Grinch Clock

In the animated Grinch movie, he throws a book, racket, and finally a lamp at his clock radio that is annoying him. There are only a couple of frames of it, but I thought that it would be fun to make a model of it. 

This design is a working quartz clock but you can add the following features:

• Stereo 5W Bluetooth speakers and an MP3 (optional).
  o    The MP3 player uses a micro-SD card or USB thumb drive.
  o    Controlled with an IR remote, which can be stored in a slot in the back.
  o    The left button turns the BT speakers, MP3 player and power LED on and off.
• Animated dial face.
  o    Turning the left knob slides the tuning dial back and forth. Performs no other function (optional).
• Moon can be rotated to show its phase.
• Animated dial and whirligig at the top (optional).
  o    Turned on/off by the center button.
• Powered through a USB-C connector with a 1A power supply.

The right knob is non-functional.

A video of the completed clock in action can be found here.

Refer to the Grinch Clock Build Notes.PDF for assembly instructions.

The body of the clock is 250.6mm tall, so it will not work with an A1 Mini.

Note that the Other Listed Parts include links to where I bought them. You may find better deals or smaller quantities elsewhere, and the links may not be good in the future. The important issue is to make sure that the parts you are physically compatible with the model.

And here is the scene in the movie that shows the clock.

Note: Identifying a specific part for a design from Amazon, EBay, AliExpress, etc., can be problematic over time if the specified vendor/page goes away. I try to specify parts that are available from multiple vendors, even though I only include a link to one. If a part link doesn't work, go onto the site originally specified (e.g., amazon.com), and copy and paste the parts name (e.g., "Gikfun 2" 4Ohm 3W Full Range Audio Speaker Stereo Woofer") into the Search Text box, and you should find other vendors that offer the same part. Thats what I do to update the bad links.

Here are some images of the Decoder Board that I used for this design. If the Decoder Board link doesn't work, search on “Bluetooth 5.0 MP3 Decoder Board 10W Amplifier MP3” and look for a product that looks like this:

Note:   You can use any USB power supply with an A connector. Make sure that the power supply has an 'A' (rectangular) connector, and use an A to C USB cable.

Power is always on an A connector, while it must be turned on by the device that it is connected to with C connectors. A resistor on one of the C connector pins is used to turn on power, and that connetor that I chose does not have the resistor. So you need to use an A to C cable.

Note:    The links that I provide for parts may become invalid if a vendor moves or drops it. Generally the parts that I choose are available from multiple vendors, however I only post one link. If a link that I have posted for a part does not work, please try copying and pasting the description of the part into an AliExpress, Amazon, or eBay search window and see if the part has moved to another page, or if an equivalent part is available from another vendor. And if possible visually verify that the part looks the same, e.g., for the MP3 Decoder Board. For the MP3 Decoder Board in particluar, it is very important that its front panel has the same layout as the one displayed above.

1/2/25

Updated many sections in the Build Guide PDF.

1/3/25

Updated remaing sections in the Build Guide PDF. They should be complete now. Please let me know of any errors that you find, or of any additional information that I should include.

I also added a Grinch Dial Cover that can be used to protect the clock hands when shipping it somewhere. It is the round thing floating below Plate 5. Also if you ship it, you should pull the Whirligig out of the top so the knobs don't get broken off.

3/5/25
Added more detail to V5 of the Build Notes in the Moon Phase and Radio Dial installation sections.

8/6/25

Updated parts links for Decoder Board and Speakers

11/15/25

Updated parts links for Speaker Cloth

2/4/26

Added a Grinch Clock Optional Date Setting Print Profile for magnetically attached date digits. These will allow a you to use the clock as an Advent Calendar. The D4x2 mm Round Magnets are relativly strong, so using the tip of a knife helps remove them. I used a pair of smooth surface pliers to press the magents into the parts. No glue was necessary.

2/5/26

Grinch Clock Optional Date Setting V2 - Updated file to include all the months of the year, as well as added notches to all the parts to ease removal. If you only print Plate 1 then 17 D4x2 round magnets are required (One - D4x2 mm Round Magnet (20PCS) - CA001). If you print both plates 42 D4x3 round magnets are required (Three - D4x2 mm Round Magnet (20PCS) - CA001).