LCD Shows weird characters 16X2

Other Hardware Displays
1

Hello,

I have a LCD display from MIDAS a 16X2 http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/1663616.pdf
When I tried to upload the Hello World! example it shows: llo, world! With black boxes, numbers, question marks etc.

I have tried delays, lcd.clear before writing to it, i have searched google like forever.

Can someone help me out?

Code:

#include <LiquidCrystal.h>

// initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins
LiquidCrystal lcd(7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12);

void setup() {
// set up the LCD's number of columns and rows:
lcd.begin(16, 2);
// Print a message to the LCD.
lcd.print("Hello, world!");
}

void loop() {

}

2

The display appears to be relatively standard and your code looks good. I see that you have temporarily taken the code out of loop() which was a good decision.

Please post a photograph of your display because sometimes the 'weird characters' actually convey some information.

Also post a photograph that clearly shows all of the connections between your LCD module and your Arduino so we can check your wiring.

Don

Edit: On second thought you might want to try LiquidCrystal440 or the later version called LiquidCrystal1.0. To get a copy start here:--> Google Code Archive - Long-term storage for Google Code Project Hosting. and follow the Downloads link to get to the latest version.

3

Hi

Currently the display shows nothing at all, I plugged the power in and now only the backlight lights up. I have tested if the wires where soldered good, and there is no short-circuit.

Pics of the wiring, sorry the wires all have the same color...

PIN 1 from LCD -> GND
PIN 2 from LCD -> +5V
PIN 3 from LCD -> 10K potiometer
PIN 4 from LCD -> PIN 7
PIN 5 from LCD -> GND
PIN 6 from LCD -> PIN 8

PIN 11 from LCD -> PIN 9
PIN 12 from LCD -> PIN 10
PIN 13 from LCD -> PIN 11
PIN 14 from LCD -> PIN 12


4

Hi Floresta,

I have tried LiquidCrystal1.0 and it does not work.. The only thing I see is the backlight.

5

That LiquidCrystal1.0 works !

thanks

6

So what's the difference, what did you change in those 7 minutes ?
Others could learn form your experiments too.

Alvast bedankt.

7

That LiquidCrystal1.0 works !

John had access to some really inexpensive (probably out-of-spec) displays when he wrote that library. He took pains to make sure that even the worst one that he could find worked reliably.

So what's the difference, what did you change in those 7 minutes ?
Others could learn form your experiments too.

That's a very good question!

Don

8

Only one-in-ten come back to explain and thank people. It has been that way for more than 2,000 years.

9

JoeO:
Only one-in-ten come back to explain and thank people. It has been that way for more than 2,000 years.

When I don't answer within a hour, It doesn't mean that I will not come back. And yes some people are in different timezones :wink:

Ontopic;

It was pretty simple, I used a external power supply (5V) and somehow you must connect that same power supply to the Arduino. That in combination with LiquidCrystal1.0 and it worked!

Thanks for your help !