1602a 16X2 LCD is blank

due to optical illusion. You can count the pins, from right to left, as the leds for sure work so pin 15/16 are right.

That is what I thought at first, except I thought there was a problem with the data lines going to the lower numbered Arduino pins. We may have to specify photos shot from directly above with a long lens.

I didn't think there was a power problem since the backlight was working, until JoeO mentioned the power bus. I looked at my breadboards, which don't have that gap in the pin connections, and they don't have the gap in the blue and red lines either.

Of course this problem would pop right up in step two of my three step procedure (or with a quick voltmeter check on the power pins).

Don