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What Is a Binary Clock?

A binary clock is a clock that uses lights that are either on or off to determine what time it is. The on and off positions of the lights are directly related to 1 and 0 in the binary system.

How to Read Binary

The number system we use in our day-to-day life is the decimal system or also known as base 10 because there are ten digits in each unit (0 – 9). When we read binary we simply see 11 as eleven or 238 as two hundred thirty-eight however there is a semi-complex mathematical way to calculate the value. Each column of the number is a multiple of 10^x. So let’s break down 238:

Which mathematically is (10² x 2) + (10¹ x 3) + (10⁰ x 8 ) = 238

I know–it’s overly complicated but if you can understand that then it should be a little easier to understand binary. Binary is a base 2 system so that each digit has any number from 0 to 1. Each digit in a binary number is multiplied by 2^x.

The first five digits in the binary sequence are: 2⁰, 2¹, 2², 2³, 2⁴. Binary numbers are like Decimal numbers and are read from right to left so the sequence should really be: 2⁴, 2³, 2², 2¹, 2⁰.

So for this number: 10110 we do the following:

So then we get this:

Then you add all those up and you get 22!

How to Read a Binary Clock

Hopefully you are able to translate binary. If you can’t you can always try the calculator that comes with Windows. You can change the calculator back and forth between binary and decimal.

Binary Coded Decimal

Binary Coded Decimal means that each column on the clock directly correlates to each digit on the clock. Each row represents a different exponent of 2. The table below will give you an example.

Once you can remember what each row and column represent and you know how to convert binary to decimal you will be able to figure out the time. A binary clock is in 24-hour time which means 3:00 PM is 15:00. To go from 24-hour to 12-hour is pretty easy. If the time is 12 or less than 12 then it’s AM. If it’s 13 to 24 you subtract 12 and it’s PM

True Binary

True Binary is the same as Binary Coded Decimal except that the two hour columns, the two minute columns, and the two second columns are combined into one hour column, one minute column, and one second column. The exponents are as follows:

I hope this tutorial has been able to help you. It will take a bit of practice before you can actually read it without having to think about it.

Buy a Binary Clock at Amazon.com

Do you own a binary clock? You can use our Free Online Binary Clock Translator where you can easily click the lights and it will tell you what time it is. It has both True Binary and Binary Coded Decimal.

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"There are only 10 types of people in the world: Those who understand binary, and those who don't"

To me this shirt is hilarious. If you understand binary I’m sure you find it funny too. But if you don’t then you may not understand. 10 in decimal is ten but 10 in binary is two. So it’s really saying there are two types of people in the world. Those that understand binary and those that don’t.