How to Read a Binary Clock: 9 Steps

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Impress your friends by placing a binary clock on their desk. Follow this guide to learn two ways to read this watch. The idea of the binary clock is simple. Rather than displaying numbers in base 10 (which is the number system most people are used to), we use the base 2, or binary system, which is made up of only 1 and 0. Since there are only two digits., you can use light bulbs instead of digits. On means 1 and Off means 0. Reading the binary clock is easy and is nothing more than a question of binary - decimal conversion.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) mode

Step 1. Decode each binary digit

The clock is divided into 3 sections, each containing two columns of light bulbs. The first section indicates the hours, the second the minutes and the last the seconds. The first column of each section represents the first digit and the second shows the second digit. Each column is made up of 2-4 lights each and represents the power of 2. Starting from the bottom, the first digit represents 2⁰ (1), The second represents 2¹ (2), and the third 2² (4), and the top light bulb represents 2³ (8). In the photo, you can easily see these numbers on the left of each row. Add the corresponding value to each light in the column to find out the right number. For example, if the three lights on the bottom are on, the number is 4 (third row) + 2 (second row) + 1 (final row) = 7. (See the second minute digit in the photo).

Step 2. Read the time by decoding the first section

In the photo, the bottom light bulb (the first row represents “1”) is on, and the second is off (“0”). By combining the digits, you get 10 o'clock.

NOTE: the time is shown in the 24-hour format. From 1pm onwards, subtract the hour from the time. For example, 3pm would be 3 o'clock. '

Step 3. Find out the minutes using the same method as above

Again, look at the photo: in the middle section, the first two (bottom) lights of the first column are on (the second row represents 2 and the first row the 1; 2 + 1 = 3) and the first three in the second column are lit (the third row represents 4, the second 2 and the first 1; 4 + 2 + 1 = 7), combining the two digits, we find that it is 10:37.

Step 4. Decode the seconds

On a running watch this can be quite challenging as the seconds change all the time. In the photo, the third light in the first column (the third row represents 4) and the fourth and first row in the second column (the first row is 8 while the first is 1; 8 + 1 = 9) are on, indicating the value 49. If you forget which number a particular light bulb represents, look at the number directly to the left of the row.

Step 5. Combine the numbers and read the time

Method 2 of 2: Pure Binary Clock

Step 1. Decode each binary digit as in the BCB method, but the two columns of each section now behave as a single column

The lights in the right column still represent numbers respectively ⁰, 2¹, 2², and 2³, but the left column is a continuation of the diagram. Starting from the bottom, the first light represents the 2⁴ (16) and the second on 2⁵ (32). There is no need to continue beyond 2⁵ because 59 (the highest number on the clock) can be written as 111011 (2⁵ + 2⁴ + 2³ + 2¹ + 2⁰ = 32 + 16 + 8 + 2 + 1 = 59).

Remember: the clock uses lights instead of digits; on is 1 and off is 0.

Step 2. Read the hours

Use the clock as an example, the last two lights, on the top row, are on (2 + 1 = 3), therefore, they are 3. Note that the LEDs on the clock are arranged in rows. The lights could be arranged in columns or in rows, but in reading it remains the same. “Remember, on is 1 and off is 0”. The hours on the clock can be written in binary, such as 0011 (which would be 3 in base 10). '

Step 3. Read the minutes

Again, looking at the clock, we have 011001 on the bottom row, which corresponds to 2⁴ + 2³ + 2⁰ = 16 + 8 + 1 = 25 minutes.

Step 4. Read the seconds the same way you read the hours and minutes

The clock in the photo does not show the seconds.

Advice

• Practice makes perfect! The binary clock is very difficult to read, so practice, practice and practice again!
• Don't be frightened by the apparent mathematical complexity. All you need to remember is the value each light bulb represents.
• To improve your ability to memorize light combinations, try looking at the seconds row and counting the seconds. This way you will become familiar with the combinations of lights, and you will learn more quickly.
• On some clocks you may find the columns arranged horizontally (as in the photo above). The procedure for reading the time, however, is the same.