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Topic starter
There's lots and lots of large wall clocks in shops and on retail websites and it appears there is a desire or trend towards filling more of a wall in your house with a clock.
I'm thinking of a project that has a clock projector that uses a small Raspberry Pi or Arduino module, which draws power from the ceiling light rose and possibly uses the projector from a cheap projector clock or something?
I think that maybe this would be an excellent youtube video for our host (if he can figure out how to do it) because it would not only project the time, the date, other timezones, etc all as options, maybe even your calendar with your appointments for that day (so it kind of cycles through the pages like a TV screen menu in coffee shops or other eateries).
Anyway, I think this would not only be a popular video, but I think it would be a massive hit if it were to be mass produced as a finished product, or as some kind of DIY kit for hobbyists to buy with optional additions, etc.
I look forward to your replies!
Wavey75
Posted : 21/08/2025 10:32 am
Biggest problem I can forsee here is messing with household electricity. While this is quite straightforward, that would mean a small HV buck converter and mains electric can easily kill the unwary.
The laser projectors use mirrors on little "voice coil" motors to drive the beam, so yeah, an existing module would be the order of the day. It's a difficult job and potentially dangerous as even low-power lasers can damage the retina. Safe enough in use but not something to try at home unless you have the necessary safety gear. Alignment (naturally) is crucial and that adds more complexity.
The alternative is one of those DLPs (digital micro-mirrors) but again, the development cost is astronomical.
Take everything I say with a pinch of salt, I might be wrong and it's a very *expensive* way to learn!
Posted : 22/08/2025 8:35 am
Topic starter
I was assuming my audience is in the UK, where you plug in a small, 3-pin plastic plug into the mains wall outlet and there’s a USB on the other side. In other words, nice and small, so taking a live feed from a ceiling light rose is pretty low risk IMHO to feed into a small component, to include with the Raspberry Pi or Arduino Module and projector. Just enough power for all main components for this project.
I’m not sure but I would think some kind of semi-automatic focus ability would need to be included, as distances between ceiling lights and walls will vary greatly. This would no doubt add to the cost of the project.
It would be great if the project included a component to connect the live from the light to a USB socket, then the Raspberry Pi/Arduino and projector would get their power from the Raspberry Pi/Arduino.
It would also be great if it had Wi-Fi, so it could connect to your ical, Google calendar or other services used.
Wavey75
Posted : 22/08/2025 10:21 am
That’s actually a really creative idea! A projector clock that can show time, date, and even calendar events would be super useful and look modern on any wall. Using a Raspberry Pi makes it customizable too, so hobbyists could add features as they like. Definitely feels like something people would be interested in as a DIY kit.
Posted : 04/09/2025 9:13 pm