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Tutorial: LCD using only 2 arduino pins (with PCF8574 and I2C)
On this tutorial, we will learn how to use a standard 16x2 LCD with Arduino, but using just 2 pins. The magic behind is done by the PCF8574, an I/O expander that communicates with the micro-controller by I2C. If you want to learn about the PCF8574, check this previous tutorial.
Firstly, you have to download the library, there are different downloads for the 1.0 and 0022 Arduino versions:
After that, extract the files to your libraries folder inside your Arduino installation.
Get your breadboard and build the circuit show in the first picture.
Open your Arduino IDE and go to File > Examples > LiquidCrystal_I2C and select "Hello World". The following code will open:
#include <Wire.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(32,16,2); // set the LCD address to 0x20 for a 16 chars and 2 line display
void setup()
{
lcd.init(); // initialize the lcd
// Print a message to the LCD.
lcd.backlight();
lcd.print("Hello, world!");
}
void loop()
{
}
Upload your code. You may need to turn the potentiometer to adjust the LCD contrast. You now show see the words "Hello, world!" on your display.
References:
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Comment by Mario_H on September 3, 2012 at 4:27pm
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Just found the link to my library here and I would advise to add three resistors to the schematic above.
Two 4K7 pull-up resistors on the I2C lines (see I2C specifications).
And one current limiting resistor in series with the backlight LED to prevent damage to the backlight LED.
To calculate the correct limiting resistor you need the datasheet of the LCD.
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Comment by Rob Whight on October 16, 2012 at 3:33am -
Haven't got myself an LCD display yet (on day 2 with my Arduino !). Very interested in this circuit. Note it only uses two pins - would that mean that I could drive more than one display at the same time and if so, how do I go about send data to different displays ? Thx
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Yep, you can connect multiple displays to the I2C port.
Give each PCF8574 another address (using pins 1,2 and 3).
In the sketch define two lcd's
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd1(0x20,16,2); // set the first LCD address to 0x20
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd2(0x21,16,2); // set the second LCD address to 0x21
Initialize them in the setup-section:
lcd1.init(); // initialize the 1st lcd
lcd2.init(); // initialize the 2nd lcd
And send text:
lcd1.print("1st Hello!");
lcd2.print("2nd Hello!");
That's all.
More examples in the zip you can download from the link above.
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Comment by Rob Whight on October 16, 2012 at 10:36am
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OK - That's really helpful. The bit I think I'm struggling with is how each display knows which one it is and where it is connected. Is there a relationship between the 0x20 and 0x21 and the pinouts for example ? Appreciate your help for this here newbie !
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On the hardware side you give each PFC an unique address (with pins 1-3).
To use them in the sketch:
First you define lcd1 as the one on address 0x20
Next you define lcd2 as the one on address 0x21
During the rest of the sketch you refer to lcd1 when you want to write to the first lcd and to lcd2 when you want to write to the second one.
So the LCD itself isn't aware of which one it is, it just displays the data it receives.
The selection is done by addressing the PCF. All data not sent to the configured address of a PCF is simply ignored. And just for clarity: to control two displays via I2c you need two of the circuits shown above.
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