Comments on: Parts: ChronoDot RTC Module (DS3231)

By: CRJEEA

CRJEEA — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 10:47:17 +0000

Think I remove the bettery and solder two single header pins then i can flip the headers to the battery side without the battery getting in the way and just plug it into my board as a modual and power it from a regulated power supply and backup battery on the board insted

By: Audin

Audin — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 08:15:52 +0000

If you look at the size of the battery and its terminals, you’ll see the pcb can’t really be appreciably smaller. The battery is round. And the pins, which are the only through-hole component, require a small amount of extra space. Thus the size being slightly larger than the battery. Seems reasonable to me!

By: cantido

cantido — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:03:44 +0000

Is there any reason the PCB had to be that big even though the components appear to only require about 50% of the board.. oh its a RTC module, so it has to look like a clock, ok that’s a valid design choice I suppose.

By: andy

andy — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:17:06 +0000

therian,
I think the modules are great for many different reasons. One, we have all these great small company’s around. Two, these board are as much art as convenience. Sure you could replicate it for less than half the cost, but I know my circuits don’t look that good.

By: therian

therian — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:27:42 +0000

the chip cost $8.40 all it need 4 resistors and 2 capacitors. What the point, cmon people don’t get use to modules so much !

By: Roly

Roly — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:28:22 +0000

If this is indeed a mistake (and not just more cunning marketing) then I commend the manufacturer for having the wit to turn a dead loss into a winner. A very useful little sub-system.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:59:22 +0000

Looking forward to it Paul, I liked your v1 :-)

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:10:35 +0000

Hi Akoi,

That’s exactly the part I’m planning on using for v2.0. It’s got a great low-current stand-by current and has built-in alarms to wake up the microprocessor. Shhh, don’t tell anyone. ;)

-Paul

By: Akoi Meexx

Akoi Meexx — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:34:54 +0000

I wonder how feasible it’d be to implement this TCXO into a project similar to Paul’s http://hackaday.com/2009/10/14/led-pocket-watch/.

By: xyz

xyz — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:39:00 +0000

@CalcProgrammer1

Since a DS3232 does not require many external components it is easy to use with a SMD to DIP adapter board.
http://www.futurlec.com/SMD_Adapters.shtml

By: salsa

salsa — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:23:52 +0000

Looks like an easy fix to flip the headers– a minute with an iron and a solder sucker… or, am I missing something? It looks like the header’s black plastic bits will hit the battery though, if they’re reversed. Round PCB in this case doesn’t bother me since it looks like an efficient use of space given the size of the battery. A polarized 2×4 header would be easier to work with for the non-breadboard crowd though.

By: CalcProgrammer1

CalcProgrammer1 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:10:40 +0000

I got some DS3232 chips last time I ordered samples but they are surface mount and I don’t have any way to etch a board. I would’ve liked to add time to some of my projects and it sounds like a nice chip too.

By: strider_mt2k

strider_mt2k — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:40:37 +0000

Chrono Doh sounds like a slam dunk for experimenters on the cheap.

By: macegr

macegr — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:36:58 +0000

They’re round so you guys won’t put your eye out. No sharp edges for the Arduino crowd. Seriously though, cool test with the freezer…I hadn’t thought to try that. I dare anyone to do that with a DS1307 module. It just physically could not keep time in there unless you tweaked the capacitor for your specific freezer temperature. Maxim annoys a lot of people with tantalizing chips that are hard to get, but the DS3231 is a winner.

By: Shadyman

Shadyman — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:24:19 +0000

But at least it looks like a clock?