CrossRoads:
crsunu,
You need to wire it differently.
There are 2 common anodes, 1 for each digit.
There are 8 segment pins, shared between digits. These can come out of 1 shift register.
To get started, connect the 2 anode pins to arduino outputs. You will have to rewrite the code to shift out the segment info, turn on 1 anode, wait 5mS, turn it off, change the segment info, turn on the 2nd anodem wait 5mS, turn it off, repeat. Your eyes will see them as both being on.
Since the anodes will be driven by arduino pins, you will have to limit the amount of current supplied, to <=5mA/segment, with a current limiting resistor per segment.
Assuming you have the UltraRed LEDs, the resistor should be (5V-1.9V)/.005 = 620 ohm. Use that or higher to avoid damaging the pins driving the anodes
yes it makes perfect sense but I didn't want to use too many arduino outputs and thats why I used the two shift registers
Thanks for the reply