Arduino Nano - RTC
This tutorial instructs you how to use Arduino Nano to read date and time from RTC module. In detail, we will learn:
- How to connect DS3231 Real-Time Clock module to Arduino Nano.
- How to program Arduino Nano to read date and time (second, minute, hour, day of week, day off month, month, and year) from the DS3231 RTC module.
- How to program Arduino Nano to create daily schedules.
- How to program Arduino Nano to create weekly schedules.
- How to program Arduino Nano to create schedules on a specific date.
Hardware Preparation
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Overview of Real-Time Clock DS3231 Module
Arduino Nano offers some time-related functions such as millis() and micros(). However, these do not provide the date and time (seconds, minutes, hours, day, date, month, and year). To obtain this information, we must use a Real-Time Clock (RTC) module, such as DS3231 or DS1370. The DS3231 Module has higher precision than the DS1370. For more information, see DS3231 vs DS1307.
The RTC Module Pinout
The Real-Time Clock DS3231 Module has 10 pins:
- 32K: produces a temperature-stabilized and precise reference clock.
- SQW: emits a square wave at 1Hz, 4kHz, 8kHz or 32kHz which can be managed programmatically. This can also be used as an alarm trigger in many time-dependent projects.
- SCL: is the serial clock pin for I2C interface.
- SDA: is the serial data pin for I2C interface.
- VCC: supplies power for the module, with a voltage range of 3.3V to 5.5V.
- GND: is the ground pin.
For regular use, four pins are necessary: VCC, GND, SDA, and SCL.
The DS3231 Module has a battery holder, which, when a CR2032 battery is inserted, will maintain the time on the module even when the main power is disconnected. If no battery is inserted, the time information will be lost if the main power is disconnected and will need to be reset.
Wiring Diagram
This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image
Arduino Nano - DS3231 RTC Module
| DS3231 RTC Module | Arduino Nano |
|---|---|
| Vin | 3.3V |
| GND | GND |
| SDA | A4 |
| SCL | A5 |
How To Program For DS3231 RTC Module
- Incorporate the library:
#include <RTClib.h>
- Create a RTC object:
RTC_DS3231 rtc;
- Set up the Real-Time Clock (RTC)
if (! rtc.begin()) {
Serial.println("Couldn't find RTC");
while (1);
}
- Set the RTC to the date and time on the PC when the sketch was compiled for the first time.
rtc.adjust(DateTime(F(__DATE__), F(__TIME__)));
- Retrieves date and time data from the RTC module.
DateTime now = rtc.now();
Serial.print("Date & Time: ");
Serial.print(now.year(), DEC);
Serial.print('/');
Serial.print(now.month(), DEC);
Serial.print('/');
Serial.print(now.day(), DEC);
Serial.print(" (");
Serial.print(now.dayOfTheWeek());
Serial.print(") ");
Serial.print(now.hour(), DEC);
Serial.print(':');
Serial.print(now.minute(), DEC);
Serial.print(':');
Serial.println(now.second(), DEC);
Arduino Nano Code – How to get data and time
/*
* This Arduino Nano code was developed by newbiely.com
*
* This Arduino Nano code is made available for public use without any restriction
*
* For comprehensive instructions and wiring diagrams, please visit:
* https://newbiely.com/tutorials/arduino-nano/arduino-nano-rtc
*/
#include <RTClib.h>
RTC_DS3231 rtc;
char daysOfTheWeek[7][12] = {
"Sunday",
"Monday",
"Tuesday",
"Wednesday",
"Thursday",
"Friday",
"Saturday"
};
void setup () {
Serial.begin(9600);
// SETUP RTC MODULE
if (! rtc.begin()) {
Serial.println("Couldn't find RTC");
Serial.flush();
while (1);
}
// automatically sets the RTC to the date & time on PC this sketch was compiled
rtc.adjust(DateTime(F(__DATE__), F(__TIME__)));
// manually sets the RTC with an explicit date & time, for example to set
// January 21, 2021 at 3am you would call:
// rtc.adjust(DateTime(2021, 1, 21, 3, 0, 0));
}
void loop () {
DateTime now = rtc.now();
Serial.print("Date & Time: ");
Serial.print(now.year(), DEC);
Serial.print('/');
Serial.print(now.month(), DEC);
Serial.print('/');
Serial.print(now.day(), DEC);
Serial.print(" (");
Serial.print(daysOfTheWeek[now.dayOfTheWeek()]);
Serial.print(") ");
Serial.print(now.hour(), DEC);
Serial.print(':');
Serial.print(now.minute(), DEC);
Serial.print(':');
Serial.println(now.second(), DEC);
delay(1000); // delay 1 seconds
}
Detailed Instructions
- Click to the Libraries icon on the left bar of the Arduino IDE.
- Search for “RTClib” and locate the RTC library from Adafruit.
- Press the Install button to add the RTC library.
- Copy the code and open it with the Arduino IDE.
- Click the Upload button in the Arduino IDE to compile and upload the code to the Arduino Nano.
- Open the Serial Monitor.
- Check the result in the Serial Monitor.
COM6
Date & Time: 2021/10/6 (Wednesday) 11:27:35
Date & Time: 2021/10/6 (Wednesday) 11:27:36
Date & Time: 2021/10/6 (Wednesday) 11:27:37
Date & Time: 2021/10/6 (Wednesday) 11:27:38
Date & Time: 2021/10/6 (Wednesday) 11:27:39
Date & Time: 2021/10/6 (Wednesday) 11:27:40
Date & Time: 2021/10/6 (Wednesday) 11:27:41
Date & Time: 2021/10/6 (Wednesday) 11:27:42
Date & Time: 2021/10/6 (Wednesday) 11:27:43
Date & Time: 2021/10/6 (Wednesday) 11:27:44
Autoscroll
Clear output
9600 baud
Newline
Arduino Nano Code – How to make daily schedule
/*
* This Arduino Nano code was developed by newbiely.com
*
* This Arduino Nano code is made available for public use without any restriction
*
* For comprehensive instructions and wiring diagrams, please visit:
* https://newbiely.com/tutorials/arduino-nano/arduino-nano-rtc
*/
// Date and time functions using a DS3231 RTC connected via I2C and Wire lib
#include <RTClib.h>
// event from 13:50 to 14:10
uint8_t DAILY_EVENT_START_HH = 13; // event start time: hour
uint8_t DAILY_EVENT_START_MM = 50; // event start time: minute
uint8_t DAILY_EVENT_END_HH = 14; // event end time: hour
uint8_t DAILY_EVENT_END_MM = 10; // event end time: minute
RTC_DS3231 rtc;
char daysOfTheWeek[7][12] = {
"Sunday",
"Monday",
"Tuesday",
"Wednesday",
"Thursday",
"Friday",
"Saturday"
};
void setup () {
Serial.begin(9600);
// SETUP RTC MODULE
if (! rtc.begin()) {
Serial.println("Couldn't find RTC");
while (1);
}
// sets the RTC to the date & time on PC this sketch was compiled
rtc.adjust(DateTime(F(__DATE__), F(__TIME__)));
// sets the RTC with an explicit date & time, for example to set
// January 21, 2021 at 3am you would call:
// rtc.adjust(DateTime(2021, 1, 21, 3, 0, 0));
}
void loop () {
DateTime now = rtc.now();
if (now.hour() >= DAILY_EVENT_START_HH &&
now.minute() >= DAILY_EVENT_START_MM &&
now.hour() < DAILY_EVENT_END_HH &&
now.minute() < DAILY_EVENT_END_MM) {
Serial.println("It is on scheduled time");
// TODO: write your code"
} else {
Serial.println("It is NOT on scheduled time");
}
printTime(now);
}
void printTime(DateTime time) {
Serial.print("TIME: ");
Serial.print(time.year(), DEC);
Serial.print('/');
Serial.print(time.month(), DEC);
Serial.print('/');
Serial.print(time.day(), DEC);
Serial.print(" (");
Serial.print(daysOfTheWeek[time.dayOfTheWeek()]);
Serial.print(") ");
Serial.print(time.hour(), DEC);
Serial.print(':');
Serial.print(time.minute(), DEC);
Serial.print(':');
Serial.println(time.second(), DEC);
}
Arduino Nano Code – How to make weekly schedule
/*
* This Arduino Nano code was developed by newbiely.com
*
* This Arduino Nano code is made available for public use without any restriction
*
* For comprehensive instructions and wiring diagrams, please visit:
* https://newbiely.com/tutorials/arduino-nano/arduino-nano-rtc
*/
// Date and time functions using a DS3231 RTC connected via I2C and Wire lib
#include <RTClib.h>
// UNCHANGABLE PARAMATERS
#define SUNDAY 0
#define MONDAY 1
#define TUESDAY 2
#define WEDNESDAY 3
#define THURSDAY 4
#define FRIDAY 5
#define SATURDAY 6
// event on Monday, from 13:50 to 14:10
uint8_t WEEKLY_EVENT_DAY = MONDAY;
uint8_t WEEKLY_EVENT_START_HH = 13; // event start time: hour
uint8_t WEEKLY_EVENT_START_MM = 50; // event start time: minute
uint8_t WEEKLY_EVENT_END_HH = 14; // event end time: hour
uint8_t WEEKLY_EVENT_END_MM = 10; // event end time: minute
RTC_DS3231 rtc;
char daysOfTheWeek[7][12] = {
"Sunday",
"Monday",
"Tuesday",
"Wednesday",
"Thursday",
"Friday",
"Saturday"
};
void setup () {
Serial.begin(9600);
// SETUP RTC MODULE
if (! rtc.begin()) {
Serial.println("Couldn't find RTC");
while (1);
}
// sets the RTC to the date & time on PC this sketch was compiled
rtc.adjust(DateTime(F(__DATE__), F(__TIME__)));
// sets the RTC with an explicit date & time, for example to set
// January 21, 2021 at 3am you would call:
// rtc.adjust(DateTime(2021, 1, 21, 3, 0, 0));
}
void loop () {
DateTime now = rtc.now();
if (now.dayOfTheWeek() == WEEKLY_EVENT_DAY &&
now.hour() >= WEEKLY_EVENT_START_HH &&
now.minute() >= WEEKLY_EVENT_START_MM &&
now.hour() < WEEKLY_EVENT_END_HH &&
now.minute() < WEEKLY_EVENT_END_MM) {
Serial.println("It is on scheduled time");
// TODO: write your code"
} else {
Serial.println("It is NOT on scheduled time");
}
printTime(now);
}
void printTime(DateTime time) {
Serial.print("TIME: ");
Serial.print(time.year(), DEC);
Serial.print('/');
Serial.print(time.month(), DEC);
Serial.print('/');
Serial.print(time.day(), DEC);
Serial.print(" (");
Serial.print(daysOfTheWeek[time.dayOfTheWeek()]);
Serial.print(") ");
Serial.print(time.hour(), DEC);
Serial.print(':');
Serial.print(time.minute(), DEC);
Serial.print(':');
Serial.println(time.second(), DEC);
}
Arduino Nano Code – How to make schedule on speficic date
/*
* This Arduino Nano code was developed by newbiely.com
*
* This Arduino Nano code is made available for public use without any restriction
*
* For comprehensive instructions and wiring diagrams, please visit:
* https://newbiely.com/tutorials/arduino-nano/arduino-nano-rtc
*/
// Date and time functions using a DS3231 RTC connected via I2C and Wire lib
#include <RTClib.h>
// UNCHANGABLE PARAMATERS
#define SUNDAY 0
#define MONDAY 1
#define TUESDAY 2
#define WEDNESDAY 3
#define THURSDAY 4
#define FRIDAY 5
#define SATURDAY 6
#define JANUARY 1
#define FEBRUARY 2
#define MARCH 3
#define APRIL 4
#define MAY 5
#define JUNE 6
#define JULY 7
#define AUGUST 8
#define SEPTEMBER 9
#define OCTOBER 10
#define NOVEMBER 11
#define DECEMBER 12
// event from 13:50 August 15, 2021 to 14:10 September 29, 2021
DateTime EVENT_START(2021, AUGUST, 15, 13, 50);
DateTime EVENT_END(2021, SEPTEMBER, 29, 14, 10);
RTC_DS3231 rtc;
char daysOfTheWeek[7][12] = {
"Sunday",
"Monday",
"Tuesday",
"Wednesday",
"Thursday",
"Friday",
"Saturday"
};
void setup () {
Serial.begin(9600);
// SETUP RTC MODULE
if (! rtc.begin()) {
Serial.println("Couldn't find RTC");
Serial.flush();
while (1);
}
// sets the RTC to the date & time on PC this sketch was compiled
rtc.adjust(DateTime(F(__DATE__), F(__TIME__)));
// sets the RTC with an explicit date & time, for example to set
// January 21, 2021 at 3am you would call:
// rtc.adjust(DateTime(2021, 1, 21, 3, 0, 0));
}
void loop () {
DateTime now = rtc.now();
if (now.secondstime() >= EVENT_START.secondstime() &&
now.secondstime() < EVENT_END.secondstime()) {
Serial.println("It is on scheduled time");
// TODO: write your code"
} else {
Serial.println("It is NOT on scheduled time");
}
printTime(now);
}
void printTime(DateTime time) {
Serial.print("TIME: ");
Serial.print(time.year(), DEC);
Serial.print('/');
Serial.print(time.month(), DEC);
Serial.print('/');
Serial.print(time.day(), DEC);
Serial.print(" (");
Serial.print(daysOfTheWeek[time.dayOfTheWeek()]);
Serial.print(") ");
Serial.print(time.hour(), DEC);
Serial.print(':');
Serial.print(time.minute(), DEC);
Serial.print(':');
Serial.println(time.second(), DEC);
}