LCD Issue - Garbled messages - circuit/hardware/programming?

Projects Programming
1

I've got a circuit set up, I've taken some pictures because I've no means to create a circuit diagram.

I made this EXACT circuit a week ago and it worked flawlessly; but now I'm trying to make it again and it does not work; all I get is garbled text, mainly question marks and solid blocks of black; the verifier shows no errors; all wires work.

I don't think I've done anything wrong, but I've built and rebuilt the circuit and received the same issue

Can anyone see anything wrong?

#include <SoftwareSerial.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>

LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2);

// rfid settings
SoftwareSerial RFIDSerial(8, 6);

int RFIDResetPin = 7;
char RFIDtag[14];
int RFIDindex = 0;
boolean RFIDreading = false;

// define tag id and tracks

#define NUMTAGS 5
char audiotags[NUMTAGS][14] = {"30008C4234CA",
"310022F6D93C",
"310023030F1E",
"31002304392F",
"340023030B1A"};

// make sure soundfile names are not longer then 8 chars (without filetype)
char audiofiles[NUMTAGS][16] = {"this is letters",
"this",
"is",
"a",
"test"};

void setup() {

Serial.begin(9600);

lcd.begin(16, 2);

lcd.print("System Ready");
delay(1000);
lcd.clear();

// pin13 LED

pinMode(13, OUTPUT);

// rfid setup

pinMode(RFIDResetPin, OUTPUT);

digitalWrite(RFIDResetPin, HIGH);

RFIDSerial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {

RFIDindex = 0;

// rfid data?

while(RFIDSerial.available()) {
int readByte = RFIDSerial.read();
if(readByte == 2) RFIDreading = true;
if(readByte == 3) RFIDreading = false;

if(RFIDreading && readByte != 2 && readByte != 10 && readByte != 13){
RFIDtag[RFIDindex] = readByte;
RFIDindex++;
}
}

// check tag and play track if tag id found

checkTag(RFIDtag);

// prepare for next read

clearTag(RFIDtag);
resetReader();
}

void resetReader() {

digitalWrite(RFIDResetPin, LOW);
digitalWrite(RFIDResetPin, HIGH);
delay(150);
}

void clearTag(char one[]) {
for(int i = 0; i < strlen(one); i++){
one = 0;

  • }*
    }
    void checkTag(char tag[]) {
  • if(strlen(tag) == 0) return;*
  • boolean matching = true;*
  • // compare tag id*
  • for(int a = 0; a < NUMTAGS; a++) {*
  • matching = true;*
  • for(int c = 0; c < 12; c++) {*
  • if(tag*
    ```c
  • != audiotags[a][c]) {
            matching = false;
            break;
          }
        }
       
        // in case of a match play the track

if(matching) {
      lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
      lcd.print(audiofiles[a]);
      delay(5000);
      lcd.clear();
      break;
    }
  }
}

I can't draw a circuit diagram (i don't know how)
but here are some pictures

http://upurs.us/view/38616
http://upurs.us/view/38617
http://upurs.us/view/38615*
```

2

From your code I see that you use arduino pins 12, 11 for the LCD signals RS and EN, and use arduino pins 5-2 for the LCD signals D4..D7.

In one of the pictures I guess to see that arduino pin 12 is not connected to anything.

The pictures are big, but I cannot see too much.
The code you supplied is big as well, but the really interesting thing is just if you wired the pins mentioned in the line
  LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2); and GND, 5V
to the corresponding LCD pins ?

3

I love you man.

Don't know how I missed that, although looking back the original pictures of the circuit, they look like their in 13.
Although I was pretty sure I tried to do what you said. eugh, i'm so naff.

You are a gentleman, and a scholar.