A nicer voltmeter clock
The article details the construction of a voltmeter clock that uses a vintage analog panel meter (0-50µA) as the display. The author, known for reverse engineering and hardware projects, designed a custom PCB with an Arduino Nano and a DS3231 real-time clock. The meter needle moves smoothly via PWM control through an op-amp circuit, showing hours and minutes with a sweep motion. The clock updates every second, and the needle returns to zero at the top of the hour before moving to the next hour. The project includes a 3D-printed case and uses a 5V USB power supply. The author provides schematics, code, and PCB files on GitHub. The build cost is around $20 in parts, excluding the meter. The article emphasizes the aesthetic appeal of analog displays and the satisfaction of repurposing vintage hardware.
Shows how to blend vintage hardware with modern microcontrollers for unique, functional art.