LCD Display unable to stay powered on

Projects General Guidance
1

I ran into some issues yesterday while learning how to hook up an LCD display to the Arduino Uno. Whenever I complete the circuit by connecting to the gnd/5v pins, the LCD flashes on for a brief second and then slowly dims, until it eventually fades to black. This causes the 'L' LED on the Arduino itself to dim and go off as well. The display is a 16x2 LCD from the Elegoo starter kit. I don't know if it's because the Arduino is short-circuiting or what... I'm a complete beginner to the Arduino/electronics in general so any help would be appreciated!

Photo of circuit: Imgur: The magic of the Internet

Code:

#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
LiquidCrystal lcd(6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12);

void setup() {
lcd.begin(16,2);
lcd.setCursor(0,1);
lcd.print("Starting");
}

void loop() {
// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:

}

2

Double check your wiring as there are multiple 16x2 displays out there and quite a few use different pins.
You may also have to re-map the pins in your sketch too.

Certainly sounds like a short so dont go any further until you have at least triple checked everything.
Also looks like you have a few wires going to the positive bus of the breadboard not sure why.

OP's pic

2965×3226 752 KB

3

I’ll definitely go back and recheck my pins. I have a few pins going towards the + line because I’m supplying voltage from the Arduino’s 5V source, and have a pin connecting that to the + line. Would that be sufficient power, or do you recommend I use an external power supply?

4

The display should in most cases only need a single supply rail so YES please recheck.

For most testing purposes an external PSU should not be needed
Some displays may on occasion take more than the Arduino can supply or cause intermittent issues so it is always worth considering depending on the component spec sheet and the rest of whatever gets connected to the board.

5

In your picture, the pin marked "A" is connected to the 5 volt rail. Should it be?

6

According to the guide I was following, A should be connected to the positive rail.

7

Unless you ‘know for sure’ that the back light has a series resistor, connect ‘A’ to a 220Ω resistor then to the + rail.

A—220Ω—Plus rail