Introduction: Connecting an LCD to the Arduino
1 10k Potentiometer
Step 1: Connecting the Jumper Wires
The first step we need to do is connect the pins to the LCD. For those interested, you can find the datasheet here.
I got my LCD from sparkfun, and you can buy one here.
As I mentioned before, you only need to connect 10 pins. Solder jumpers to these wires:
Pin 1 - Ground
Pin 2 - +5V
Pin 3 - Contrast Adjustment
Pin 4 - H/L Register Select
Pin 5 - H/L Read/Write
Pin 6 - H/L Enable
Pin 11 - DB4
Pin 12 - DB5
Pin 13 - DB6
Pin 14 - DB7
As shown in the picture below:
Pin 1 to GND
Pin 2 to 5V
Pin 3 to wiper
Pin 4 to Arduino pin 12
Pin 5 to GND
Pin 6 to Arduino pin 11
Pin 11 to Arduino pin 5
Pin 12 to pin 4
Pin 13 to pin 3
Pin 14 to pin 2
Because we will only be writing, pin 5 will be dropped to ground to show that there will be no reading. For those who wish to use the backlight, connect LCD pin 16 to GND and LCD pin 15 to +4.2V.
Connect one side of the pot to GND, the opposite to +5v, and the center to LCD pin 3. Now you're in business.
Step 2: Opening the IDE
Now, you need to open up the Arduino IDE. (For those who are lost click on the icon!) Then click File -> Examples -> LiquidCrystal -> HelloWorld. Open the sketch and dowload it to the Arduino board.
You can change the text if you want.
Step 3: Mission Complete
Your done! You can substitute text for variables, or even analogRead(). In this way you can read in sensor values and such.
Thanks for reading my instructable! Please Comment and Rate.
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51 Comments
3 years ago
Please may I know why we are using potentiometer here? Can we replace it with resistor? If yes- how much ohms should be preferable??
Question 4 years ago
I am using fingerprint module r307 and LCD together. In that, I am using 2,3 digital pins of arduino for data transfer to the fingerprint.(I tried other pin configurations for this but it didn't work) But as I am connecting LCD, it also requires same 2,3 digital pins of arduino and it is not possible for me to use 2 and 3 pins of Arduino for both lcd and fingerprint sensor for data transfer. Can you please suggest an alternative to this. Can we use analog pins of arduino as digital ones and if so the how?? PLEASE HELP... Thank you!!
4 years ago
ok so i have an Epson EA-D20025AR LCD module i want to have as a display with my arduino based project. I am attempting to reuse it from a machine i got for free, but it has 14 pins instead of 16. is it still useable with an arduino?
4 years ago
St last! someone who takes the time to give a value for the potentiometer, 10k!
Thank you :-)
Reply 4 years ago
"At" last even!
5 years ago
how do i copy the text???????
7 years ago on Introduction
is it possible to hookup the arduino and LCD without using potentiometer??
Reply 7 years ago
If you know the value you need I suppose you could use a resistor.
Reply 6 years ago
yes u can by using LCD module by ardinu which is easy to use .you just attach those pins with ardino that have to be use in your program and ither advantage is that that module is fixed on ardinu completely
6 years ago
Can I change what pins to connect the LCD to? I need pin 2 for an interrupt.
7 years ago
Do you know how to connect an arduino mega 2560 R3 to 4x20 LCD??
7 years ago on Introduction
no err. great
7 years ago on Introduction
how to change pins as pro mini has only 10 digital pins?
please reply soon project deadline tommorow
7 years ago
I like your project and I will give 5 star
7 years ago on Introduction
i need a program for interfacing lcd wit arduino atmega 328 with y=mx+c logic . please help me out
7 years ago on Introduction
Sir I want to know if you can change the pin initialization of the LCD and what other pins can i used to initialize it ( I'm using pin 2 as an interrupt thats why I need to reinitialize it to other pins)
7 years ago on Introduction
hello...i did what was instructed on my 16*2 LCD but after running the code all it shows is black boxes...plz help!!
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Are you using the 10k Potentiometer? That is what you need to adjust the contrast so you will be able to see the text. Check connections if you are using it.
7 years ago on Introduction
ii this is pallavi valunj i want to write code to display the robot moving left and right on display pl help me in this
8 years ago
Check my instructables out to uppgrade your work on a shield