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Arduino Forum Arduino LCD Help!?!
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  • State Verified Answer
  • Replies 8 replies
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  • lcd
  • help
  • 16x2
  • diy
  • backlight
  • arduino
  • blockman301
Related

Arduino LCD Help!?!

Former Member
Former Member over 11 years ago

Hi,

I have purchased an lcd from tadyaelectronics.com to hook up to my arduino. When I follow the schematic (http://arduino.cc/en/uploads/Tutorial/LCD_bb.png) and upload the code the top row is just tan squares. How can I fix this problem?

 

Thanks in Advance,

Nehemiah Branson

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  • Robert Peter Oakes
    0 Robert Peter Oakes over 11 years ago

    Can you provide a link to the product you have, it sounds like the driver library is incorrect or the pins are not correctly matching the code

     

    also can you link in the code or paste it into the forum so I can better help you

     

    Thanks

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  • Robert Peter Oakes
    0 Robert Peter Oakes over 11 years ago

    I also notice from your circuit that there is no connection to the back light, without this is may be difficult to see the display

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  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 11 years ago in reply to Robert Peter Oakes

    Here is the link to the LCD

     

     

    http://www.taydaelectronics.com/lcd-display-16-x-2-blue-character-with-backlight.html

     

    I'll try using the back light!

     

    Thanks,

    Nehemiah

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  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 11 years ago in reply to Former Member

    The backcloth turned on but the text didn't change

    Thanks,

    Nehemiah

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  • Robert Peter Oakes
    0 Robert Peter Oakes over 11 years ago

    Can you point me the the libraries your using, I have a similar board here and may be able to identify an issue, also please post the code your using to test with

     

    Thanks

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  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 11 years ago

    I'm using the Liquid Crystal Library that comes with the arduino software. I am using the "Hello World" code inside this library. Here is the code....

     

    /*

      LiquidCrystal Library - Hello World

     

    Demonstrates the use a 16x2 LCD display.  The LiquidCrystal

    library works with all LCD displays that are compatible with the

    Hitachi HD44780 driver. There are many of them out there, and you

    can usually tell them by the 16-pin interface.

     

    This sketch prints "Hello World!" to the LCD

    and shows the time.

     

      The circuit:

    * LCD RS pin to digital pin 12

    * LCD Enable pin to digital pin 11

    * LCD D4 pin to digital pin 5

    * LCD D5 pin to digital pin 4

    * LCD D6 pin to digital pin 3

    * LCD D7 pin to digital pin 2

    * LCD R/W pin to ground

    * 10K resistor:

    * ends to +5V and ground

    * wiper to LCD VO pin (pin 3)

     

    Library originally added 18 Apr 2008

    by David A. Mellis

    library modified 5 Jul 2009

    by Limor Fried (http://www.ladyada.net)

    example added 9 Jul 2009

    by Tom Igoe

    modified 22 Nov 2010

    by Tom Igoe

     

    This example code is in the public domain.

     

     

    http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/LiquidCrystal

    */

     

     

    // include the library code:

    #include <LiquidCrystal.h>

     

     

    // initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins

    LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2);

     

     

    void setup() {

      // set up the LCD's number of columns and rows:

      lcd.begin(16, 2);

      // Print a message to the LCD.

      lcd.print("hello, world!");

    }

     

     

    void loop() {

      // set the cursor to column 0, line 1

      // (note: line 1 is the second row, since counting begins with 0):

      lcd.setCursor(0, 1);

      // print the number of seconds since reset:

      lcd.print(millis()/1000);

    }

     

     

    Thanks,

    Nehemiah

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  • Robert Peter Oakes
    0 Robert Peter Oakes over 11 years ago in reply to Former Member

    OK, so i set up the same on my display, same wiring, same code

     

    If the variable resistor is not set correctly then you can get the symptoms you describe, measuring the voltage on Vo (Pin 3 of the LCD.. from the left in your diagram), i get a good display at ~1.3v, it will go blocks if the volts are nearer to zero and will go clear if much above that toward 5V

     

    so it is possible that your screen is working and that you need to carefully adjust the contrast, if you can measure the volts on the pin, what are you getting now, and then try to adjust very slowly either way to try get a display

     

    you will need to check your wiring carefully to make sure there are no mistakes, and like I said, check the voltage on the Vo pin, adjusting the pot should make it change between 5V and 0V, you will need it to be about 1.3ish, this may vary between LCD makes but with luck this will solve your problem

     

    I am assuming the Arduino is ok and that you have a good LCD. Your symptom is very much like I get when the adjustment is not correct on Vo.

     

    If this does not fix your issue, take a good quality picture of your wireing and post it, maybe one of the viewers can see an error or suggest something. If you have a second display, i would try that one too

     

    Good luck

     

    peter

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  • jpmonkey
    0 jpmonkey over 11 years ago in reply to Robert Peter Oakes

    Peter is right.  Sounds like the contrast level is not properly adjusted.

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