Word Clock Parts List
Full parts list
(prices as of September 2025 based on US purchase)
- Raspberry PI Zero 2WH - Amazon ~ $27
- SD Card for Raspberry PI - Amazon - $15 for two
- USB Power block - Amazon - $10 for two
- USB C cable - any
- Mini HDMI to HDMI - Amazon - $7
- USB C to Micro USB cable - Amazon - $8 for two
- WS2812B LED Light Matrix - Amazon - $17
- 7 of Electronics Wires - Amazon - $7 for 120
- 8 of 12mm x 3mm Magnets - Apex Magnets $11 for 10
- 2 of 16mm Momentary Push Buttons - Amazon $9 for 5
If you want to use the real time clock with battery backup
- (optional) Real Time Clock module - Amazon - $8 for two
If you are going to use the Camera to automatically connect to a Wifi network
- (optional) Arducam 5MP - Amazon $7
- (optional) Extended Camera Ribbon - Amazon $9 for 2
Total cost is $111 (although you will end up with additional parts)
Raspberry PI Zero 2WH
You could use any PI but the zero is a nice form factor. It is easily powerful to run the clock logic and because is has the built in WiFi you can use the smart features of the clock as well.
SD Card for Raspberry PI
You need an SD card to put the RPI OS on there. You don't need anything like 64GB but these are relatively cheap.
Real Time Clock module
You only need this to have a battery backup of the Real Time Clock. If your PI will always be on the network then this isn't strictly needed. However, if the clock will not be on the network then you have to have these or else it will lose the time as soon as you lose power.
USB Power block
This is to power the RPI. You can use any that you have lying around as it doesn't take that much power to run it.
This one has both an USB-A and USB-C outlet so is quite convenient to work with any USB cabled you have lying around.
USB C to Micro USB cable
Needed to connect a regular USB-C cable to power the RPI.
Mini HDMI to HDMI
Needed to connect the Raspberry PI to a monitor during the initial setup.
WS2812B LED Light Matrix
This is the main lighting matrix that powers the clock. You need the 16x16 version.
Electronics Wires
You just need a few of these to wire up the LED matrix and the Buttons. You may already have suitable wires hanging around, particularly if you want to do some soldering.
You will need:
- 3 x male to female (for the light matrix)
- 4 x female to female (for the buttons)
12mm x 3mm Magnets
You need 8 of these magnets for the connection between the clock back and the RPI enclosure.
If you don't have these then you could do this with glue also.
16mm Momentary Push Buttons
These are used for the push buttons on the back of the clock used to adjust the time and change the clock face mode.
Arducam 5MP
If you want to allow the clock to automatically connect to a Wifi network then you will need to add a camera to the setup.
Extended Camera Ribbon
If you are using the Camera then you will need a longer ribbon to be able to make the connection comfortably inside the clock back.