Serial LCD

[masterchief1517]

Hey everybody. I picked up one of Anderson's now-outdated LCD #118 serial kits a couple years ago to hopefully try to get my LCD (YJ-162A [Presumed to be standard, 16x2]) to work with my picaxe. Plenty of odd issues kept me from doing so back then. Just recently, I dug it back out and started going through everything and tried to get it to work, but it still doesn't.

When I give it 5V, then first row on the LCD is solid blocks, the bottom is blank, and nothing else happens even after letting it see for a few seconds and trying to use the reset. My guess is that the screen isn't initializing properly?

I also did a quick test on the using the pin 8-to-ground testing mode and I used the 5V test LED. The LED had no activity at all.

I'd thank you kindly for any help someone could offer.

Jonathan S.

 

[pha555]

Verify +5 VDC on term 14. GRD on terminal 5.

Resonator between 16 and 15 with center of resonator to GRD.

Term 4 4.7K to +5VDC

With term 8 at GRD, reset the PIC. If no activity on terms 14, 13, 2, 1, 18, 17 using LED, then the LCD #118 PIC is dead.

The LCD #118 was discontinued because after many years, I concluded the resonator was not necessary. The LCD117-2400 is functionally the same thing.

http://www.phanderson.com/lcd106/lcd107.html

 

[masterchief1517]

Yeah, zero activity with the LCD in place and everything wired up. Just to do a final test, I'll probably pull off every piece that doesn't have to be on there to have the chip running. So that means I just need pin 14, 5, 15-16, 4, and then 8 grounded, correct? I could try testing it like that. If it doesn't work, I'll just go ahead and pick up a #117 since they're pretty reasonably priced and I don't have that pesky resonator around. (The resonator is the main "odd reason" I had to stop, due to me incorrectly wiring it, then accidentally breaking it while desoldering....)

Thanks.

 

[masterchief1517]

I just tested out the above. No LED activity. In the event that the oscillator is malfunctioning/dead, what would the LED activity be like? Would it blink erratically or would it simply have no activity like it does now?

 

[pha555]

If the resonator is not working the PIC for the LCD just will not go. There will be no activity on the LED.

P H Anderson

 

[manie]

I think a comment is in place here:

Well done Phil, GOOD support on your product even if outdated. I am impressed as service is normally not encountered anymore.

The same MUST also be said for this forum and Rev-Ed !!!