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 Your Arduino has things to tell you. One of the easiest ways to let it communicate is to attach a character LCD. These LCD modules are a lot of fun, however they can be tricky to get working right. Many a hacker has spent hours trying to get one working, only to suffer through frustration and humiliation. Hacktronics is here to help. Our LCD HackPack, along with this tutorial, has everything you need to get an LCD working quickly with your Arduino. The LCD modules covered here are based on the very popular HD44780 controller.
Software used in this tutorial can be downloaded here:
Arduino LCD Software Example
Hardware used in this tutorial:
LCD HackPack, 16x2 or 20x4 (includes LCD module, header pins, small solderless breadboard, wire jumpers, and contrast resistor) Arduino Duemilanove board
Instructions: ----- If this is your first Arduino project, first go through our “Arduino: Getting Started” and “Beginning Solderless Breadboards” tutorials. -----
Use the solderless breadboard and wire jumpers to make these connections: | LCD Pin | Connect to | | 1 (VSS) | GND Arduino pin* | | 2 (VDD) | + 5v Arduino pin | | 3 (contrast) | 1k Ohm resistor to GND Arduino pin* | | 4 RS | Arduino pin 12 | | 5 R/W | Arduino pin 11 | | 6 Enable | Arduino pin 10 | | 7 No connection | | | 8 No connection | | | 9 No connection | | | 10 No connection | | | 11 Data 4 | Arduino pin 5 | | 12 Data 5 | Arduino pin 4 | | 13 Data 6 | Arduino pin 3 | | 14 Data 7 | Arduino pin 2 | 15 Backlight +
| Arduino pin 13 | | 16 Backlight GND | GND Arduino pin* |
*Use a breadboard rail to make multiple connections to the Arduino GND pin 
Software
Download the example LCD software here, and unzip the file.
You will now have a folder called “LCD_example”
Start your Arduino software. Load the example program by clicking File->Sketchbook->Open
Navigate to the LCD_example folder and select the “LCD_example.pde” file.
Transfer the program to your Arduino by clicking the “Upload to I/O board” button. After uploading, on the LCD you should see:
Hello, World hacktronics.com
If you do not see this message, your LCD module may be out of sync with your Arduino. Just press the reset button on your Arduino (it may take a couple of resets), and they should synchronize.
See the comments in the example code for instructions on positioning the cursor and printing your own messages to the LCD. It is that simple!
Happy hacking.
Send feedback on this tutorial here.
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