2025 One Hertz Challenge: A Flaming Oscillator and a New Take on the Candle Clock
1 min read
Summary
Tim’s candle clock does not involve complex mechanical devises and is a simple timer.
This candle-based time-keeping device is not the only way to keep time with a flame, however.
When several candles are brought close together, their flames begin to interfere with each other, causing them to flicker in synchrony, with the frequency of flickering determined alone by gravity and flame diameter.
This flickering can be sensed through a wire positioned just above the flame, with a capacitance between the wire and another wire wrapped around the bundle of candles fluctuating with the flame due to the different dielectric constant of a flame compared to air.
This can then be read by a CH32V003 microcontroller which performs signal processing, counts oscillations and uses this to blink an LED.
