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Knob Clock Kit

Knob Clock Kit

A color-screen clock with one turn-and-press knob and one button. Students start by blinking a light and finish with five clock faces.

Source book: Clocks and Watches
Kit page: https://dmccreary.github.io/clocks-and-watches/kits/rect-tft-display/
Printable one-pager: rect-tft-display-one-pager.html

Features

  • Set its own time. It asks the internet what time it is.
  • Show the time your way. Choose big digital numbers, or a clock face
  • Tell you the weather. Today's and tomorrow's forecast appear with
  • Time laps and count down. It works as a stopwatch that records
  • Switch with a turn of the knob. Turn the knob to step through all

Benefits

  • Free, open lessons: the Clocks and Watches textbook has the kit page, wiring, and MicroPython code.
  • Ready-made curriculum: 18 additional lab pages walk students through the build step by step.
  • Classroom friendly: built on a solderless breadboard or no-solder connectors.
  • Wireless-ready: the Pico W option adds Wi-Fi for time sync and web projects.
  • Instant feedback: students see their code's results on lights or a display.
  • Real-world data: students read sensors and turn measurements into decisions.
  • Budget: about $16 (display board with knob and button $5.53, Pico 2 W about $5, breadboard $2, wires $1, USB cable $2).

Parts

  • Raspberry Pi Pico W ($5) — Microcontroller with Wireless
  • GC9B72 Smartwatch Display ($5.39) — Display
  • Momentary Push Buttons — Input button / switch
  • Piezo Buzzer / Speaker — Sound output
  • KY-040 Rotary Encoder — Input knob
  • ST7735 1.8" TFT — Display
  • ST7789 TFT — Display
  • 830-Point Breadboard ($1.10) — Breadboard
  • Micro-USB Data Cable ($2.50) — Power and programming cable