I am looking into building a fast clock from an article in the Sept 1983 MR (more than 25 years ago), called "Build a Digital Fast Clock," by Howard Doehler. It looks like a practical, inexpensive project.
My problem is matching alternative components. Some of the parts listed are no longer available under the manufacturer's part numbers in the list. Is there a similar article published more recently (with useful part numbers)? Or can anyone advise me on what components I can find available today?
Thanks in advance for any help I can get.
Unless you can find old stock, you're not going to get those clock modules. I actually doubt anyone makes them anymore. DIY digital clocks kind of went the way of the dinosaur now that you can buy them for under $5 already made - back then they weren't exactly cheap.
My advice would be to look for a more modern design that uses parts that are easily obtainable - I sort of recall anothe rone from back then that used a 555 timer IC (still readily available) and a few chips that shoudl still be available or easily subsituted (counter and LED drivers) and connected to standard LED digits rather than use a commercial clock module. I believe that appeared in a Symposium on Electronics column around that time. A more modern design would probably use a PIC or similar embedded processor chip which in parts ocunt would be simpler but you'd have to have a way to program the processor chip - not write the code, that would eb supplied, but get the code intot he chip, unless the designer was selling pre-programmed ones.
Hmm, project idea, although kind of pointless for me since I use Digitrax DCC and there is a plug-in fast clock, plus it can take the time from a computer and display that, more accurate timekeeping than the command station's clock.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.