DIY Countdown Alarm Clock: Simple Mechanical Build at Home

If you are interested in DIY countdown alarm clocks, you might want to take a look at this article.

If you happen to have an unused access control system back box lying around, you can suddenly come up with the idea of building an alarm clock inside it. The access control back box is well-positioned, and more importantly, it is mechanically driven.

If you just happen to have a timer, an 86-type blank faceplate, and four screws, you can start making it once the materials are ready.

First, you drill the holes and check whether the hole positions are properly aligned.

You prepare for installation by temporarily fixing the timer onto the faceplate with one screw. You will need to remove it later and install it together with the dial before securing everything.

You remove the previous screw and carefully hold the central shaft while installing the dial.

After installation, the result looks quite good. You wind the 10-minute alarm, and it starts running with a “tick-tock” sound, which sounds very pleasant. Then a “clang” is heard. Because the alarm is enclosed inside the back box, the sound is not very crisp, but it is still loud enough.

You finish the build.