Clock/Weather station (Concept)

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PeterN
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Re: Clock/Weather station (Concept)

Post by PeterN »

and Cicciocb published a perfect amazing example of what and how you can control here :

https://wokwi.com/projects/343446594012578387


Just don’t forget to hit the PLAY-Button! :-)
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Re: Clock/Weather station (Concept)

Post by Basicboy »

Thanks Peter

I am amazed by your ability to remember all these topics! You reference them with so much ease!

I think that the "Pin" function is really what I need. I am still clueless as to how to do graphic art (I am no digital artist and never attempted it). I'll have a look tomorrow

I think I'm (subconsciously) trying to recreate the "Feel" of the virtual dot matrix display at the bottom of this old game that I used to play in the 90s, when I wasn't tinkering with Qbasic! I wonder if there are free "libraries" of dot matrix display art out there. I'll look into it. they should come in very handy during birthdays, Christmas and NY eve countdown

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Re: Clock/Weather station (Concept)

Post by PeterN »

I am afraid that is not easy on a red single color 8x8-LED-Matrix.
Francesco points in the right direction (but with a larger Display ) with this [Local Link Removed for Guests]

https://youtu.be/O9HqnvkNwuU
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Re: Clock/Weather station (Concept)

Post by BeanieBots »

As PeterN says, doing that on a red single color 8x8-LED-Matrix will be a challenge and I too am amazed at his ability to not only remember past posts but also find and link to them. I can't do that even with my own. Maybe 30 years ago I could :(
If whatever you end up using can use a 'font', then there are plenty available including 7-seg and dot-matrix.
Again, I've posted a few already but they were aimed at TFT displays. They are not hard to do. I usually start with a simple font and adjust to suit.
I could do one for you if you decide to take that route.

It has already been suggested to break your project down into manageable chunks and you have already explored the potential of splitting functions between devices. Using ESPnow is a quick and easy method but it does have a 255 character limit. That is probably enough for what you want to do but there are other options such as UDP and even hard-wire if they are in the same box.

From experience, the key to larger projects is to keep focussed on one element with other elements as a background mental task but don't allow them to distract or you end up actually acheiving little and just dreaming about it while it continues to grow in your mind.

Above all, have fun and remember, there's plenty of help here if/when you need it.
Don't forget to post it in the projects section for others to admire and gain inspiration.
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Re: Clock/Weather station (Concept)

Post by PeterN »

Good morning to the British south coast ... Good afternoon to Australia
I have a very graphics-orientated bad memory - but as is so often the case, it's a question of the right peripherals ... and the forum's search function is a great help here.
And so I faintly remembered a very useful project by our friend Fernando:

[Local Link Removed for Guests]
IMG_8508.jpeg

Have a good day!
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Re: Clock/Weather station (Concept)

Post by Basicboy »

Hi Beaniebots and Peter
When I plan for such a big project I break it down to bits (in my head) and see if I can make it happen. So far in this project there are two parts that I am not sure I can accomplish

1- The Art part of Led matrix displays. I was very glad to see the Pin function in Peter's reference above. It will be super easy to use this to play animations
* Load data of matrix "pictures" in hex and set pins on/off in a loop
* Pause for some time
* Repeat with next picture to give sense of "movement"
The issue, however, is that I am not the best at drawing things and I need a "library" of images. I have barely started searching but the closest I have got to what I want is here: https://gurgleapps.com/tools/matrix (in the third tab "sprites")

2- The flip display will be a REAL challenge and I am honestly not sure I can pull it off.
I will look into this but there is a chance I'll have to give it up :(
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Re: Clock/Weather station (Concept)

Post by Basicboy »

I am looking for something like this, but a bit cooler tbh :)


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Re: Clock/Weather station (Concept)

Post by PeterN »

I'm not sure what you mean by the flip display ...
... but why not take a small colour display and let it hang from its wires on the fishing rod

Francesco's example project perhaps already includes all the necessary actuators. Only an extension to several servos would still have to be investigated
IMG_8507.jpeg
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Re: Clock/Weather station (Concept)

Post by Basicboy »



That's what I mean. Instead of showing numbers/letters I want it to have pictures of weather to show based on API data
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Re: Clock/Weather station (Concept)

Post by Basicboy »

It will be powered by a step motor and a magnet sensor. The major challenge will be building it (probably will need someone to 3d print for me custom size as I want it to have photographs of family members to show on Xmas too)

One major question is how does it know if someone has messed with it and automatically find the correct image/letter to display again...
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