I'm working on a project which requires an RTC clock. So I decided to get a module, since my project is based on a development board with ATmega328. The cheapest and most available module is a small PCB with "ZS-042" printed on it. Besides DS3231 realtime clock IC, it also includes an I2C EEPROM (24C32). Both share the same bus lines. The module is shipped without a battery. Product description (on AliExpress) mentions only LIR2032 battery and 5V supply for the module. They even say that it does not ship with the battery and that's not a big deal since it costs only "0.01 dollars". Really?!
The reason I chose DS3231 is because I need 3.3 V compatibility. I'll be using other peripherals which support 3.3 V only and ATmega328 will run at 8 MHz. RTC datasheet confirms DS3231 is 3.3 V (and 5 V) compatible. But the module specifications say you should use 5 V. I began wondering if there is something else that made sellers say this. In this post I will answer two questions: can ZS-042 operate at 3.3 V and what type of battery should you use (CR2032 or LIR2032).
ZS-042 DS3231 Module
