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NTP Clock with LCD: the finished build
ESP32Home automation

Wi-Fi NTP clock on a 16×2 I2C LCD (ESP32)

Accurate IST time from the internet on a 16×2 I2C display.

Difficulty
Easy
Build time
45 min
Parts cost
₹640 · $8
Verified — core esp32 3.3.12, LiquidCrystal I2C 1.1.2, 3 Nov 2026Compile-only
Flash to my boardOpen in Playground

Community draft — report a mistake

Parts list

PartQtyApprox.Buy
ESP32 DevKit V1 (30-pin)1₹380Buy ESP32 DevKit V1 (30-pin)
16×2 LCD with I2C backpack (PCF8574, 0x27)1₹180Buy 16×2 LCD with I2C backpack (PCF8574, 0x27)
4-channel I2C level shifter (BSS138)1₹40Buy 4-channel I2C level shifter (BSS138)
Jumper wires + USB cable1₹40Buy Jumper wires + USB cable
Total₹640

Affiliate disclosure: “Buy” links may earn FlashReady a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are indicative.

Wiring

ESP32 DevKit V1Only the pins used are shown · 3.3 V logic16×2 LCD + I2C backpackLV⇄HVLV⇄HVGNDVIND22D21GNDVCCSDASCL
Every connection
ESP32 DevKit V116×2 LCD + I2C backpackWireNotes
GNDGNDblackAlso to the level shifter GND
VINVCCred5 V for the LCD; also feeds the shifter HV pin
D21SDAblueVia level shifter — Shifter LV2 ↔ HV2. Shifter LV = 3V3, HV = VIN (5 V), GND = GND.
D22SCLyellowVia level shifter — Shifter LV1 ↔ HV1.

Board quirks: Keep the level shifter: the LCD backpack pulls SDA/SCL up to its 5 V supply, and ESP32 pins are 3.3 V only. The ESP32 is 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only — on a dual-band router, make sure the 2.4 GHz network is on.

Code

ntp-lcd-clock.inoArduino C++Open in PlaygroundOpen in PlaygroundFlash
// Wi-Fi NTP clock (IST) on a 16x2 I2C LCD — ESP32 DevKit V1.
// LCD backpack runs at 5 V, so SDA/SCL go through a BSS138 level shifter:
// D21 → LV2/HV2 → SDA, D22 → LV1/HV1 → SCL, LV = 3V3, HV = VIN (5 V), GND common.
#include <WiFi.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>
#include <time.h>
#include "fr_settings.h"

const char *WIFI_SSID = "your-wifi";      // ← change
const char *WIFI_PASS = "your-password";  // ← change
// Filled in from the FlashReady flasher over USB (kept on the board), or type the values above.
FrSetting SETTINGS[] = {{"wifi_ssid", &WIFI_SSID, true}, {"wifi_pass", &WIFI_PASS, true}};

constexpr long IST_OFFSET = 19800;  // UTC+5:30, no daylight saving
constexpr int BACKLIGHT_OFF_HOUR = 23;
constexpr int BACKLIGHT_ON_HOUR = 6;

LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2);
bool backlightOn = true;
uint32_t lastWifiCheck = 0;

void connectWifi() {
  if (!*WIFI_SSID) {
    Serial.println("Wi-Fi off — no Wi-Fi name set. Flash from flashready.in or type it into the code.");
    lcd.clear();
    lcd.print("No Wi-Fi set");
    return;
  }
  WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);
  WiFi.begin(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASS);
  lcd.clear();
  lcd.print("Wi-Fi...");
  for (int i = 0; i < 40 && WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED; i++) delay(250);
  lcd.clear();
  lcd.print(WiFi.status() == WL_CONNECTED ? "Wi-Fi OK" : "Wi-Fi failed");
}

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  frSettingsBegin(SETTINGS);
  Wire.begin(21, 22);  // SDA, SCL (through the level shifter)
  lcd.init();
  lcd.backlight();
  connectWifi();
  configTime(IST_OFFSET, 0, "pool.ntp.org", "time.google.com");
}

void loop() {
  // Reconnect quietly if the router dropped us; the clock keeps running meanwhile.
  if (millis() - lastWifiCheck > 10000) {
    lastWifiCheck = millis();
    if (*WIFI_SSID && WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
      Serial.println("Wi-Fi lost, reconnecting");
      WiFi.reconnect();
    }
  }

  struct tm now;
  if (!getLocalTime(&now, 1000)) {
    lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
    lcd.print("Waiting for NTP ");
    return;
  }

  bool night = now.tm_hour >= BACKLIGHT_OFF_HOUR || now.tm_hour < BACKLIGHT_ON_HOUR;
  if (night && backlightOn) { lcd.noBacklight(); backlightOn = false; }
  if (!night && !backlightOn) { lcd.backlight(); backlightOn = true; }

  char line1[17], line2[17];
  strftime(line1, sizeof line1, "%H:%M:%S  IST  ", &now);
  strftime(line2, sizeof line2, "%a %d %b %Y", &now);
  lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
  lcd.print(line1);
  lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
  lcd.print(line2);
  delay(1000 - (millis() % 1000));  // tick on the second
}

Arduino IDE: keep fr_settings.h in the same folder as the .ino (tab menu → New Tab, same name). Flashing from this page doesn’t need it.

fr_settings.hArduino C++
// fr_settings.h — FlashReady on-board settings (Wi-Fi name, phone number, ...) over USB.
//
// Why: the pre-built file on flashready.in is the same for everyone, so your own settings
// can't be inside it. Instead the board asks for them over USB serial and keeps them in
// its EEPROM. If you use Arduino IDE you can still type them into the constants in the
// sketch — this file then changes nothing except a 2-second pause at start-up.
//
// The protocol, in plain words (one text line each way, ending in \n, at 115200 baud):
//  1. Right after Serial.begin(115200) the board prints
//       FR?SETTINGS v1 keys=wifi_ssid,wifi_pass missing=wifi_pass
//     "missing" lists the required settings that still have no real value.
//  2. If nothing is missing it listens for 2 seconds and then carries on. If something is
//     missing it keeps listening, printing the line again every 2 seconds, for up to
//     30 seconds; then it carries on anyway and the sketch skips whatever needs the
//     missing value (an alarm still sounds, it just can't send the SMS).
//  3. The flasher answers   FR!SET wifi_ssid=My%20Home&wifi_pass=secret
//     (values URL-encoded). The board stores them and answers FR!OK, then carries on with
//     the new values. Errors: FR!ERR unknown <key>, FR!ERR long <key> (nothing is stored).
//     A key that is left out keeps its stored value; "key=" (empty) removes it.
//     "FR!SET" with nothing after it means "carry on now": FR!OK, nothing is stored.
//  4. FR!CLEAR wipes everything that was stored, answers FR!OK and keeps listening.
//  Other lines are ignored.
//
// A stored value wins over the constant in the sketch. A constant that is still a
// placeholder ("YOUR_SSID", "your-wifi", "+91XXXXXXXXXX") or empty counts as not set.
//
// EEPROM block at FR_SETTINGS_ADDR: 'F' 'R' 0x01, length (uint16, low byte first), then
// "key=value\n" lines. Uses FR_SETTINGS_SIZE bytes; move FR_SETTINGS_ADDR with a #define
// before the #include if your sketch uses EEPROM for something else.
//
// Use in a sketch:
//   const char* WIFI_SSID = "YOUR_SSID";
//   FrSetting SETTINGS[] = { {"wifi_ssid", &WIFI_SSID, true} };   // key, constant, required
//   void setup() { Serial.begin(115200); frSettingsBegin(SETTINGS); ... WiFi.begin(WIFI_SSID, ...); }
// After frSettingsBegin() each constant points at the value to use ("" if none is set).
#pragma once
#include <Arduino.h>
#include <EEPROM.h>
#include <string.h>

#ifndef FR_SETTINGS_ADDR
#define FR_SETTINGS_ADDR 0
#endif
#ifndef FR_SETTINGS_SIZE
#if defined(__AVR__)
#define FR_SETTINGS_SIZE 96  // 2 KB of RAM on an Uno: a phone number fits easily
#else
#define FR_SETTINGS_SIZE 512
#endif
#endif
#ifndef FR_LINE_MAX
#if defined(__AVR__)
#define FR_LINE_MAX 128
#else
#define FR_LINE_MAX 1024
#endif
#endif
#define FR_MAX_KEYS 8
#define FR_WAIT_MAX_MS 30000UL  // never wait longer than this for missing settings
#define FR_DATA_MAX (FR_SETTINGS_SIZE - 5)

struct FrSetting {
  const char* key;     // [a-z0-9_], as in settings.json
  const char** value;  // the sketch's constant; replaced by the value to use
  bool required;
};

// Stored settings in RAM as "key=value\0key=value\0" (only non-empty values).
static char frData[FR_DATA_MAX + 1];
static uint16_t frLen = 0;

static inline void frEepromBegin() {
#if defined(ESP32) || defined(ESP8266)
  static bool started = false;
  if (!started) EEPROM.begin(FR_SETTINGS_ADDR + FR_SETTINGS_SIZE);
  started = true;
#endif
}

static inline void frLoad() {
  frEepromBegin();
  frLen = 0;
  frData[0] = 0;
  if (EEPROM.read(FR_SETTINGS_ADDR) != 'F' || EEPROM.read(FR_SETTINGS_ADDR + 1) != 'R' || EEPROM.read(FR_SETTINGS_ADDR + 2) != 1) return;
  uint16_t n = EEPROM.read(FR_SETTINGS_ADDR + 3) | (EEPROM.read(FR_SETTINGS_ADDR + 4) << 8);
  if (n > FR_DATA_MAX) return;
  for (uint16_t i = 0; i < n; i++) {
    char c = EEPROM.read(FR_SETTINGS_ADDR + 5 + i);
    frData[i] = c == '\n' ? '\0' : c;
  }
  frData[n] = 0;
  frLen = n;
}

static inline void frPut(int addr, uint8_t b) {
#if defined(__AVR__)
  EEPROM.update(addr, b);
#else
  EEPROM.write(addr, b);
#endif
}

static inline void frSave() {
  frEepromBegin();
  frPut(FR_SETTINGS_ADDR, 'F');
  frPut(FR_SETTINGS_ADDR + 1, 'R');
  frPut(FR_SETTINGS_ADDR + 2, 1);
  frPut(FR_SETTINGS_ADDR + 3, frLen & 0xFF);
  frPut(FR_SETTINGS_ADDR + 4, frLen >> 8);
  for (uint16_t i = 0; i < frLen; i++) frPut(FR_SETTINGS_ADDR + 5 + i, frData[i] ? frData[i] : '\n');
#if defined(ESP32) || defined(ESP8266)
  EEPROM.commit();
#endif
}

// The stored value for key, or nullptr.
static inline const char* frStored(const char* key) {
  size_t kl = strlen(key);
  for (uint16_t i = 0; i < frLen; i += strlen(frData + i) + 1) {
    if (strncmp(frData + i, key, kl) == 0 && frData[i + kl] == '=') return frData + i + kl + 1;
  }
  return nullptr;
}

// Empty, "your_…" / "YOUR-…" / "your …", or a "+91XXXX…" phone number.
static inline bool frIsPlaceholder(const char* v) {
  if (!v || !*v) return true;
  if (strncasecmp(v, "your", 4) == 0 && (v[4] == '_' || v[4] == '-' || v[4] == ' ')) return true;
  return v[0] == '+' && strstr(v, "XXXX") != nullptr;
}

// The stored value for key, else the fallback constant; "" if that is a placeholder.
static inline const char* frSettingsGet(const char* key, const char* fallback) {
  const char* v = frStored(key);
  if (!v) v = fallback;
  return frIsPlaceholder(v) ? "" : v;
}

static inline bool frIsMissing(const FrSetting& s) {
  return s.required && !*frSettingsGet(s.key, *s.value);
}

static inline void frRequest(FrSetting* s, uint8_t n) {
  Serial.print(F("FR?SETTINGS v1 keys="));
  for (uint8_t i = 0; i < n; i++) {
    if (i) Serial.print(',');
    Serial.print(s[i].key);
  }
  Serial.print(F(" missing="));
  bool first = true;
  for (uint8_t i = 0; i < n; i++) {
    if (!frIsMissing(s[i])) continue;
    if (!first) Serial.print(',');
    Serial.print(s[i].key);
    first = false;
  }
  Serial.print('\n');
}

static inline void frReply(const __FlashStringHelper* what, const char* key) {
  Serial.print(what);
  Serial.print(key);
  Serial.print('\n');
}

static inline int8_t frHex(char c) {
  if (c >= '0' && c <= '9') return c - '0';
  c |= 0x20;
  return (c >= 'a' && c <= 'f') ? c - 'a' + 10 : -1;
}

// Percent-decodes in place. Drops NUL, CR and LF: they can't be stored.
static inline void frDecode(char* s) {
  char* o = s;
  for (; *s; s++) {
    char c = *s;
    if (c == '%' && frHex(s[1]) >= 0 && frHex(s[2]) >= 0) {
      c = (char)(frHex(s[1]) << 4 | frHex(s[2]));
      s += 2;
    }
    if (c != '\0' && c != '\n' && c != '\r') *o++ = c;
  }
  *o = 0;
}

// "k1=v1&k2=v2" (cut short if the line overflowed). Saves and returns true, or replies with an error.
static inline bool frSet(FrSetting* s, uint8_t n, char* p, bool overflow) {
  const char* upd[FR_MAX_KEYS] = {};
  while (*p) {
    char* amp = strchr(p, '&');
    bool last = !amp;
    if (amp) *amp = 0;
    char* eq = strchr(p, '=');
    if (eq) *eq = 0;
    if (*p) {
      if (last && overflow) {
        frReply(F("FR!ERR long "), p);
        return false;
      }
      uint8_t i = 0;
      while (i < n && strcmp(s[i].key, p) != 0) i++;
      if (i == n) {
        frReply(F("FR!ERR unknown "), p);
        return false;
      }
      char* v = eq ? eq + 1 : p + strlen(p);  // "key" alone = "key="
      frDecode(v);
      upd[i] = v;
    }
    if (last) break;
    p = amp + 1;
  }
  // Build the new block: for each key, the new value or the one already stored.
  char next[FR_DATA_MAX + 1];
  uint16_t len = 0;
  for (uint8_t i = 0; i < n; i++) {
    const char* v = upd[i] ? upd[i] : frStored(s[i].key);
    if (!v || !*v) continue;
    size_t kl = strlen(s[i].key), vl = strlen(v);
    if (len + kl + vl + 2 > FR_DATA_MAX) {
      frReply(F("FR!ERR long "), s[i].key);
      return false;
    }
    memcpy(next + len, s[i].key, kl);
    next[len + kl] = '=';
    memcpy(next + len + kl + 1, v, vl + 1);
    len += kl + vl + 2;
  }
  memcpy(frData, next, len);
  frData[len] = 0;
  frLen = len;
  frSave();
  return true;
}

// Handles one received line. Returns true once settings were saved (boot carries on).
static inline bool frCommand(FrSetting* s, uint8_t n, char* line, bool overflow) {
  if (strcmp(line, "FR!CLEAR") == 0) {
    frLen = 0;
    frData[0] = 0;
    frSave();
    Serial.print(F("FR!OK\n"));
    return false;
  }
  if (strncmp(line, "FR!SET", 6) != 0 || (line[6] != ' ' && line[6] != 0)) return false;  // not for us
  char* p = line + 6;
  while (*p == ' ') p++;
  if (*p && !frSet(s, n, p, overflow)) return false;  // empty FR!SET = carry on, store nothing
  Serial.print(F("FR!OK\n"));
  return true;
}

// Call right after Serial.begin(115200). Prints the request, waits as described at the top
// (30 s at most), then points every constant in the list at the value to use ("" = not set).
static inline void frSettingsBegin(FrSetting* s, uint8_t n) {
  frLoad();
  char line[FR_LINE_MAX];
  uint16_t len = 0;
  bool overflow = false;
  frRequest(s, n);
  unsigned long start = millis(), quietSince = start;
  while (millis() - start < FR_WAIT_MAX_MS) {
    int c = Serial.read();
    if (c >= 0) {
      quietSince = millis();
      if (c == '\r') continue;
      if (c != '\n') {
        if (len < FR_LINE_MAX - 1) line[len++] = (char)c;
        else overflow = true;
        continue;
      }
      line[len] = 0;
      bool saved = frCommand(s, n, line, overflow);
      len = 0;
      overflow = false;
      if (saved) break;
      continue;
    }
    if (millis() - quietSince < 2000) {
      delay(1);  // also keeps the ESP8266 watchdog fed
      continue;
    }
    len = 0;  // drop half a line
    overflow = false;
    bool missing = false;
    for (uint8_t i = 0; i < n; i++) missing |= frIsMissing(s[i]);
    if (!missing) break;
    frRequest(s, n);
    quietSince = millis();
  }
  for (uint8_t i = 0; i < n; i++) *s[i].value = frSettingsGet(s[i].key, *s[i].value);
}

template <size_t N>
static inline void frSettingsBegin(FrSetting (&s)[N]) {
  static_assert(N <= FR_MAX_KEYS, "fr_settings.h: at most FR_MAX_KEYS settings");
  frSettingsBegin(s, (uint8_t)N);
}

Compiled for esp32 on esp32 3.3.12 with LiquidCrystal I2C 1.1.2 · 3 Nov 2026

How it works

The ESP32 joins your Wi-Fi, asks an NTP time server for the time, and keeps it accurate to well under a second. configTime(19800, 0, …) sets Indian Standard Time — UTC + 5:30, with no daylight saving.

Every ten seconds the sketch checks the Wi-Fi link and reconnects quietly if the router dropped it; the clock keeps ticking from the ESP32’s own timer meanwhile. Between 11 pm and 6 am the backlight switches off so it doesn’t light up a bedroom.

The LCD runs at 5 V for good contrast, so its I2C lines go through a small BSS138 level shifter. That keeps 5 V off the ESP32’s pins.

Troubleshooting

Stuck on "Waiting for NTP"

The ESP32 is not online. Check the Wi-Fi name and password you gave the flasher (or typed into the sketch), and that your network is 2.4 GHz. Some office networks block NTP (UDP port 123).

Time is 5½ hours off

The offset must be 19800 seconds (UTC+5:30) in configTime(). India has no daylight saving, so the second argument stays 0.

LCD shows blocks or nothing

Turn the contrast trimmer, then run the I2C scanner — some backpacks are 0x3F, not 0x27.

Upgrades

  • Add a DHT22 and show room temperature on the second line.
  • Sound a buzzer for a morning alarm set from your phone.
  • Swap the LCD for an SSD1306 OLED to drop the level shifter.

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