A binary clock is a type of clock, which displays the sexagesimal time in the binary format. Originally, it used to show every decimal digit for the sexagesimal time as the value of binary, but right now, there are some true binary clocks as well. Most of the binary clocks are digital although some of the analog varieties are also available. The most recent type of binary clocks come with six columns of LEDs, which represent the ones and zeros. Every column will represent a single digit, this is a format known as binary-coded decimal (BCD). The bottom row in every column will represent one, and every row above that will be representing higher powers of two, like 2 raised to 3 (or 8).
To read binary clocks, you must add the values of the illuminated LED and then read it from left to right. The first two columns in the clock will represent the hour, the next two columns will represent the minutes and the last two will show seconds. Since the digits in the zero are not illuminated, the position of every digit should be memorized if you are going to use the clock in the dark.
Here is a simple chart displaying the conventional binary time system. There are three columns hours, minutes and seconds.
| hours | minutes | Seconds | |
| 32 | 1 | 1 | |
| 16 | 0 | 1 | |
| 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 10 | 37 | 49 |
A binary clock will have only two digits 0 and 1, instead of all the 12 digits that you find in the normal clock. Reading binary clocks is very easy if you are able to decode the binary system and relate it with the standard binary system like in everyday life. The only thing that you need to remember while reading binary clocks is to read the lights.
Know more about how to read binary clock:
Steps:
- BCD mode: In the Binary Coded Decimal mode, the clock is divided into three different sections i.e. hours, minutes and seconds. Every section will have two columns of light, and each light will represent the power of digit 2 in increasing order, it begins at 20 and goes up to 23. The left column in every section will represent the tens place and the right column will show the ones place. The time shown in the BCD mode is according to the 24-hour clock and if there is any number greater than 12, then you have to subtract 12 from the resultant number to get the correct time. For instance, the resulting number in the hour’s section that you get is 17 so subtract that by 12, you will get 5 ‘o’ clock. To get the full time, you will have to add all the lights that are lit along with the corresponding powers of two as mentioned before.
- True Binary Number: In the True Binary Number, there will be only one column in every section, instead of two columns as compared to that in the BCD mode. However, the series of number progresses in the same manner i.e. from 20 to 25. To illustrate, the maximum number of minutes and seconds on clock is 59 and the maximum number of hours is 24. To arrive at the number 59 in the binary system, the calculation should be like this: 20+21+22+23+24+25. If converted in the decimal system, the calculation will read like this: 1+2+4+8+16+32=59.
- Some other ways to read the binary clock: All the lights in the binary code can be placed in rows or columns, but deciphering and calculation of the number remains the same. There is a simple trick to write all the numbers whether they are lit or not. You will get numbers like 0110 or 11001011, etc. Once you get these numbers, look at what position they are in and then calculate them with the power of 2 to get the right total and the correct decimal term.
- Reading binary clocks is not easy to start with; it will take a lot practice and time, before you are confident enough to show your talent in the public. In reading binary clocks, you don’t need to learn the complicated math or calculations, so anyone can learn to read binary clocks over time.
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