This DIY alarm clock uses an ESP32-P4, touchscreen display and microSD storage to wake users with video and audio instead of a traditional alarm tone.
A maker has developed a DIY video alarm clock around the Waveshare ESP32-P4-WIFI6-Touch-LCD-4B development board. Instead of using a conventional beep, the project wakes users by playing a selected video with audio on its 720 × 720-pixel MIPI-DSI touchscreen. The board combines an ESP32-P4 with 32 MB of flash and 32 MB of PSRAM, along with an ES8311 audio codec and GT911 touch controller.
The clock stores video files on a FAT32 microSD card rather than using the board’s internal flash. It accepts 720 × 720 MJPEG video with 44.1 kHz PCM stereo audio packaged in an AVI container. The project uses 8.3-style filenames, while a Docker-based utility converts source videos into the required format and transfers them to the clock through FTP.
Users can configure alarms with a specific time, repeat days and a selected video. The alarm settings remain available even after a power interruption, allowing the clock to resume normal operation without having to recreate the schedule. Video management is handled through a dedicated Media screen, with FTP access active while that screen is open.
Firmware can initially be installed through the board’s USB-C UART connection. The project supports flashing through a web-based tool using Chrome, Edge or Firefox, as well as through a terminal script. Once installed, the clock can check for firmware updates over Wi-Fi when the user manually selects the update option from the About screen. If an update fails, the system can roll back to the previous firmware.
The project also includes an STL file and OpenSCAD source for a 15-degree stand, allowing the enclosure or mounting arrangement to be reproduced and modified. By combining the ESP32-P4’s multimedia capabilities with a touchscreen, microSD storage and open project files, the design provides a customisable platform for building an alarm clock that replaces conventional alarm sounds with user-selected video and audio.
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