A customizable 4-digit seven-segment WS2812/NeoPixel clock for ESP8266 (WeMos D1 mini), with a built-in web UI, MQTT automation, OTA updates, and LDR auto-dimming.

• 4-digit seven-segment clock with optional colon LEDs
• Web UI for live control and persistent setup
• WiFiManager captive portal for first-time WiFi setup
• NTP sync (public internet NTP or local NTP server)
• Timezone offset and 12h/24h display mode
• 10 display effects:
  • Solid
  • Rainbow Sweep
  • Rainbow Cycle
  • Breathing
  • Theater Chase
  • Twinkle
  • Fire
  • Meteor
  • Per-Digit Cycle
  • Minute Wipe
• MQTT telemetry publishing
• MQTT command control (color, effect, brightness, time format)
• MQTT temperature override display (###F for configurable duration)
• LDR-based 3-step brightness automation
• mDNS hostname + DHCP/static IP support
• OTA firmware updates from web UI
• Persistent config via LittleFS (/config.json)

• WeMos D1 mini / ESP8266

• LED data pin: D4
• LDR analog input: A0

• Supported: WS2812 / WS2812B (5V, 800kHz, GRB order)
• Firmware driver mode: NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800
• Other RGB strips may work only if they use the same timing and color order

The clock supports configurable physical segment chain order from the UI (Segment Chain Order (A-G)), so you can match different wiring layouts without code edits.

UI segment labels are:

• A = upper-left vertical
• B = top horizontal
• C = upper-right vertical
• D = lower-right vertical
• E = bottom horizontal
• F = lower-left vertical
• G = middle horizontal

Default chain order: ABCDEFG

Total LEDs used:

total = (segmentPixels * 28) + (hasColon ? colonPixels : 0)

This repository includes the CAD files used to build this clock enclosure.

• Folder: CAD Files/
• Clock body material: 3/4 in MDF (CNC routed)
• Lens material: translucent white acrylic (laser cut)

• CAD Files/clock-face.dxf
  • Main clock face/profile for CNC routing.
• CAD Files/lens TEST SIZES.dxf
  • Contains 4 different lens size options for fit testing.
  • Recommended workflow: laser-cut one of each size first, test fit, then select the best size.
• CAD Files/lens size 1.dxf
• CAD Files/lens size 2.dxf
• CAD Files/lens size 3.dxf
• CAD Files/lens size 4.dxf
  • Final lens cut files for each tested size.

Note: the lens sheets were prepared for making multiple clocks (about 4), so some files may contain more lens parts than needed for a single build.

1. Clone this repo and open it in PlatformIO.
2. Build firmware:

   pio run

3. Flash firmware:

   pio run -t upload

4. Open serial monitor (optional but recommended):

   pio device monitor -b 115200

5. On first boot, connect to the WiFiManager AP and configure your WiFi.
6. Open the web UI at:
   • http://<device-ip>/
   • http://<mdns-name>.local/ (default mDNS: largeclock)
7. In Setup, configure:
   • Pixels/segment and colon pixel count
   • Segment chain order
   • NTP/timezone/time format
   • LDR thresholds/brightness steps
   • MQTT settings (optional)
8. Save settings and verify live output on Dashboard.

• Live clock + pixel preview
• Runtime controls for color/effect/brightness/colon blink
• Apply Dashboard Settings for immediate (non-persistent) change
• Save As Boot Default to persist dashboard values

• Hardware layout and chain mapping
• Time and network setup (including mDNS and IP mode)
• Auto-dim calibration
• MQTT setup and command reference
• OTA firmware upload

Enable MQTT in Setup first.

Default base topic:

• clock/large

Topic:

• <baseTopic>/telemetry

Typical payload fields:

• time
• solidColor
• effect
• use24Hour
• baseBrightness
• appliedBrightness
• ldr
• ip
• tempDisplayActive
• tempF

Topic:

• <baseTopic>/cmd/set

Payload example:

{
  "solidColor": "#00AEEF",
  "effect": 1,
  "effectSpeed": 120,
  "baseBrightness": 140,
  "use24Hour": false,
  "save": false
}

Notes:

• solidColor accepts hex string (#RRGGBB) or integer
• effect range: 0..9
• baseBrightness range: 1..255
• save: true writes changes to persistent config

Topic:

• <baseTopic>/cmd/tempF

Accepted payload formats:

• Raw number: 72
• JSON object: { "tempF": 72, "durationMs": 8000 }

Behavior:

• Displays up to 3 digits plus F
• Holds for durationMs then returns to clock mode
• If durationMs omitted, uses configured Temp Display Duration (ms)

To adapt this project to your own hardware:

1. Set your segment pixel count accurately.
2. Set colon LEDs installed + colon count.
3. Adjust segment chain order to match physical wiring.
4. Calibrate LDR thresholds and dim levels at day/night light.
5. Set your timezone offset and preferred 12h/24h format.
6. Set your default effect/color/brightness.
7. Optionally connect MQTT and automate with Home Assistant or broker scripts.

• Incorrect digits/segments: verify Segment Chain Order (A-G) and pixel counts.
• MQTT commands not working:
  • Confirm base topic and topic case
  • Confirm UI shows MQTT: online
  • Use valid JSON payloads for object commands
• Device reboots after network config edits: expected behavior when mDNS/IP mode/address changes.
• Brightness limits: valid range is 1..255.

• src/main.cpp firmware + embedded web UI
• ui-preview.html browser preview of UI design
• CAD Files/ CNC and laser DXF files for enclosure and lenses
• images/ README assets and build photos
• platformio.ini PlatformIO configuration

This project is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).

See LICENSE for details, or read the full legal code at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/