Wiring LCD to Arduino Length

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1

I am trying to wire an arduino mega to a 16x2 LCD close to 8 feet away. Every thread I see on this issue talks about issues with I2C / SPI and interference. I am wiring the LCD directly to the pins of the arduino and my understanding is that this is not either of these communication methods. Wiring directly to the arduino using 6 digital pins - will this be able to remote mount the LCD 8 feet away?

Thanks,
-Corey

2

cj8990:
I am trying to wire an arduino mega to a 16x2 LCD close to 8 feet away. Every thread I see on this issue talks about issues with I2C / SPI and interference. I am wiring the LCD directly to the pins of the arduino and my understanding is that this is not either of these communication methods. Wiring directly to the arduino using 6 digital pins - will this be able to remote mount the LCD 8 feet away?

It probably won't work, but what have you got to lose by trying? Do things slowly.

You will repeatedly read in this forum that I2C doesn't work for distances over ~1m. No one told me that when I first tried to use it for 30m, it works fine over 30m, despite not being designed to do so. If you are using I2C or SPI run them as slowly as possible if you are going outside their design specifications.

3

PerryBebbington:
it works fine over 30m, despite not being designed to do so. If you are using I2C or SPI run them as slowly as possible if you are going outside their design specifications.

It will basically always work if you slow the data speeds sufficiently to account for cable capacitance (and inductance). It's all about transmission lines. For both I2C and operating the HD44780 LCD controller, you (in code) are in control of the clocking speed.

It is of course critical that you keep the conductors together - such as in "Cat 5" cable. The shielded version might be better, though may have more capacitance. And I obviously mean all conductors, power and data. At these current levels, the cable resistance will not be a great problem.

And of course, it would be asking for trouble to locate any part near to sources of interference such as power or any other cabling. Or to interconnect the remote end with any such.