Smart Alarm Clock
Month 1 ships Oct 19. A new kit every month. Cancel anytime.
Project Overview
Smart Alarm Clock is Month 2 of the Zynk Bots path: a real bedside clock you build and keep. A 2.42-inch OLED screen shows the time, date and your alarm, a real-time clock module keeps accurate time, a touch sensor and buttons set the alarm and snooze, and an LED light bar and buzzer wake you up. You move up to a second microcontroller, the ESP32, try each part on a breadboard, then assemble everything on the clock's own circuit board and case. Along the way you write the timekeeping, alarm and scheduling code yourself. No soldering needed.
Real-World Applications
Car dashboards and appliances
Car dashboards, microwaves and ovens all have a small real-time clock chip with its own backup cell, so they keep the right time even after the power drops, just like your clock.
Smartwatches and fitness bands
A small OLED screen, a clock and touch input are the core of every smartwatch. You're building the same pieces at desk size.
Smart home schedules
Thermostats, smart lights and sprinkler controllers act on their own at set times, the same scheduling logic you write for the alarm.
Robots that run on a timetable
Robot vacuums and lawn mowers start cleaning or mowing at scheduled times and need to know how long ago they last ran. They keep time with the same kind of clock chip.
Skills Developed
Skills you'll carry forward
The display, touch, and scheduling skills you learn here come back in Month 3's safe and Month 5's smart lamp — and in Month 6 your screen goes wireless, scrolling messages sent from across the house.
See the month-by-month learning path →Project Prerequisites
Before starting this project, we recommend completing these foundational projects:
Month 1: Cyclone LED (LEDs, buttons, buzzer and game-loop basics)
Recommended
A Windows, Mac, or Linux computer with a USB port for uploading code
Recommended
Learning Objectives
By completing this project, you will achieve the following measurable outcomes:
Program an ESP32, a second microcontroller platform
Draw text and symbols on an OLED display
Keep accurate time with a DS3231 real-time clock
Read a capacitive touch sensor and push buttons
Write alarm, snooze and scheduling logic
Play tones and melodies on a buzzer
Organize code into reusable functions
Assemble and power a finished device
What's in the Kit
Everything you need to build your Smart Alarm Clock, carefully selected and packaged
ESP32 Wi-Fi Microcontroller
Like the Arduino but with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Used in projects that talk to your phone, an app, or the internet. Programmed and powered over micro-USB.
USB-C Cable
USB-A to USB-C cable for uploading code to your board and for powering and charging your project from a computer or USB charger.
Micro-USB Cable
USB-A to micro-USB cable. Uploads code to boards with a micro-USB port, like the ESP32, and charges projects such as the Riff speaker from a computer or USB charger.
RGB LED Stick (8 LEDs)
A short stick of 8 color-changing LEDs — same chip family as the ring, but in a straight line. Used in projects that need a row of independently controlled lights.
Large OLED Screen (2.42")
A bigger, brighter blue OLED display (2.42 inches, 128×64 pixels) for projects where the smaller 0.96" screen would be too small to read.
Buzzer
A small electronic buzzer that plays tones and simple melodies. Used in the Smart Alarm Clock and game projects. Wires are pre-soldered for easy connection.
Mini Push Button
A small tactile push button (6×6×5 mm) that fits right into a breadboard. Press to make contact, release to break — used for menus, controls, and game inputs.
Round Push Button (12 mm)
A 12 mm round push button in a colored housing, with pre-soldered wires terminating in male pin headers. Mounts through an enclosure panel and plugs straight into a breadboard.
On / Off Rocker Switch
A snap-in rocker switch for turning a project on and off. Pre-soldered with male pin headers on the wire ends for easy plug-in to the rest of the circuit.
18650 Rechargeable Battery (2600 mAh)
Rechargeable 3.7 V / 2600 mAh lithium-ion 18650 cell, the standard power source for the portable projects. Drop it into the holder and recharge it over USB through the project's charging board.
18650 UPS Booster-Charger (15 W)
All-in-one 18650 battery board: charges the cells and boosts their output to a steady 5 V, 9 V, or 12 V (up to 3 A), with uninterrupted power while charging.
Touch Sensor
A touch-sensitive switch — instead of pressing a physical button, just tap your finger on the metal pad. Used in projects that need a sleek, button-less interaction.
Real-Time Clock Module
A clock chip with its own backup battery, so it keeps accurate time even when the project is unplugged. Used in the Smart Alarm Clock and any other timer-based projects.
Jumper Wires — M/M (20 cm)
Multi-colored Dupont jumper wires with male pins on both ends. 20 cm long, 40-wire ribbon. A little extra slack for routing around enclosures.
Jumper Wires — M/F (20 cm)
Multi-colored Dupont jumper wires with a male pin on one end and a female socket on the other. 20 cm, 40-wire ribbon.
Jumper Wires — F/F (20 cm)
Multi-colored Dupont jumper wires with female sockets on both ends. 20 cm, 40-wire ribbon.
Breadboard (400 holes)
A solderless prototyping board with 400 contact holes. Plug components and wires in to build circuits without permanent soldering — pull them out and reuse for the next project.
Electrical Tape
PVC insulation tape for insulating and tidying wires inside enclosures.
Double-Sided Foam Mounting Pads
Pre-cut black foam pads with strong adhesive on both sides. Peel off the backing and press to mount the circuit board, battery pack and modules securely inside the enclosure.
M3 Screw — 6 mm
Short M3 machine screw (6 mm, black zinc-plated). Standard fastener for assembling the 3D-printed enclosures.
Hex Key (for M3 screws)
Hex (Allen) key sized for the M3 screws — included so the project can be assembled at home without buying extra tools.
Smart Alarm Clock — Project PCB
Custom PCB for the Smart Alarm Clock project. Carries the real-time clock, OLED display, buzzer, and buttons all on one neat board.
Smart Alarm Clock — Enclosure
3D-printed case for the Smart Alarm Clock — houses the display, the clock chip, the buttons, and the battery in a single piece.
Course Content
Week 1 — Foundation
Let's Build a Smart Alarm Clock
PreviewMeet the Hardware
Wokwi Simulation: Timer with ESP32
Physical Build: Timer with ESP32
Wokwi Simulation: NeoPixel Strip and Light Control
Physical Build: NeoPixel Strip and Light Control
Wokwi Simulation: Buzzer and Button Reaction
Physical Build: Buzzer and Button Reaction
Wokwi Simulation: Intro to RTC
Physical Build: Intro to RTC
Downloadable Resources
Hardware Testing
Week 2 — Practice
The Touch Trigger
OLED Integration
WiFi and the Clock
Color Match Alarm
Downloadable Resources
Week 3 — Advanced Practice
Clock Setup with Buttons
Snooze Alarm
Rhythm Tap
Downloadable Resources
Week 4 — Final Execution
Full Circuit Integration
Enclosure and Final Assembly
Downloadable Resources
Resources
ESP32 Setup
Unlock All Lessons
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Subscribe NowSafety Guidelines
Please review these safety guidelines before starting your project
Designed for ages 13+. We recommend an adult is present for the first power-up, when charging the battery, and when using tools.
Disconnect power before handling
Always disconnect power sources and unplug devices before assembling, modifying, or troubleshooting electronic components.
Keep away from water and liquids
Do not use electronic components or tools near water. Keep drinks and liquids away from the work area.
Follow manufacturer instructions
Read and follow all instructions provided with kits and components. Do not exceed recommended voltage or current.
Battery care
Charge it only through the kit's USB-C cable and the battery board. Unplug it and tell an adult if the board or battery gets hot, swells, or leaks.
Small parts
Screws and small components are choking hazards. Keep them away from younger siblings and pets while you build.
Bright LEDs
The LED light bar can be very bright at full power. Don't stare into it up close; lower the brightness in the code if it's uncomfortable.
No soldering needed
Breadboard activities and the final circuit board use plug-in connections, so there are no hot tools in this build. Everything you need to assemble it is in the box.
Related Projects
Continue your learning journey with these recommended projects
Cyclone LED
Cyclone LED is Month 1 of the Zynk Bots path: a reflex game you build and keep. A ring of 45 addressable RGB LEDs chases around the dial, and you press the button to stop the light on the target. Hit it and the game speeds up; miss and the round resets, with your level and high score on the built-in display. You start by trying each component on a breadboard, then in the final week put the whole game together on its own printed circuit board and case. Along the way you write and change the code yourself. No experience and no soldering needed.
Crack-the-Code Safe
Crack-the-Code Safe is Month 3 of the Zynk Bots path: a working, PIN-protected safe you build and keep. Type your code on the 4x4 keypad, the 16x2 screen asks for the passcode and shows the result, a servo slides the lock open, and the LED strip and buzzer react to right and wrong guesses. You move to a third microcontroller, the Arduino Uno, try each part on a breadboard, then assemble everything into the safe's own case. Along the way you write the state machine that runs it, the single most important pattern in embedded software. No soldering needed.
Ready to Build Smart Alarm Clock?
Month 1 ships Oct 19. Every month after that builds on this one.