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Project Manual Counter

Parts List:

 1x 4026 ic
 1x 10K resistor
 1x 220 ohm resistor
 1x 7 segment display
 1x Momentary push button
The "Advent Calendar for Geeks" is a perfect present for your nerdy friends. It has
some awesome features like:

 looks really nerdy

 you just need to buy the parts, your nerdy friend has the fun making it
 24 different switching stats
 no glue, no soldering
 all parts are re-usable
 easy to make
 including batterie!

Okay, it is a simple counter circuit involving two 7-segment displays and two counter-
ICs. Every day of December you can push the button one time to count until
December 24th.

Step 1: Parts
Here is what you need:

 a breadboard
 2 7-segment displays, common cathode
 2 IC CMOS 4026
 2 resistors 10k
 2 resistors 330
 1 capacitor 47nF
 1 momentary push button
 1 9V battery
 1 battery clip
 wire

Buy these parts, put them in a gift box and give it to your friend! Let him / her have
the fun of making the advent counter!

Step 2: Make It

Stick the parts to the breadboard like shown at the graphic. Wire the second IC and the
first display like the other one. At the graphic I just wired one display to make it clear
and avoid a messy rat nest.

Step 3: Have Fun

Connect your calendar to the battery. The display should show number 00. At
December 1st you can push the button the first time! Push it only one time a day to
have pushbutton-fun all along holiday season!

Bonus: At December 24th you can take it apart again and have a some cool parts for
later projects. Or you can solder it to a protoboard and save it for next year.