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Arduino - LCD Clock
In this tutorial, we are going to learn how to make LCD clock by:
- Reading date and time from DS3231 RTC module and display it on an LCD I2C 16x2
- Reading date and time from DS1307 RTC module and display it on an LCD I2C 16x2
You can choose one of two RTC modules: DS3231 and DS1307. See DS3231 vs DS1307
Hardware Required
Or you can buy the following sensor kits:
| 1 | × | DIYables Sensor Kit (30 sensors/displays) | |
| 1 | × | DIYables Sensor Kit (18 sensors/displays) |
Disclosure: Some links in this section are Amazon affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Additionally, some links direct to products from our own brand, DIYables.
Additionally, some links direct to products from our own brand, DIYables.
About LCD, DS3231 and DS1307 RTC module
If you do not know about LCD, DS3231 and DS1307 (pinout, how it works, how to program ...), learn about them in the following tutorials:
Install LCD and RTC Libraries
- Navigate to the Libraries icon on the left bar of the Arduino IDE.
- Search “LiquidCrystal I2C”, then find the LiquidCrystal_I2C library by Frank de Brabander
- Click Install button to install LiquidCrystal_I2C library.
- Search “RTClib”, then find the RTC library by Adafruit. This library works with both DS3231 and DS1307
- Click Install button to install RTC library.
- You may be asked for intalling some other library dependencies
- Click Install All button to install all library dependencies.
Reading time from DS3231 RTC module and display it on LCD
Wiring Diagram
This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image
Arduino Code - DS3231 and LCD
/*
* Created by ArduinoGetStarted.com
*
* This example code is in the public domain
*
* Tutorial page: https://arduinogetstarted.com/tutorials/arduino-lcd-clock
*/
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>
#include <RTClib.h>
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2); // I2C address 0x27 (from DIYables LCD), 16 column and 2 rows
RTC_DS3231 rtc;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
lcd.init(); // initialize the lcd
lcd.backlight(); // open the backlight
// SETUP RTC MODULE
if (!rtc.begin()) {
Serial.println("Couldn't find RTC");
Serial.flush();
while (true)
;
}
// automatically sets the RTC to the date & time on PC this sketch was compiled
rtc.adjust(DateTime(F(__DATE__), F(__TIME__)));
}
void loop() {
DateTime now = rtc.now();
int year = now.year();
int month = now.month();
int day = now.day();
int hour = now.hour();
int minute = now.minute();
int second = now.second();
lcd.clear();
lcd.setCursor(0, 0); // start to print at the first row
lcd.print("Date: ");
lcd.print(year);
lcd.print("/");
lcd.print(month);
lcd.print("/");
lcd.print(day);
lcd.setCursor(0, 1); // start to print at the second row
lcd.print("Time: ");
lcd.print(hour);
lcd.print(":");
lcd.print(minute);
lcd.print(":");
lcd.print(second);
delay(1000); // Update every second
}
Quick Steps
- Copy the above code and open with Arduino IDE
- Click Upload button on Arduino IDE to upload code to Arduino
- See the result on LCD
Reading time from DS1307 RTC module and display it on LCD
Wiring Diagram
This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image
Arduino Code - DS1307 and LCD
/*
* Created by ArduinoGetStarted.com
*
* This example code is in the public domain
*
* Tutorial page: https://arduinogetstarted.com/tutorials/arduino-lcd-clock
*/
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>
#include <RTClib.h>
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2); // I2C address 0x27 (from DIYables LCD), 16 column and 2 rows
RTC_DS1307 rtc;
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
lcd.init(); // initialize the lcd
lcd.backlight(); // open the backlight
// SETUP RTC MODULE
if (!rtc.begin()) {
Serial.println("Couldn't find RTC");
Serial.flush();
while (true)
;
}
// automatically sets the RTC to the date & time on PC this sketch was compiled
rtc.adjust(DateTime(F(__DATE__), F(__TIME__)));
}
void loop() {
DateTime now = rtc.now();
int year = now.year();
int month = now.month();
int day = now.day();
int hour = now.hour();
int minute = now.minute();
int second = now.second();
lcd.clear();
lcd.setCursor(0, 0); // start to print at the first row
lcd.print("Date: ");
lcd.print(year);
lcd.print("/");
lcd.print(month);
lcd.print("/");
lcd.print(day);
lcd.setCursor(0, 1); // start to print at the second row
lcd.print("Time: ");
lcd.print(hour);
lcd.print(":");
lcd.print(minute);
lcd.print(":");
lcd.print(second);
delay(1000); // Update every second
}
Quick Steps
- Copy the above code and open with Arduino IDE
- Click Upload button on Arduino IDE to upload code to Arduino
- See the result on LCD
Video Tutorial
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