3.5" TFT Display only shows white

Other Hardware Displays
1

Hello everyone,

I appear to have an issue with my recently purchased TFT display. The The initial idea was as follows: I wanted to connect my Arduino UNO with a TFT display and use slightly modified example codes to display my own pictures on the screen.
I stumbled upon this display:
http://www.volumerate.com/product/3-5-inch-color-touch-screen-module-for-arduino-uno-r3-mega2560-447000#specifications-detailinfo

...aaand purchased it, hoping I would find an easy way to display something on that screen.
Luckily, it comes with a built-in micro SD card slot.

Luckily I found a sort of "starter kit" for this display for an Arduino Uno with example code which showed how to display .bmp-files - exactly what I wanted.

http://www.raspberrypiwiki.com/index.php/3.5_Inch_TFT_Color_Screen_Module

However I cannot seem to get it to work, whenever I upload one of the codes, the screen stays white.
None of the codes work, except for the "Example01 - simple test" which properly displays a colour-changing screen. All the other codes do not yield errors but the screen stays white. ("warnings" come up occasionally, but I dont think that is critical)

I suspected that it might have something to do with the libraries I am using, so I spent the day googling and researching, found some modified versions of the libraries (SmokeAndMirrors Version etc.) and basically tried everything I know to get it to work - without success.

So now I would like to ask you guys if you could think of anything that might help me.
I am running Windows 7 and I use an Arduino Uno along with the specified display.
I really dont know why the one code works but all the others do not. Essentially all I need is a display that can display .bmp-files on that screen, with the pictuire changing ever so often.

do you guys have an idea what to do next?
Thanks you and cheers,

Lennart

2

You have a regular "Mcufriend-style" Shield. Your link gives you examples and an "Install Libraries" folder for the Arduino.

The "Install Libraries" contain a hacked Adafruit_TFTLCD library.
There are several Arduino projects.

I would imagine that the hacked library will work 100%. I have not tried it. I had not seen this version with ILI9481 support before.

So you should just be able to Install the libraries and run the Examples.

Incidentally, the MCUFRIEND_kbv library supports your Blue Shield.

However, this particular Shield runs a little hot. You might find that it overheats after a while.

David.

3

Hello David,

thank you for your answer and sorry for bringing this topic back up after such a long time, but I set the project aside for a while.

Unfortunately I am not quite sure if I understand you correctly. It sounds like you are just as surprised that it doesnt work because "it should".

The problem persists though...

Do you or anyone else have any ideas?

4

Install the MCUFRIEND_kbv library.
Program any example onto your Arduino.

Unplug power (USB) from the Arduino.
Mount the (cold) display shield.
Re-plug power to the Arduino.
The sketch should run.

It might run for days. Or the display might overheat and crash after a few minutes.

David.

5

This worked perfectly.

I kinda love you. Thank You!