Hey!
I just unsoldered a 4 digits 7 segments display from an old broken DVD reader. I'd like to use it with an Arduino but the pin configuration is not as on other displays...
In fact, there are 12 pins, but 7 on a side, and 5 on the other side (instead of 6/6).
I found a tutorial on YouTube on how to figure out how to map the pins of an unknown display, but I'd need a multi-meter, and I don't have any (i could borrow one at school...)(How to map the pins of an unknown 4 digit 7 segment LED panel - YouTube)
I'm not new to Arduino, electronics, programming, etc, but I have never used a 7 segment display...
Any idea what do the pins correspond to?
Thanks
Hugo_Trombert:
... but I'd need a multi-meter, and I don't have any
OK, you have two choices.
Go buy a $5 multimeter, or give up electronics and take up knitting.
Hugo_Trombert:
Any idea what do the pins correspond to?
Yes, presuming you mean (as you did not clearly mention) an LED display, they will correspond to to common anodes and cathodes of the LEDs. Your task is to figure out which - and in the process, whether it is common-cathode or common-anode.
I note you can solder - that is a good and in fact essential start for electronics experimentation. And you are on an Arduino forum so you presumably have an Arduino board and probably, a breadboard and some resistors. You must have some jumpers or "wander wires". Clip leads would be even better here.
Connect the 5 V and ground from the Arduino to the "bus" rails on the breadboard. Connect a 470 Ohm resistor from the 5 V to another point, and jumpers to that free end of the resistor and the ground rail.
Now use those jumpers in the same way as described in that video. When you find a pair of connections that match an anode and cathode, the corresponding LED will light.
Easy!
