[jamez]

Thanks for your comment. You are definitely right about "forever" not matching reality, which is why I placed it between quotes. In this case, what this means to me is a device that could outlive its creator.

I take your point about lifespan of electronics, however I stick to my guns regarding the word "heirloom". Grandpa's clocks did not last forever either without some maintenance, but still managed to pass through generations with the help of repairing hands. My C64 from way back 1980s still works, and the only thing I ever needed to do is replace a fuse and... treat it nicely.

[falcolas]

That's fair enough. :)

I would point out that one advantage the C64 had was thick wires carefully separated. Takes longer for things like tin whiskers to form and kill the SS transistors.

Still, awesome project, and I'll be happy to see more.

[scotty79]

Would dipping electronics in some resin to cover the connections help?

[t_curmudgeon]

Unless you are currently 75 years old, there isn't much chance of that. The solar cells and the ESP module probably have a lifespan measured in years, not decades.

Not even electronics built in the "good old days" of low component count circuits and hand-wired cabinets lasted more than a few decades.

Cheap flash memory, material diffusion effects, etc, will kill modern stuff much quicker. Not to mention WiFi becoming obsolete. And unlike your family's old mechanical clocks, once a part becomes unavailable, you can't make your own replacement.

Take pictures and print them instead!

[seszett]

Given the low price of an ESP32, I would include one or two spares (already programmed) in the frame, for easy replacement in the future.