadboard (Part F) to expose the adhesive tape and place the breadboard (Part F) onto the bottom of the housing (Part A-5) exactly as shown in the image below, making sure to align the corners of the breadboard (Part F) with the "L" shaped alignment cutouts on the bottom of the housing (Part A-5), as highlighted by the arrows. The orientation and position of the breadboard (Part F) are very important, so be cautious when completing this step. DO NOT attempt to remove the breadboard (Part F) from the bottom of the housing after it is adhered or the breadboard will become damaged. (Hint: Use the ROW and COLUMN numbers on the breadboard (Part F) for proper orientation)
   
   Note: The bottom of the housing is NOT shown in the following steps for greater clarity!
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Remove the Nano Board (Part C) from its packaging and insert it into the Breadboard (Part F) as shown, ensuring that Pin D12 on the Nano Board (Part C) is inserted into pin position H7 on the breadboard (Part F). It is important to ensure that the Nano Board (Part C) is pushed all the way into the breadboard so that the pins are securely connected. To do this, ensure the pins are properly lined up with the holes in the breadboard to avoid damaging them, and then push firmly until the Nano Board rests against the breadboard. The Nano Board (Part C) will control the LED Matrix (Part E) and communicate with the DS3231 Real Time Clock (Part D) which will both be installed later! 
   
   Note: The wiring for this kit is VERY important. Be sure to double-check each connection and make sure that the location is correct and matches each image shown before moving onto the next step or your kit may not work correctly!
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Your kit should arrive with this battery (Part G) already installed. If so, you can skip this step, otherwise, follow the directions below. Place the CR2032 Coin Cell Battery (Part G) into the DS3231 RTC (Part D), with the positive (+) side of the battery facing outward once it is inserted, as shown. This battery (Part G) will allow the DS3231 RTC (Part D) to keep accurate track of time even while the clock is unplugged, so you will never have to reset it!
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Insert the DS3231 RTC (Part D) into the breadboard (Part F) with the 32K pin located in pin position A30 and the GND pin in position A25, as shown. The DS3231 RTC (Part D) is an extremely accurate Real Time Clock that compensates for temperature differences when measuring the changes in the frequency of its crystal which oscillates with a known base frequency. This allows it to track time more accurately than a microcontroller, like the Nano Board (Part C), could by itself.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Insert the 470uF 10V Electrolytic Capacitor (Part M) into pin locations A20 and A21 on the breadboard (Part F), with the negative (grey) side of the capacitor placed in pin location A20, as highlighted by the arrows in the image below. This capacitor (Part M) will smooth the power supplied to the LED matrix (Part E) for a more consistent image.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Place the 330 Ohm Resistor (Part L) on the breadboard (Part F) with its leads (or exposed wires) inserted into pin locations J12 and J28, as shown in the image below, bending the leads as needed to route them correctly. Additionally, the orientation of the resistor does not matter, as resistors are inherently bi-directional (or can pass electrical current and signals in both directions). This resistor (Part L) will limit the current passing from the output pin of the Nano Board (Part C) into the LED matrix’s (Part E) input pin.
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Use the four Male-Male Breadboard Jumper Wires (Part J) to connect pin locations B14, B15, B20, and B21 to pin locations B27, B28, B25, and B26 on the breadboard (Part F), as shown in the image below (B14 – B27, B15 – B28, B20 – B25, B21 – B26). These connections supply power (VSS) and ground (GND) to the DS3231 RTC (Part D) from the Nano Board (Part C) (VIN and GND) and connect the SDA and SCL communication bus pins of the DS3231 RTC (Part D) to the Nano Board (Part C) (A4 and A5), allowing the current time to be communicated via serial. (Note: Remember, you can separate the wires if needed by gently tearing them apart)
   
   The colors of the wires provided in your kit are randomized. Therefore, the colors used in this guide do NOT matter and your wiring does NOT have to match the color scheme used in the following photos. You are free to use whichever colors you prefer when wiring this kit.
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. Connect the three Male-Female Breadboard Jumper Wires (Part K) to pin locations C20, F28, and C21 on the breadboard (Part F), as shown in the image below. These leads will be connected to the V-, VIN, and V+ pins of the LED matrix (Part E) in the following steps. (Note: Remember, you can separate the wires if needed by gently tearing them apart)
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. Locate the LED Support Bracket (Part A-2) and pass the Male-Female breadboard wires (Part K) through the upper left square near the circle cutout when oriented as shown, with the colored side facing forward. This piece will keep the LED Matrix (Part E) pressed against the clock face (Part B-1 / B-2) for consistent illumination.
   
   
   
   
   
10. Connect the Male-Female breadboard wires (Part K) which are inserted in pin locations C20, F28, and C21, to the V-, VIN, and V+ pins of the LED matrix (Part E), respectively as shown in the image below (C20 – V-, F28 – VIN, C21 – V+). These connections will supply power and data to the LED matrix (Part E) so that the current time can be displayed. (Note: Remember, you can separate the wires if needed by gently tearing them apart)
    
    
    
    
    
    

Congratulations! You have completed the wiring of your LED Word Clock! It is now time to program the Nano Board (Part C) and select your desired clock face (Part B-1 or B-2). (Note: This DIY kit comes pre-programmed for the timezone of your shipping address, so the programming section of this guide can be skipped by continuing onto Section 3 - The Housing, by following this link. However, if you wish to complete the programming section and to learn the programming process or to change the time the clock is set for, you must open the link to this instruction guide on your Windows or MacOS computer to download the required files and programming tool. To do this, go to https://tech-box.io/LWC on your computer's internet browser and select Section 2 - Programming!) Continue to the next page and follow the steps in that section to complete the programming and testing.