Kelsam Chess ClockChess

The Kelsam Chess Clock in action!

If you've ever used a chess clock you know it can be annoying to figure out how to do the simplest of tasks, let alone use any advanced features. Starting a 10-minute match or even restarting after a match requires memorizing a clock-specific button combination or fumbling through instructions. Our clock sets out to solve that, offering all the advanced features of a deluxe chess clock without needing a manual to use any of it. How? Menus!

The Kelsam Chess Clock features an OLED display that renders little menus you can easily click through to find and use all functionality. You don't have to memorize anything. There isn't even a manual to open! Just scroll through the menus to find everything you need.

For those that aren't familiar with advanced chess clock functionality, here's what you need to know:

• Increment - adds time to the clock after every move
• Delay - adds a pause before the clock begins on every move
• Bronstein Delay - refunds time to the clock after every move (limited to how much time was spent on the move, cannot gain time)
• Freestyle Chess - this is a Chess variant that involves changing the starting positions of non-pawn pieces, keeping the King between two Rooks and Bishops on opposite-color squares

Components

You can either make your own clock with your own components, or you can get the components below that our STLs are designed for.

These are either the exact parts we used or the closest equivalent we could find for ones that were delisted. Be aware that sometimes products can be updated/replaced and still have the same product page, so these may no longer be compatible with our design. Buy at your own risk. If you want to use our clock box design, you'll need these exact components:

Kelsam Chess Clock Wiring Diagram

• Arduino UNO R4 Minima
• Quiet-Press LED Buttons
  default button brightness settings are for the Green/Yellow configuration we used but may need to be adjusted in your OS if you use different colors
• TM1637 7-segment displays
  we found the Green/Yellow colors best for this use, other colors had halos, varying brightness, etc.
• SH1106 128x64 OLED display
• Menu Buttons
• Power Switch
• Battery Pack with Barrel Jack Adapter
• Buzzer
• Rubber Feet
• USB-C Extension Cable OPTIONAL
  makes it easier to connect to PC to flash OS [updates] and allows you to optionally power your clock via USB-C
• Electronics-making stuff like a soldering iron, solder, flux, wires, etc.

If you want to use different components and your own body design, the OS should still work as long as you're running it on an Arduino Uno R4 Minima, are using a SH1106 128x64 OLED display, and TM1637 7-segment displays.

This project is exempt from our Commercial Use Policy. If you'd like to make and sell products based on this, please contact us to work out licensing terms and customizations.