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It is a pretend-play control panel, not a real microwave. Maker Myles Eftos’s 2018 project adds a rotary knob, countdown display, lights and completion sound to an IKEA Duktig play kitchen. It does not heat food or produce microwaves. The build is a documented electronics prototype—not a complete, beginner-proof kit—so expect to adapt the parts, fabrication and power design to your kitchen and components.
What the project does
The Duktig is a children’s play kitchen; this modification gives its microwave area a working toy interface. Turn the knob to set a countdown, press it to start or stop, watch the time decrease, and see the interior LEDs illuminate while it runs. At zero, the display shows “End” and a speaker plays a tone. The original maker designed the control around the appeal of a single-knob microwave.
“Working microwave” is sometimes used as shorthand in descriptions of the project, but only the timer interface works. There is no magnetron, heating element, microwave shielding or appliance safety system. Treat the cavity and controls strictly as toys; do not put food, liquids or metal cookware in it, and never add real microwave components.
The project was published July 13, 2018. Hackster’s project page labels it a beginner showcase but also says it has no instructions. The Hackaday project log documents the build. Together they are useful references, not a current step-by-step construction manual.
#1 Best Overall
- 【2024 Upgraded Square Timer】There is strong magnet on the back of the cooking timer, it is easy to place on any flat metal surface such as refrigerator and microwave oven etc and make sure it will not fall off from them. We also improve its alarm sound: there are 10 holes on both sides of the timer, when it makes alarm, the ring will be very loud.
- 【No Battery Required & Easy to Use】 The mechanical kitchen timer doesn’t require any batteries, it is energy saving and eco-friendly. Just wind it up and set time, it will work. It is small and compact, you can carry it with you anywhere.
- 【Mechanical Timer Working Principle】The 60 minute wind up timer doesn’t need battery, it is powered by a mechanical movement with spring, just like an old spring toy, you need to wind up first to make it work. So when you hold this timer, you must turn to 55 every time to activate the spring and then turn back to the time you want to set.
- 【Why Not Ring?】If the timer you received doesnot ring, that’s because this is a mechanical timer, you didn’t wind up firstly. Please follow the two important steps, it will ring: Step 1: "Wind Up". You MUST wind the timer from 0,5,10, 15... to 55 ; Step 2: "Set Time". Wind the timer from 55 back to the time you want to set.
- 【 Guarantee】we are confident with the quality of our manual countdown timer. If for any reason, you are not satisfied with it, please contact us via Amazon, we will solve the problem.
Parts and fabrication
The original Hackster list names an Arduino Nano R3, four-digit seven-segment display, rotary encoder with push-button, 27-mm replacement speaker, three 3.3-kΩ resistors, 27-Ω, 56-Ω and 100-Ω resistors, an NPN transistor, battery holder and 3D printer. The Hackaday description identifies the transistor as a BC547 and says the build repurposed six yellow LEDs. Treat those LEDs and the particular battery-holder arrangement as choices in the maker’s build, not universal requirements.
For a modern reproduction, select parts by electrical behavior and verified pinout, not appearance alone: a 5-V Nano-compatible board, an incremental encoder with a push switch, a TM1637-compatible four-digit display, a small 8-Ω speaker, suitable current-limiting resistors, a transistor or MOSFET sized for the LED load, and a battery supply appropriate for the chosen board. Add perfboard, insulated wire, connectors, mounting hardware and a covered enclosure. Display modules that look alike can use different drivers or connector orders; check the module documentation before wiring.
The panel can be fabricated with a 3D-printed housing and MDF backing, as in the documented build, or adapted using another suitable panel material or project enclosure. The original pages do not provide a complete cutting template or guarantee fit across Duktig revisions and individual modifications. Measure the kitchen you have before drilling or cutting.
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Rank #2
- 【No Battery Required & Easy to Use】 The mechanical kitchen timer doesn’t require any batteries, it is energy saving and eco-friendly. Just wind it up and set time, it will work. It is small and compact, you can carry it with you anywhere.
- 【Mechanical Timer Working Principle】 Visual mechanical timer is powered by a mechanical movement with spring, just like an old spring toy, you need to wind up first to make it work. So when you hold this timer, you must turn to 55 every time to activate the spring and then turn back to the time you want to set.
- 【Why Not Ring?】If the timer you received doesnot ring, that’s because this is a mechanical timer, you didn’t wind up firstly. Please follow the two important steps, it will ring: Step 1: "Wind Up". You MUST wind the timer from 0,5,10, 15... to 55 ; Step 2: "Set Time". Wind the timer from 55 back to the time you want to set.
- 【Wide Application】This 60 minute wind up timer can be applied on different occasions. Such as you use at home, in the kitchen, at school, in the classroom, and at work. It will be a nice kitchen timer, classroom timer, work timer and study timer.
- 【Notice】There is no back cover for this timer, so the alarm sound is very loud. If for any reason, you are not satisfied with it, please contact us via Amazon, we will solve the problem.
How the electronics fit together
- Rotary encoder: Unlike a potentiometer, an incremental encoder reports direction and movement as digital signals. The original code uses ClickEncoder to read the rotation and integrated button. The project description calls the output “Gray code”; quadrature or incremental signals are clearer terms for this kind of control.
- Display: The four-digit seven-segment module shows minutes and seconds. Its TM1637 driver lets the code communicate over clock and data lines. A flashing decimal point indicates that the countdown is active; when time expires, the code displays “End” using segment patterns. This is not an LCD, despite that imprecise term appearing in some roundup coverage.
- Lights: Six yellow LEDs provide interior or operating light. The maker reports about 120 mA total when they are on, so the LEDs are switched through a BC547 rather than powered directly from an Arduino output. A GPIO pin is not a suitable source for that combined load. Use current-limiting resistors, a properly rated switching device and a common ground.
- Sound: An 8-Ω speaker is driven using Arduino’s tone function. The original code plays a 1,500-Hz tone for about two seconds at completion. Sound adds realism, but the maker also noted that it can become irritating; a mute option or lower volume may make a child’s toy more pleasant.
Original code pin map
These assignments are specific to the published sketch; change the wiring and code together if you choose different pins.
| Function | Arduino pin |
|---|---|
| Encoder push-button | D2 |
| Encoder A | D3 |
| Encoder B | D4 |
| Speaker | D5 |
| LED/transistor control | D6 |
| Display DIO | D11 |
| Display CLK | D12 |
The published Arduino sketch includes AVR sleep support, TM1637Display, ClickEncoder and TimerOne. Verify that the libraries and board configuration work with your selected Nano-compatible board and current Arduino IDE; the historical source does not establish current maintenance or compatibility.
Timer behavior
The code caps the timer at 600 seconds (10 minutes) and prevents it from dropping below zero. Its intended interaction is:
- Rotate the knob to raise or lower the selected time.
- Press the knob to start; press it again to stop or pause.
- While running, the LEDs come on, the remaining time decreases by the second, and the decimal point flashes.
- At zero, the countdown stops, the LEDs turn off, “End” appears and the speaker sounds for approximately two seconds.
- After inactivity, the controller enters a sleep state; turning or pressing the encoder wakes it.
One implementation detail may surprise users: the original code allows the knob to change the remaining time even while the countdown is running. It toggles the running state on button release, rather than necessarily behaving like a commercial microwave’s controls. Adjust the firmware if that is not the interaction you want.
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The maker initially measured about 15 mA during sleep, partly because indicator LEDs on the Arduino and display remained powered. Removing those LEDs reportedly reduced sleep draw to about 2 mA. Using the maker’s stated 2,400-mAh AA capacity as a simple division gives about 160 hours (6.7 days) at 15 mA or 1,200 hours (50 days) at 2 mA. These are idealized estimates, not promised battery life: they omit regulator losses, battery discharge characteristics, self-discharge, temperature, active light and sound use, and cutoff voltage.
The author considered a boost converter and larger C cells, but that was a proposed improvement, not a documented final configuration. For a new build, include a physical off switch and consider a low-quiescent-current regulator, a display with shutdown, and power switching for the lights and audio. The standard Nano’s regulator and USB-serial circuitry can make standby consumption unattractive for a toy that sits unused. A newer low-power controller can improve efficiency, but will require adapting the historical code.
Rank #4
- 【High Quality Material】This cute countdown timer is made of premium ABS material, which is durable and stain resistant. It is 60 minutes manual countdown timer.
- 【No Battery Required & Easy Operation】 The mechanical timer doesn’t require any batteries, it is energy saving and eco-friendly. Just wind it up and set time, it will work.
- 【Why not ring?】Very important, please follow this instruction: Step 1: "Wind Up". You MUST wind the timer from 0,5,10, 15... to 55 (otherwise, it won't ring); Step 2: "Set Time". Wind the timer from 55 back to the time you wish to set.
- 【Perfect for Any Occasion】It can be used for timing exams, homework, play time, TV time, cooking, etc. Super cute timer for kids, great for kitchen lover.
- 【 Guarantee】we are confident with the quality of our cute countdown timer. If for any reason, you are not satisfied with it, please let us know and we will make it right.
Building and installing it safely
This project combines low-voltage electronics with a toy used by a child, so sound wiring is only one part of a safe installation:
- Use a self-contained, low-voltage battery circuit. Never connect the toy to mains or install salvaged microwave parts.
- Insulate exposed conductors, cover solder joints and perfboard, and protect the battery holder against short circuits.
- Fit strain relief where wires pass through MDF or other panels; deburr every drilled or cut opening.
- Secure the panel and knob so ordinary play cannot detach them. Keep small screws, loose wires, battery contacts and other small parts inaccessible to children.
- Make batteries accessible for adult replacement but not for the child. Use rechargeable cells only with an appropriately designed and enclosed charging arrangement.
- Clearly label the feature as a toy, supervise according to the child’s age and installation quality, and keep loose metal objects out of the pretend microwave cavity.
Do not use a mains adapter inside the play kitchen unless the installation has been professionally designed and enclosed. The interface should never be represented as producing heat or microwave energy.
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The original Arduino approach suits a maker who wants the knob, visible countdown and custom behavior, and is comfortable soldering, troubleshooting libraries and fabricating a panel. It is less suitable if the goal is only visual realism or if the builder needs a fully specified beginner kit: the project pages lack a complete wiring-and-installation sequence, and old marketplace links do not guarantee current stock or compatible parts.
Best Value
- Timing Is Everything in the Salon: A few minutes can mean the difference between perfection and disaster in color processing; this wind-up timer keeps time so you focus on the client, not the clock
- Small, Simple, and Discreet: The timer stands easily on countertops with minimal footprint; ideal for chemical, coloring, cosmetic, and tanning processes, plus kids' activities and meetings
- Set and Go in Two Steps: Turn the timer clockwise a full 360 degrees back to zero, past the 30-minute mark to engage the bell, then turn counter-clockwise to the desired time; rings when time is up
- No Batteries Required: No batteries or electrical outlet needed, so there is no draining your phone or risking chemical and liquid exposure; safe and convenient for any workstation
- Designed by Colortrak: A leader in salon-grade coloring tools since 1980, Colortrak builds vibrant, effective professional salon products for styling, coloring, and processing applications
Simpler adaptations could use a battery-powered LED puck light, a standalone kitchen timer module, push buttons instead of an encoder, a small buzzer instead of a speaker, or a removable external control panel that avoids modifying the cabinet. Those are alternatives, not configurations tested in the original build. A ready-made pretend-play accessory may be the better choice when minimal fabrication and electronics work matter more than customization.
For a modernized electronic version, prioritize a safe enclosure, power switch and low standby draw before adding features. Quieter or switchable sound and a display that can shut down cleanly are useful refinements. Whatever the design, the result remains a toy interface—not an appliance.
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