Getting a LCD to work

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Interfacing
1

Probably I'm making a little mistake, but I can't get my parallel LCD to work. I see some blocks, but that's about it. First I thought the wiring was the problem since I didn't solder anything. But also after soldering I still can't get it to work.

I connected my AnagVision AV1610 (16x1), KS0066 driver, as follow:
pin1(Vss) -> ground
pin2(Vdd) -> Arduino 5 volt
pin3(conrast) -> ground
pin4(RS) -> Arduino dig pin 7
pin5(RW) -> ground
pin6(ENAB) -> Arduino dig pin 6
pin7,8,9,10 -> Ground (?? should I do that?)
pin11,12,13,14 -> Arduino dig pin 2,3,4,5 (also tried it reversed)
pin15(Backlight+) -> Arduino 5 Volt
pin16(Backlight-) -> Ground

I used the LCD4bit "fruit" example and changed the LCD4bit.cpp file:
RS = 7
ENAB = 6
RW = 8 // not used
int DB[] = {2,3,4,5};

When I power up, all I see is 8 blocks. However, if I remove the unused datapins 1..4 from the ground I do see some strange characters being written every x seconds...

What could it be? Bad configuration? Wiring wrong? Or maybe my soldering(the first time I did soldering)? The LCD is soldered to a male header and placed in a breadboard. Not superb quality, but at least the soldering does not make multiple pins contact to each other.

Any ideas?
Rick

2

Try this, its the easiest method I've come across, the same wiring also works with the standard LiquidCrystal library. I'd use the supplied sketch for starters.

http://www.skpang.co.uk/content/view/29/42/

3

Now that's a clear example, thanks for the link! And it works like a charm now. I was affraid I messed up with my first-time-attempt to solder (with a too large 30W tool). It didn't work because the contrast was connected to the ground. Once I placed a potmeter like the example shows the text became visible. Every tutorial warns about this, but I just thought the blocks wouldn't be visible either if the contrast was 0. Doh!

Thanks