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May 27, 2023

The 8 Best Raspberry Pi Clock Projects You Can Make

With a Raspberry Pi single-board computer, you can build a wide range of

With a Raspberry Pi single-board computer, you can build a wide range of impressive timepieces.

A clock is a commonplace gadget that we have all come to take for granted, but what happens when you combine the functionality of a clock with the versatility of the Raspberry Pi platform? Let's find out by exploring some of the best Raspberry Pi clock projects you can undertake.

PiClock is a Raspberry Pi clock built by GitHub user Kelvin Uhlir (n0bel) who describes it as a "fancy clock built around a monitor and a Raspberry Pi". It is a Python-programmed clock and weather display that utilizes the Raspberry Pi and a display of your choice to present a customizable and informative display. It can show the current time, date, weather conditions, and a radar map.

You will need a Raspberry Pi (basically, any model will work with a few modifications), display, power supply, keyboard, mouse, and an internet connection. Optional equipment includes an IR remote and receiver, temperature sensor, and RGB LED strip. If you need a refresher on the Raspberry Pi range of single-board computers, be sure to check out our guide on choosing a Raspberry Pi model for your project.

This project may be better suited for electronics hobbyists with experience or the patience and time to make up for it. It requires a blend of wiring, programming, and 3D printing skills and can be a great way to level up in all aspects. Our list of essential tools for every electronics hobbyist is a resource worth checking out if you are just starting out.

This retro timepiece recreates the nostalgia of old-fashioned flip clocks using a Raspberry Pi and several other parts. Apart from telling the time and setting alarms, this flip clock has other features such as Spotify playback, weather forecasts, and FM radio functionality.

You will need to create a printed circuit board fitted with a microcontroller and drivers to control the flip digits on the clock. You will also need a 3D printer (or access to one), a Raspberry Pi 3A+ (you can use another model as long as you account for the form factor), two 3W speakers, and other components you can find in the bill of materials on GitHub. You should take the time to learn more about printed circuit boards and how they work.

A binary clock is a take on the standard clock that uses binary numbers represented by LED lights and organized in different columns to tell the time. Needless to say, telling the time on this type of clock will be considerably difficult for most people, compared to a standard sexagesimal (base 60) clock. But, if you are looking for a Raspberry Pi clock project that is simple to build, tests your mathematical ability, and is most likely to confound your guests, then look no further.

This project from YouTuber Gary Explains uses the Raspberry Pico W, an 8x8 matrix display module (MAX7219), some Python code, and a little bit of elbow grease. You can find the code files on GitHub.

A word clock displays the time using words instead of traditional numbers. A Raspberry Pi single-board computer can power a word clock project by illuminating specific words or phrases to indicate the time.

This project involves a fair bit of complicated wiring, woodworking (or 3D printing), and tinkering with software. You can use different language layouts and install plugins that allow you to play Tetris, find out the current temperature, and check sunrise and sunset times.

It uses a glass stencil for the letters that you can either order online or make yourself, along with a wooden skeleton (board with holes in it), Raspberry Pi, 5V power supply, LED strip, and a frame.

This project is a simple one that uses a Pi Zero and an e-ink display. It is the brainchild of a Reddit user, tttpp, and was spotlighted in the main Raspberry Pi subreddit.

It is fairly easy to set up. All you need is a Pi Zero, Waveshare 2.13" e-ink display, and The Pi Hut's case for the latter. The only major con of this Raspberry Pi clock is the slow refresh rate of the e-ink display, which makes it harder to show seconds on the clock.

You will also have to install the Lite version of the Raspberry Pi OS, Python 3, and tmux (terminal multiplexer). More detailed instructions can be found in tttpp's Reddit post.

A Nixie tube (aka cold cathode display) is a type of electronic device used primarily for displaying numeric information using glow discharge. It was popular in the mid-20th century before being largely replaced by modern digital displays such as LEDs, LCDs, and VFDs.

If you are interested in making your very own Raspberry Pi Nixie clock, you just have to follow the example of Grisha Anofriev. He uses six IN-14 Nixie tubes, a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (any model with a 40-pin GPIO header will do), a 12V power supply, an Arduino Nixie Clock Shield, and an Arduino to Raspberry Pi HAT adapter.

It is a fairly expensive project, and you can expect to spend around $300 (less, if you already own a Nixie tube set). Regardless, building your own Nixie clock is worth it for the nostalgic experience alone, and it also grants you ingress into the small club of hobbyists with an actual Nixie tube clock.

Telling the time is cool, but what if you could know the current temperature in your area? This Raspberry Pi Thermometer + Clock project from Adafruit uses a real-time clock (RTC) module to tell the time, so you don't even need an internet connection.

You will need a Raspberry Pi, an Adafruit T-Cobbler Plus (to break out the GPIO pins onto a breadboard), compatible display, DS18B20 temperature sensor, Adafruit DS1307 RTC board, and other components. A slide switch toggles between the digital clock and thermometer display. Before building it, you may want to find out more about breadboards and how they work.

This clock build from Veeb Projects combines the capabilities of the Raspberry Pi platform with the accuracy of an atomic clock. The original project revives a dead, old railway clock with a Raspberry Pi Pico, radio antenna, real-time clock, and H-bridge motor driver.

You could opt for the Pico W instead and leave out the radio antenna and the RTC. The radio antenna is responsible for receiving the time signals from an atomic clock radio station while the H-bridge switches the polarity of the voltage to the clock to get things moving.

If you have an old "slave clock" lying around the house, this could be the perfect project for it. You can learn about the project on the GitHub page.

These Raspberry Pi clock projects showcase the versatility of the Raspberry Pi platform. Choose the project that appeals to you the most, gather the necessary components, and enjoy building your very own Raspberry Pi-powered clock!

Tomisin is a staff writer at MUO with a penchant for breaking down complex topics into easily digestible bits. He first started writing reviews of phones and gadgets in 2016 and loves reading spec sheets and tinkering with new technology.Currently, he writes about DIY tech for MakeUseOf and looks forward to expanding his horizons.