POV LED Clock From 3.5” Hard Drive

This project makes use of an old desktop hard drive in order to create a LED clock which does not require any drilling process.

The operation of the clock is made possible by taking off the top cover of hard drive where a slot is cut into the platter. Underneath the platter will be the mounted lights and when it spins, flashes are created. The illusion of clock hands as well as different designs and color bands can be created by making the right timing. Since the human eye could not perceive frequencies above 60 or so as blinking, but rather a solid color, the clock is able to work properly which is similar to a TV picture that is not a series of lines being drawn across it but a full image.

A flexibale LED strip that is self-adhesive and sticks well was used which runs on 12V with one wire for common and in each package of red, green, and blue LEDs, the other 3 wires used for control. For the 3 dots in a triangle, each case have the separate LEDs. They are spaced between platter and case rim.

Click here to see the rest of the project.