Introduction: My First Project: Arduino LCD 16x2 Display

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Hello all. I am new to Arduino. My friend told me this makes fun, so I bought the stuff and started my "project". As I know so little about Arduino code, I may do it in complicated way. Please tell me so that I can improve my skill : )

When I searched some projects for entry level, I found this: http://www.hacktronics.com/Tutorials/arduino-character-lcd-tutorial.html. It should be very easy: I just need to connect several wires, copy the codes, and upload to Arduino, and that's it! (But I was proven to be wrong..... ) It is interesting and I can type anything to make a short note, just like using Post-it!

Step 1: Parts

All we need are as follow:

Arduino UNO R3

Breadboard

16 x 2 LCD module

Pins

Wires

I've bought all the stuffs in a kit set. You can also find it with this link: http://www.elabpeers.com/arduno-kit.html.

Step 2: Wire Up the Arduino

I broke a row of pins into 16 pin, put the shorter side of the row to the holes of the LCD and soldered all the pins. Then used a breadboard for connection. Followed the instruction in hacktronics.com and uploaded the code to the Arduino they provided.

Oh............ what happened? The backlight is on, but why did the LCD show nothing??? I did check if anything wrong with the wiring and the soldering. (coz my soldering skill is too bad.............) I made a very careless mistake and wired them wrongly. Finally, I reconnect all the wires and try again.....

Step 3: Troubleshooting

I changed a 1k resistor, wired up the Arduino and try again. It can show the text, but very difficult to see........ This project should be very easy. Why were there so many problems??? : ( I googled this problem and guessed this may be caused by high voltage. So I put one more 1k resistor and did it one more time........ Yeah~~~ it showed the text now.

It would be excellent if the text blinks, and I found an example in the Arduino software: File > Examples > LiquidCrystal > Display. I wired up the Arduino again following the instruction at the beginning of the code and saw what's happen. The text blinked, but the backlight was off. (Hope you can see it in the photo)

Step 4: Troubleshooting 2

I guessed this may be caused by no connection between LCD pin 15 and 16 to the Arduino. I wired pin 15 to Arduino pin 13, and pin 16 to Arduino GND respectively.

I also combined the code in hacktronics.com to the example in Arduino software. The code is as follow:

#include

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

int backLight = 13; // set pin 13 to control the backlight;

void setup() {

pinMode (backLight, OUTPUT);

digitalWrite(backLight,HIGH);

lcd.clear();

lcd.begin(16,2);

lcd.setCursor(0,0);

lcd.print("Hello, World"); // can change any words you want;

lcd.setCursor(0,1);

lcd.print("I feel good!"); // can change any words you want;

}

void loop() {

// Turn off the display:

lcd.noDisplay();

delay(500);

// Turn on the display:

lcd.display();

delay(500);

}

Great! I did make it finally! The text blinked and the backlight was on! Although there were so many problems during this project, I learnt so much and got a good result. I am looking for another project which is a little bit challenging. See you.