Timer

The following instructions take you through the steps to build a timer device for an escape room. The simplest method is to use a BBC micro:bit as the full timer but this has the disadvantage of working within the constraints of the 5x5 screen. An alternative is to use an Arcade device but this has the disadvantage of not having radio (unless it is a BBC micro:bit device with an Arcade shield) and thus needs connecting to a BBC micro:bit over a 1-wire connection (if the Arcade devices has access to pins).

BBC micro:bit timer

Working within the constraints of a 5x5 grid. Can respond to radio messages.

Only the v2 has a speaker. To add a speaker, there are many shim boards available like the power:bit.

Arcade timer

Nice screen, manual start and stop, cannot respond to radio messages.

Using a radio

Do this when using a BBC micro:bit with an Arcade shield.

Using an additional BBC micro:bit

Can be either a v1 or v2 BBC micro:bit as we will just use it for signals.

The connected Arcade device must have pins.