Arduino Workshop - Parallel LCD Project 2: SparkFun Parallel LCD

Hardware Required: Arduino Uno board SparkFun 16x2 Parallel LCD

Schematic: There are several +5v and Ground connections for the parallel LCD. Use the power bus (strip) along the edge to run a single pair to the Arduino, and then break it out to the different pins on the display. Use different color wires to make connections easier to follow.

Project Steps: NOTE: You must have the 16-pin header soldered into the LCD module before starting here! Insert the 16-pin header into the breadboard. Run a red wire from the +5v on the Arduino to the red side of the power strip. Run a black wire from the ground on the Arduino to the black side of the strip Follow the wiring guide to connect wires to Arduino pins 12, 11, 5, 4, 3, and 2 Insert the 10K potentiometer into the breadboard Connect a wire from the center pin on the potentiometer to LCD pin 3 (contrast) Connect three ground wires between the power strip and the LCD display, connect one to the potentiometer. Connect two +5v wires between your power strip and the LCD display. Connect one +5v wire to the remaining potentiometer pin. Open the appropriate Hello World sketch and upload it to your module to test the module. Things to try: (Arduino Sketch examples) Try this: connect pin 15 on the display to an available digital pin on the Arduino. Add code to your sketch to control the LED brightness! HelloWorld - Basic communication test available digital pin on the Arduino. AutoScroll - demonstrates display's automatic scrolling feature Blink - Change block cursor style: blinking or non-blinking Cursor - Hide or show the underline cursor CustomCharacter - Demonstrates loading and displaying custom characters on a display Display - demonstrates turning the display text on & off (hide, unhide) RandomMessage - Randomly change a text message on the display Scroll - shift the message display text left or right SetCursor - Demonstrates direct positioning of the cursor before printing TextDirection - Demonstrates right-to-left and left-to-right printing using the LCD library

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