Connecting LCD Display

Using Arduino Displays
1

This is a very basic question.

How do I connect an LCD display to my arduino, to display my Serial Monitor data? I am seeing videos of how to connect the display, however what do I do if the pins they recommend are already in use?

I have connected an encoder buffer shield to digital pins 13,12,11,8,7 and ground and power (all of this without a breadboard). Is this what a bread board is for, to have multiple devices go to the same pins? Or can I connect the LCD to the pins that aren't in use. This is my first project with arduino.

Any help would be appreciated.

This is the LCD display I will be using by sparkfun.

2

Or can I connect the LCD to the pins that aren't in use.

You can connect the lcd to any pins including the analog in pins which can be used as digital, but its recommended to stay away from the RX and TX pins at D0 and D1 because the Serial monitor and the sketch downloads are on those pins.

If you follow the basic "Hello World" tutorial you will need to change the "constructor" to match your pin numbers.

For example, if your circuit is as follows

  • LCD RS pin to digital pin 5
  • LCD Enable pin to digital pin 6
  • LCD D4 pin to digital pin 4
  • LCD D5 pin to digital pin 3
  • LCD D6 pin to digital pin 2
  • LCD D7 pin to digital pin A3
  • LCD R/W pin to ground
  • LCD VSS pin to ground
  • LCD VCC pin to 5V
  • 10K resistor:
  • ends to +5V and ground
  • wiper to LCD VO pin (pin 3)
LiquidCrystal lcd(5, 6, 4, 3, 2, A3);