KS0108 / GLCD blank screen.

First time setting up a display, and I can't seem to get anything to come up on the screen.

I'm using a Mega 2560 and the screen is a Digitron SG12864J4
According to Arduino Playground - GLCDks0108 .. uses the "B" pinout, which is how I have it wired.

This is the datasheet for the screen: http://www.digitron.com.hk/sg12864j.htm

I'm using a 10K pot, and a 220 ohm resistor.

The screen lights up, and I can control the contrast with the pot.

I can get the example code from the above link to compile and upload using Arduino 0023.

I can get GLCDv3 code to compile using the latest IDE.

Even though I don't get any errors, nothing comes up on the screen.

Here is the output from GLCDdiags


Reported Arduino Revision: 1.0

GLCD Lib Configuration: glcd ver: 3 glcd_Device ver: 1 gText ver: 1
GLCD Lib build date: Mon Dec 5 01:50:07 CST 2011
GLCD Lib build number: 442
Panel Configuration:ks0108
Pin Configuration:ks0108-Mega

GLCD:ks0108 DisplayWidth:128 DisplayHeight:64
Chips:2 ChipWidth:64 ChipHeight:64
CSEL1:33(PIN_C4) CSEL2:34(PIN_C3)
RW:35(PIN_C2) DI:36(PIN_C1) EN:37(PIN_C0)
D0:22(PIN_A0) D1:23(PIN_A1) D2:24(PIN_A2) D3:25(PIN_A3)
D4:26(PIN_A4) D5:27(PIN_A5) D6:28(PIN_A6) D7:29(PIN_A7)
Delays: tDDR:320 tAS:140 tDSW:200 tWH:450 tWL:450
ChipSelects: CHIP0:(33,0x1, 34,0x0) CHIP1:(33,0x0, 34,0x1)
Data mode: byte

Diag Loop: 3
Initializing GLCD
GLCD initialization Failed: RESET wait Timeout (status code: 2)

A couple of photos:

In these photos I don't have the reset pin wired.

I've tried wiring the reset port on the board to Pin17 and leaving it there. I've tried keeping the reset disconnected during upload, and then trying to connect it after, and also tried just not connecting the reset at all.

Any idea what my problem might be?

Here are a couple of people that have my same kit, but unfortunately my problem is not theirs:

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

With these types of errors unless the glcd is bad (which is rare), the problem is
due to a wiring error or connections not making proper contact.

Unfortunately it is hard to see much of the wiring from the photos.

The first thing I'd do is get rid of anti static bad under the mega board.
While good for static protection during storage, the bags are conductive
and can interfere with a live board.

It is hard to tell from the photo but is the 20 pin header soldered to the
20 holes in the glcd module? It doesn't look like it in the photo.

--- bill

"20 holes in the glcd module? It doesn't look like it in the photo."

It looks like you have just hooked the header pin;s in the GLCD and haven't soldered.

Thanks for the feedback. It does seem like wiring is the most likely cause, but still no luck.

I took everything apart, and put everything back together again using different locations and different wires, but I get the same result.

This display also has two sets of pins (on the top and the bottom of the display), and I've tried wiring using both.

I'm going to try soldering the pins on the display to see if it makes any difference.

More pictures:

Pin 1 starts at right.

1 - Green - Goes to ground rail
2 - Red - Goes to 5V rail
3 - White - Goes to middle pin of pot
4 - White - 36
5 - Blue - 35
6 - Green - 37
7 - Orange - 22
8 - Green - 23
9 - White - 24
10 - Black - 25
11 - Red - 26
12 - Blue - 27
13 - Orange - 28
14 - Green - 29
15 - Black - 33
16 - Red - 34
17 - White - Reset
18 - Black - goes to one leg of pot
19 - 220 ohm resistor going to 5v
20 - Black goes to other leg of pot, orange goes to ground

joel2600:
This display also has two sets of pins (on the top and the bottom of the display), and I've tried wiring using both.

I think you misunderstanding the LCD module connections.
The display module PCB does not have pins. The Display module has 20 holes in the PCB.
Some people solder a 20 pin header into the holes to use in a breadboard or with a female 20 pin header.
Others will solder wires directly to the holes.

You appear to have a 20 pin header stuck in the holes that is not soldered
to the holes. This will not work.
You must solder whatever is being stuck into the holes of the LCD PCB.

BTW,
Great clear closeup photos.

--- bill

I'm going to try soldering the pins on the display to see if it makes any difference.

More less it will solve your problem.