It's nearing Christmas time and we decided to design and build an unique electronic practical gift.
This novelty gift includes using the miniature and easy to use Teensy 3 ARM Stamp. What we came up with is a digital clock which is probably the greenest AC mains clock in the USA!
When you are not using your lights you turn them off to save energy.
When you are not using your heating/cooling HVAC equipment you can turn your thermostat down/up to save energy.
When you are not using your household digital clock(s) you cannot turn them off to save energy or you will lose time or you will need to set every clock every time on power interruption. Visit any Target, Costco, Walmart and Sears store and look for AC mains clocks and you will find that the only ones they carry are "energy vampires" on for 24/7 and wasting energy - the American way of life. There is no such thing as a “green" AC mains clock because most digital clocks are NOT designed to be turned on or off ... until now!
The "NeoPixel Teensy 3 Green AC Mains Clock" will not waste energy when not being used due to new advanced technology. NeoPixel RGB LEDs can be daisy chained and "blanked" when not in use to save energy. Also, the Teensy 3 ARM stamp can be forced to sleep to save energy. Combine both features with a battery protected, precision RTC and you can have a very energy efficient, precision AC mains "green" clock. Our clock, when not being used, sleeps 97% of the time and only shows the time automatically on every minute rollover. Also, an optional IR remote or PIR motion sensor can trigger the clock display to save even more energy.
With all new technology comes at a price. Each Flora V2 NeoPixel module cost $2 USD each. 13 Flora V2 NeoPixels used x $2 = $26 + ($19 - T3) + ($25 - PCB) + ($20 - misc components) Having the only greenest AC mains clock in the USA --> is priceless!
For hackers, perfboarding this design with thru hole components will reduce the cost by about 50%.
(See NeoPixel_Clock_schematic.PDF)
If everyone goes "green" and builds a NeoPixel clock they can reduce their carbon footprint and get rid of several coal fired power plants or even a Nuclear Power Plant! (See "NeoPixel_T3_Clock_Design.PDF" for explanation.)
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