SPLatco Knowledge Base

You may elect to source your own LCD module. The onboard LCD connector can drive commercially available modules with the capacities listed under the OBLCD_Type instruction.

If you are sourcing your own LCD you will need to fit it with a ribbon cable and an IDC connector. To achieve this you will need the appropriate skills to identify the necessary connections, to do the fine soldering required and to crimp on the connector.

  • Obtain the technical data on the exact LCD module you are using. Pinouts vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and from model to model. You must have the right data.
  • Terminate a length of 10-way ribbon cable in a 10-way IDC (female) connector as illustrated. Make sure the coloured trace on the cable lines up with the pin 1 identification mark on the connector (an arrow head on the connector in the picture). The wires are numbered 1, 2, 3 … 10 straight across the cable, starting with the coloured wire as #1.
  • Identify the named connection points on the LCD module. LCD modules come with two connection patterns. One is a single row of holes along the long edge. The other is a dual row of holes along one short edge.In our experience the 2-row patterns vary significantly between brands, including supply connections being reversed. Get it wrong and you will trash your LCD instantly!
  • Print out the table below, then fill in the “LCD pin” column with the pin numbers on the LCD module, using the signal names to identify the pins. Signal names may vary slightly from brand to brand, but are generally similar enough to be clearly identifiable. Note that our port does not use all the LCD pins.
  • Carefully separate the wires of the ribbon cable and solder them into the LCD module according to the table.
  • Check and re-check.
  • Plug into the SPLat board and apply power.
  • Use the following program to send a simple message to the LCD, then adjust the contrast for best viewing:
         OBLCD_Text  "Hello World!"
Loop     GoTo        Loop

Connection table:

Cable wire #NameLCD pin #
1Vss 
2Vdd 
3RS 
4Vo 
5E 
6R/W 
7DB5 
8DB4 
9DB7 
10DB6