16x2 80x36x11mm 5VDC blue/white QAPASS 1602A STN alpha numeric dot matrix LCD display module *new*

LCD display for replacing a broken one or for creating something new. This LCD display can be used easily with Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Intel Edison or any other embedded system you want to work with.

LCD display technical details:

• Operating voltage:
  • 5VDC
• Display color:
  • Blue
• Character color:
  • White
• Display type:
  • STN alphanumeric dot matrix LCD display
• Controlling method:
  • Classic Hitachi HD44780 compliant
• Nominal PCB dimensions:
  • 80x36x11mm (actual units +/-0.2mm)
• Display element outer dimensions (measured from actual unit):
  • 71.3x24.2x7.3 (75.3x24.2x7.3 with backlight lens and LED leads) This differs a bit from the datasheet
• Electrical connection:
  • 16x gold plated double sided solder pads with 1mm holes, 2.54mm pitch
• Display construction:
  • 16x characters on 2x lines, each character has 8x5 pixels
• Character dimensions:
  • 5.1x2.9mm with 0.62mm horizontal and 0.7mm vertical spacing
• Operating temperature:
  • -20...70°C

LCD display module pinout:

1. VSS (Ground, ie -)
2. VCC (+5V)
3. V0 (Contrast adjustment)
4. RS (Register Select, RS). RS=0: Command, RS=1: Data
5. RW (Read/Write, R/W). R/W=0: Write, R/W=1: Read (This pin is optional due to the fact that most of the time you will only want to write to it and not read. Therefore, in general use, this pin will be permanently connected directly to ground.)
6. E (Clock) (Enable). Falling edge triggered
7. D0 (Bit 0) (Not used in 4-bit operation)
8. D1 (Bit 1) (Not used in 4-bit operation)
9. D2 (Bit 2) (Not used in 4-bit operation)
10. D3 (Bit 3) (Not used in 4-bit operation)
11. D4 (Bit 4)
12. D5 (Bit 5)
13. D6 (Bit 6)
14. D7 (Bit 7)
15. A (Backlight LED Anode, +)
16. K (Backlight LED Cathode, -)

Instructions for hacking / converting this display to operate on 3.3VDC operating voltage:

Due to the ancient LCD controller technology made by Hitachi, the board controller requires 5VDC operating voltage. In order to easily use this display with say Raspberry Pi (3,3VDC) you need to hack this display a bit. In order to make it work with lower operating voltage, add a 8pin voltage converter such as ICL7660 (or similar) onto the space indicated with label U3. Then populate C1 and C2 with 10µF SMD capacitors and remove J1 solder bridge. To finalize the job enable the voltage converter by soldering a solder bridge across the J3 contact pins. You have now an LCD display capable of operating with lover operating voltage.

Adjusting the backlight operating voltage (or how to dimm the backlight):

The only current limiting resistor for the backlight is R8 (100 Ohm). For using the backlight with other voltage just recalculate the current limiting resistor value and readjust accordingly. As a reminder deduct the LED forward threshold voltage from desired operating voltage and use the calculated voltage in an Ohm's law to calculate suitable resistor. Divide this newly acquired voltage with the desired amperes. Then round up the resistor value to the closest suitable resistor value or to a closest suitable resistor value, that you have at hand. For higher voltages make sure you will not fry the resistor and calculate the resistor power dissipation. Then check that the resistor you are using can safely handle that amount of power dissipation.

Check more detailed info on LCD displays controlled with Hitachi HD44780 LCD controller chip

Download Eone Electronics 1602A-1 LCD display technical dataseheet (similar LCD)