Will a real time clock be found/configured on a new OS install?

[rarok10410]

I'm mostly a windows user and this is the first time I've used an addon chip to the raspberry. I see a lot of instructions out there about how to configure it but I'm wondering if I just do a fresh install of Raspbian will the install process find and use/setup my new chip or do I need to go through the setup steps anyway?
Thanks

[DougieLawson]

What extra real time clock hardware are you intending to buy/have you bought for your RPi? There's no clock on any factory fresh RPi and the set-up for each isn't a standardised process.

[rarok10410]

I ordered one off aliexpress this is the title if it means anything "Precision DS3231 Real Time Clock Module RTC DS3231 3.3V/5V with Battery for Raspberry Pi for arduino DIY Kit". I can still cancel the order if this is a bad idea.

[W. H. Heydt]

No. A fresh install will not automatically find your RTC. You are probably aware that if your Pi is always connected to the internet, it doesn't need an RTC. However, if you actually need an RTC, the vendor *should* have instructions for setting it up. Recent releases of Raspbian have made that considerably easier than it used to be.

My currently preferred RTC is this https://chicagodist.com/products/rasclo ... spberry-pi one. Not the cheapest, but accurate and takes a replaceable battery.

[DougieLawson]

Add

Code: Select all

 dtoverlay=i2c-rtc,ds3231

to /boot/config.txt and your RTC will be recognised when you poweroff, connect it and reboot.

[knute]

Add

Code: Select all

 dtoverlay=i2c-rtc,ds3231

to /boot/config.txt and your RTC will be recognised when you poweroff, connect it and reboot.

Dougie do you still need to kill off the fake-hwclock and modify /lib/udev/hwclock-set?

[DougieLawson]

Add

Code: Select all

 dtoverlay=i2c-rtc,ds3231

to /boot/config.txt and your RTC will be recognised when you poweroff, connect it and reboot.

Dougie do you still need to kill off the fake-hwclock and modify /lib/udev/hwclock-set?

Yes. Because it does nothing useful when the system has a real hwclock.