r/arduino • u/Da_rizzlah • 7d ago

1602A does not respond

I am attempting to display text on a version 5.5 1602A LCD display. I am following the tutorial here :
https://docs.arduino.cc/learn/electronics/lcd-displays/

Some pictures of the circuit are below:

Any help is appreciated.

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u/ripred3 My other dev board is a Porsche 7d ago edited 6d ago

That soldering job looks sus af

This looks to be the full do-it-yourself version (not I2C, no built-in contrast potentiometer).

Have you added and adjusted the contrast potentiometer? Some circuits just have it hard-wired to a certain voltage using one or two resistors. That seems to be off here. This is an extremely common problem with these displays for a lot people.

edit/update: As mentioned you can also get these displays with an extra daughterboard attached that provides I2C communications (only needs 2 wires plus Vcc and GND) as well as an on board contrast pot and that makes them a little easier to work with:

www.amazon.com/Hosyond-Display-Module-Arduino-Raspberry/dp/B0BWTFN9WF

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u/magus_minor 7d ago

Yes, fix the soldering and try again. If you are in a hurry buy a display with the pins already soldered.