Building a "Scoreboard Clock"

[theknight571]

I had this idea, but am having trouble finding parts, or at least the proper parts, in order to see how much this idea of mine might cost.

We are begining the process of redecorating my son's room, and, with his input, we are going with a local sports theme.

He plays hockey and is a huge fan of the game, so I thought it would be cool to replace the ceiling light fixture with a "Scoreboard" like you see hanging above the ice at most arenas.

I figure it'd be basically 4 sided, and at the top of each side where the "count-down" clock would be, I would put a standard "time of day" clock.

Initially I thought... just 4 cheap alarm clocks and mount them in there...but then you gotta keep 'em synced manually and adjust 4 clocks at time changes / power outages / etc.

I Googled and went looking for parts (like LED numbers and controller) but am really not sure what to look for.

If it helps.. I could mount a PC in the attic above the fixture and feed the cables though the box into the fixture.

Anyone have any ideas or suggestion for parts / plans / etc.

Thanks.

- TK

 

[johnjbruin]

$ for 4 cheap alarm clocks <<<< $ for complicated set up with PC and LED panels.

How old is the son?

 

[JoeFahey]

How high is the ceiling?

 

[VTHodge]

Originally posted by: johnjbruin
$ for 4 cheap alarm clocks <<<< $ for complicated set up with PC and LED panels.

Agreed. I just spent some time with electrical parts catalogs and what you want would be pretty complicated.

Best thing I can think of is to buy four of the same clock, remove the digital displays, wire the pins from one board to a bus and wire the four displays to the bus. Might be very difficult as the boards are probably very small and have small surface mount chips. But it might work.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Take a cheap alarm clock, take the outputs to the LEDs, using some drivers, have that drive four larger LEDs or arrays of LEDs.

Edit:
Make sure the cheap alarm clock uses LEDs, not LCDs. Huge difference.

 

[theknight571]

Originally posted by: VTHodge

Originally posted by: johnjbruin
$ for 4 cheap alarm clocks <<<< $ for complicated set up with PC and LED panels.

Agreed. I just spent some time with electrical parts catalogs and what you want would be pretty complicated.

Best thing I can think of is to buy four of the same clock, remove the digital displays, wire the pins from one board to a bus and wire the four displays to the bus. Might be very difficult as the boards are probably very small and have small surface mount chips. But it might work.

That's why I was asking.

Simple in concept... but not in execution.

I might try the cheap alarm clock idea.

How old is the son?

He's 9... goin on 42.. lol

Originally posted by: JoeFahey
How high is the ceiling?

I haven't measured... but they're pretty much standard height.

I think I'll mock something up to see if I can get a decent idea of fit.



Thanks for the information... I haven't done anything like this since college... many moons ago.

 

[natto fire]

There are off the shelf clocks that can set themselves, adjust DST, from a radio signal. I have never used these clocks, but the price seems to be going down quite a bit from when they were first released.

 

[VTHodge]

Originally posted by: Captain Howdy
There are off the shelf clocks that can set themselves, adjust DST, from a radio signal. I have never used these clocks, but the price seems to be going down quite a bit from when they were first released.

Good call . . . probably worth the extra money for less trouble.