“Programmable LED strips, e.g. based on WS2812, are fascinating. Applications are manifold and you rapidly can get impressive results. And somehow building clocks seem to be another domain which I think about a lot. Starting with some experience in building a word clock based on single LEDs, an Arduino and a digital clock module I moved to web based NTP time which is a neat component of a WLAN integrated nodemcu (ESP8622) module. Hence building a led matrix display clock out of an LED strip and a nodemcu controller is all but obvious. And beside displaying a clock one can do all sort of fancy light effects with a multi color pixel matrix of 42 x 7 LED strip pixels. Watch the demo.
Beside an LED strip, a power supply, the node MCU, you need some further supplies like a base plate, a transparent face plate, some screws and distance nuts. Soldering and wood crafting skills (the later of which I do not have …) are very helpful. A 3D printer is a smart choice to print the stand and the electronics cover.
Supplies: 6 x HSeaMall 180 piece M3 Nylon White Hex Spacer Screw Nut Brass Spacer Distance Screw Nut Assortment Kit for polystyrol plate mounting to wood plate
1 x Polystyrolplate 80x20 cm transparent, white 2,5mm as front plate
1 x Wood shelf 80 x 20 cm, white, 1,6 cm as base plate for LED strip and electronics
20 x Industry 15 mm x 3.9 mm Threaded Self Tapping Screws Drilling Bolts to fix things
1 x NodeMCU Lua Amica Module V2 ESP8266 ESP-12F -Wifi for LED Clock control
1 x Power supply FOR 300 led - 230V to 5V, 8A MSKU item: MeanWell Series LPV-60. [Energy Class A] - to power up to 300 LEDs
1 x LED strip, 5m 300 LED, WS2811 IC Built in 5050SMD, 256 brightness - LED pixel matrix
1 x light sensitive resistor for automatic adjustment of brightness
electronics and electric parts, cables, PCB terminals 2-pole, a suitable circuit board”