my Ice Tube Clock mod, using ardweeny + I2C RTC

[kero905]

Hi.. I took the software from Jason's VFD clock and ported it to the ice tube clock. http://www.vonnieda.org/tc18
Not a strict port, because I am now using an atmega328 (Solarbotics Ardweeny) and an i2c RTC chip. For my application, I needed a clock that was very accurate and long backup battery life (because I turn off all power except refrigerator when leaving the house). Being able to control the display via serial is a plus because I have some hacked routers that speak serial and later I might want to use NTP to sync time.

Video demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-hwaGUowrg

- Didn't want to have to solder/de-solder anything from the stock ice tube clock board
- Made the ardweeny with just the FTDI headers.. tried to make it as low profile as possible using right angle headers
- Burnt Arduino Pro 3.3V 8mhz bootloader on ardweeny
- Set fuse to use 8Mhz internal OSC
- On ardweeny, Used pads for decoupling cap for power header for RTC
- got to i2c pins somehow.. they are actually broken out nicely on the ice tube clock PCB, but didn't want to touch them because I wanted a "drop in chip" solution
- Somehow the monstrosity fit under the tube nicely.

Additional notes:
4 pin headers easily pass through the battery cutout.
Most of the software is a merge between Jason's and Ladyada's code. Jason's being the base since it was already in arduino and used the same RTC chip. If something looks like awful code.. its probably mine, sorry.
The timer0 is used for the boost converter, so don't use the Arduino delay() function.. use delay2() instead.
Don't put a backup battery in the clock, the battery should backup the RTC chip.
Serial is 9200 buad, everything displayed is echoed via serial. Can be commented out.. but not really hurting system.
There are 2 analog pins not used (A1 + A2).. want use them for auto dimming later.

Now back to Final Fantasy XIII addiction.

[guillermo3r]

Your project is awesome. It would be great if you could make a more detailed guide to do the hack,

[kero905]

Maybe ill make a guide later. But for now I will post a better picture of the chip

side with labels: http://www.flickr.com/photos/keroism/4431953029/
top view: http://www.flickr.com/photos/keroism/4432792020/

I forgot to mention, The RTC used is the DS3231. macetech provides a breakout board called "ChronoDot"
The DS1307 should be compatible however the temperature registers will probably not be there. The ChronoDot package is too large to fit into the icetube clock unless parts of the pcb are cut off (which will prob void any warranty). I decided to keep it on the outside.

It was hard to get header connectors because I don't have a crimping tool or parts. I bought some cables from Seeed Studio depot .. a 6-pin to 6-pin one and a few 4-connector to 4x 1 connectors.

I was working on a PCB to use instead of Ardweeny that will breakout FTDI + i2c + light sensor for the Ice tube clock. I submitted it to batchpcb last week, I hope it works when I get it back. That design is on the top right: http://www.flickr.com/photos/keroism/4425799396/

[ammas09]

Couldn't you just pull the sda and scl lines from R4, kluge on the vcc and pull ground from CT1. Use flying leads to connect to DS1307 Real Time Clock?

Just a thought, obviously code would need to be rewritten and programmed via isp connector