Arduino RGB LED Lamp + 4bit LCD Display

Step 2 Circut Connections

General Info & Tips

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- make sure LCD (RW / PIN5) is hooked to ground.
Theres a mistake in the diagram I made below, it shows LCD PIN 6 is attached to GROUND.... thats wrong, LCD PIN5 is supposed to be attached to ground

- When testing LCD use POT to figure out proper resistence for LCD CONTRAST. You may think LCD isn't working when in actuality the contrast is just to low and you cannot see anything.

- NOT ALL LCD's are made the same. Refer to your LCD specs (google model # of LCD) for pinouts. (DB0-DB7, RegisterSelect , ReadWrite, Enabled, etc)

- RGB PINs needs a proper resistors for each color. The resistor is determined by the amount of voltage each color requires.

Eaxmple:
R = 2.8 - 3.2 volts = 82ohm (recommended)
G = 3.2 - 3.5 volt = 68ohm (recommended)
B = 3.2 - 3.5 volt = 68ohm (recommended)

use following URL to determine resistance for each color. LED series/parallel array wizard

Component Info

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Potentiometer (POT) = 120ohm
LCD Contrast resistor = 22 ohm
push button resistor = 2.2 Kohm

LCD Connections

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Arduino (GND) = LCD (PIN 1) = Ground
Arduino (5V) = LCD (PIN 2) = Power Supply
Arduino (PIN 2) = LCD (PIN 6) = Enable Signal
Arduino (PIN 7) = LCD (PIN 11) = DB4
Arduino (PIN 8) = LCD (PIN 12) = DB5
Arduino (PIN 9) = LCD (PIN 13) = DB6
Arduino (PIN 10) = LCD (PIN 14) = DB7
Arduino (PIN 11) = LCD (PIN 4) = Register Select
Arduino (PIN 12) = LCD (PIN 5) = Read / Write

RGB LED Connections

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Arduino (PIN 3) = LED R = 2.8 - 3.2 volts = 82ohm (recommended)
Arduino (PIN 5) = LED G = 3.2 - 3.5 volts = 68ohm (recommended)
Arduino (PIN 6) = LED B = 3.2 - 3.5 volts = 68ohm (recommended)
Arduino (GND) = LED GND

Button & Pot Connections

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Arduino (ANALOG PIN 2) = POT (wiper : usually in the middle, depends on pot)
Arduino (PIN 4) = PushButton (make sure to use 2.2Kohm or higher resistor)

Comments

[raikoug]

Hi, i use this lcd http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9052 but I really can't see anything write on... maybe is a bit different couse of white on black... i'm a bit new.. (I use an arduino 2009, the leds with pot and bott work fine) can you hlp me please? thanks

[raikoug]

nono... now work... but I don't have clear writes... it give me strange signs: "?" "/" "o" arrows and a think a jap letter... what is going on? :D thanks

[silverbyte]

- if you can't see text on screen it can be because of 2 things a) you need to add a resistor or potentiometer on the contrast pins b) You must tie the LCD's R/W pin to ground ( check LCD datasheet) c) check page 6 on the LCD datasheet, http://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/LCD/ADM1602K-NSW-FBS-3.3v.pdf - if you get garbage this should be simple. a) change your BAUD rate to a lower rate (to start try 9600) b) reset arduino whenever you change pins on powered unit c) double check all your connectiong. Make sure all your pins are correct. All LCD's are made differently so maybe you pins are mixed up.. Check page 5 in the LCD datasheet http://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/LCD/ADM1602K-NSW-FBS-3.3v.pdf Im glad your getting along with your project your almost there... when i first did this project i spent 3 days trying to get my LCD to work. Hope this helps cheers Joe

[raikoug]

I'm really happy of existence of people like you... thanks for all your work! than... I can see the words... but.. aren't the words i should see.. i see strange simbols.. I saw the datasheet at page 5 of my lcd and I found that all pins are the same (only but of 15 and 16 that I have to hookup, they'r the back ground... but that was really easy). now... the problem i that the db pins (the ones responsable of the word mixing I suppose) are exactly the sames as your... and not only... i tried to see the arduino.cc libraries manual.. i hooked them to see only the lcd.. and when I start it... it gives me this strange letters... I've a video: (made by a nokia) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MLLFUHML thanks for all!!

[silverbyte]

You'll get alot more out of life by being open source & sharing than if your with a closed mind. I share as much knowledge as I can with everyone about everything (not only computers) ... you'll see it brings you further in life, and it'll make your soul alot more happier.

[raikoug]

omg... I saw another wonderfull thing of my lcd (that i suppose to be broken...) I restart the arduino i load the program but nothing... everything work but the lcd.. for I don't know why in the world... I unplud the arduno 11 and 12 from the lcd... than I plug them (casually) to 3-4 ... and it starts writing nonsense characters... and the strangest thing is that If i unplug those 2 pins anfter all this... lcd still write the same things!!! I wish it isn't my poor arduino board...

[raikoug]

it's not the lcd... I tried with another lcd and the same history.. strnag symbols... :( what the hell :(

[silverbyte]

**note: the key line in the code is :::: int Enable = _enablePin1; which is pin 2 ::::: int Enable = _enablePin2 = pin 3 :::

[silverbyte]

hmmm heres a hunch... I think you "ENABLE" pin is set to 3 and not 2 in the library. Open up the file : LCD4Bit.cpp :::: //-------------------------------------------------------- int _registerSelect = 12; int _readWrite = 11; int _enablePin1 = 2; int _enablePin2 = 3; int _dataBits[] = {7, 8, 9, 10}; int Enable = _enablePin1; //-------------------------------------------------------- In my library I set the Enable pin to pin 2 on the arduino. I think i may have changed this because im using the PWM on pin 3.... I think in your library its pin 3. Try this, see what results you get.

[raikoug]

i'll try as soon as possible! if it will works I will love you!! :P

[raikoug]

nthing.. the pin was right. is there something wrong in the db positions... it's really strange.. :(

[silverbyte]

It is strange, but i had the exact same result as you at one point. are you sure these pins are not mixed up Arduino (PIN 11) = LCD Register Select Arduino (PIN 12) = LCD Read / Write I would start a new Arduino sketch, and just plug the LCD and start debugging with that. Also go over to the Arduino webpage and checkout there LCD4Bit library section. Im certain you'll get it soon: Arduino (PIN) 7,8,9,10 = LCD(DB4,DB5,DB6,DB7) Arduino (PIN 2) = LCDenable pin Arduino (PIN 11) = LCD Register Select Arduino (PIN 12) = LCD Read / Write

[raikoug]

I've done it!!! finally, with a 3° lcd I made it!! IT WORKS!!! Thanks a lot for all help you gave me! you are a friend ;) See you soon ^^

[silverbyte]

HAHAH!!! awesome... I NEW IT TOO!!! once you get it its pretty damn satisfying. I made 2 or 3 other LCD projects and sometimes i hit the same bump on the road, but patience and persistence is key. you should youtube a video of your project when completed, I'd like to see it. cheers, Joe

[raikoug]

I sure will!! ;) thanks a lot!

[raikoug]

Nothing... I tried but it is always the same, and I tried a lot of combinations!! (i tried the liquid cristal libraries with his connection... but I can't compile couse of and error (I used the examples codes..) so I can't test the connections :( )

[micha-uhl]

Hallo,
when I press the button, the power shorts! The red and yellow wire on the resistor are to change!
michael

[silverbyte]

I believe your right theres a mistake in the diagram above

This is how the button should be hooked up.
http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Button

Thanks for noticing and reporting.
Cheers

[goodspeed52002]

hey silerbyte.
thanks for the info im learning alot and it makes sense. i wanna make the exact same project as you did but with a wireless remote or connect it to and xbee which would could also be comunicated to a web page via php or java and you could ulimatly control it through a web browser. any thoughts on that

[silverbyte]

Certainly can be done thats for sure. I don't have an XBEE, but nor do i know if you can send web data through XBEE to the arduino.

I would have to research that a little, but i know it can be done... Theres a router called the FONERA (i bought one) that i can communicate with the arduino through serial port. I would be able to connect through wifi and basically surf pages extract data and so forth..

In anycase you can definitely do what you want with a little research, all u need to do is be able to get those RGB values to the function, and the arduino will control the LED color for you.

how you do that is up to you, im sure you'll find tons of people trying to do similar projects.

cheers
Joe

[goodspeed52002]

looks pretty cool. would you be willing to help me with my project. i wanna controll these lights.

http://www.tradekey.com/product_view/id/1058216.htm - or something simllar to it. they are going to be hidden my krown molding to light up a ceiling. and i want to be able to contoll then with my laptop or iphone over the network. also it would be nice to create chanels so i can controll certain secetions at once.

[silverbyte]

im extremely busy these days although I can lead you in the right direction. Wanna control arduino through wifi, check this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIp0n0mHteo

[goodspeed52002]

i really want to build this project. but it seems rather difficult todo. i have never used arduino borad before and dont know alot about ledsor programming in c. where did you learn how to do all this stuff?

[silverbyte]

Well first things first you would want to get a Arduino Duemile... etc etc ... the original will set ya back about 30$ and the clones can be bought at 20$ ... they all work 100% the same.

Once you get that, you would be able to control the LED pretty easily with my code, don't bother getting an LCD and using the 4Bit LCD portion of it.

Everything I leanred off the Ardunio can be found EVERYHWHERE on the internet, its the MOST POPULOR programming circuit board out there, and is growing exponentinally...

the best places to get information is
www.youtube.com & www.arduino.cc

on www.arduino.cc theres TONS and TONS of code examples... its the best place to start, thats where i got most of my code and learned the most!

cheers
Joe

[jgueydan]

Great Project! Noticed your schematic only shows connection of 1 RGB LED. Do you have the other 2 just connected in parallel? Want to make sure as I don't know how much current you can sink to the Arduino. Thanks

[silverbyte]

I have the LED in Parallel. I always refer to LED CALCULATOR to know what resistors I need to use. here's the link

http://led.linear1.org/led.wiz

I use a transistor that can handle upto 1amp of current. The LED's pull a total of 60mAh R=20mAh, G=20mAh, B=20mAh. I should be able to power 16LEDS at the same time (thats with all RGB ON) you could power more LEDS since the hue color only has 2 colors turned on at the same time.

[jgueydan]

I don't see the transistor in the circuit diagram...which one did you use?

[silverbyte]

thats because i don't use the original arduino. I buy a kit called RBBB (its a real bare bones arduino compact size version), you can ask the guy to put transistors that carry more current for a few cents more.. heres the link

http://wulfden.org/TheShoppe/freeduino/rbbb.shtml