LCD Basics for the Pi Pico

This is a beginners guide for adding a display to the Pi Pico. Adding a display is a great way to get your Pi Pico to show text, basic graphics, and output information.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:29 Project Overview
1:20 I2C LCD Display
2:03 Connecting Everything
3:23 Downloading Libraries
4:10 Finding The I2C Address
4:46 Running The Demo
4:52 Creating A Custom Script
5:59 Creating Custom Characters

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#raspberrypi #pico #tinkernut
@raspberrypi @The8BitGuy

[saiskanda]

Was about to type "You finally remembered your password" only to see I missed you video from a few weeks back 🤪

[CaptnScott]

That was probably the best how to I've seen on YouTube since YouTube came out. Straight to the point with all the information needed without talking 5 minutes to talk about nonsense before we get to what we clicked on viewing. Subscribed with all videos going in the notifications. Thanks for the video.

[gunnorkarlrafnsson]

If you're doing everything the tutorial says and run the code and you get no error but still nothing is showing. Then try turning the blue box on the back a little to the right to fix the contrast. That did it for me. :)

[tylerpeppy]

Thanks for using the code man! This is a very nice tutorial on how to use it! Keep up the good work! (T-622)

[Brandi.Nicole]

That’s fun. I’m going to teach this in the summer.

[JoeFrixon]

Thank you for teaching this guide. It worked for me and below is the code I modified to display the temperature
import utime
import machine
import math
from machine import ADC
from machine import I2C
from lcd_api import LcdApi
from pico_i2c_lcd import I2cLcd

I2C_ADDR = 0x27
I2C_NUM_ROWS = 4
I2C_NUM_COLS = 20
i2c = I2C(0, sda=machine.Pin(0), scl=machine.Pin(1),
lcd = I2cLcd(i2c, I2C_ADDR, I2C_NUM_ROWS, I2C_NUM_COLS)

tempsensor = ADC(4)
conversion_factor = 3.3 / (65535) # Conversion from Pin read to proper voltage

while True:
currentvoltage = tempsensor.read_u16() * conversion_factor
temp_data = 27 - ((currentvoltage - 0.706)/0.001721)
print(str(currentvoltage) + " : " + str(temp_data))
lcd.clear()
lcd.move_to(0, 0)
lcd.putstr("Volt" + ":" + str(currentvoltage))
lcd.move_to(0, 1)
lcd.putstr("Temp" + ":" + str(temp_data))
utime.sleep(2)

[thegenxgamerguy]

An extraordinarily interesting and entertaining video! Amazing job, sir.

I especially enjoyed that whole "custom character" thing at the end.

[directorstu]

Wow. Amazing pace. Clear learning ladder. No blather. Nice iconography. Pretty slick my friend. Hope your doing well.

[stefanemminger]

Hey Tinkernut, glad that you are back. Just little side note, your way of finding the i2c address is pretty nifty but most i2c devices will have it's address listed in the datasheet and is also a good practice to always look in the datasheet first if you need more information on any electronic device. Cheers

[SteveH-TN]

I plan to use the LCD as a Model Railroad Announcement display at the Station to show arrival & departure times & platform # eventually add Train control to with fast clock in sync. Either using Raspberry Pi or Arduino.
I have just subscribed to your Channel. Appreciate your to the point videos.

[metiks]

When it does compile, but doesn't work, you can try regulating contrast on the back of your i2c adapter board.

[ninosibraham]

after a day of wondering why My pico was not doing this right, I discovered I had two of the cables swapped from the lcd screen. Thank you for this great tutorial!

[gedtoon]

You are powering your LCD and I2C backpack from 5V. The Pi Pico pins are not 5V tolerant, so should a 5v to 3.3v converter be used here?

[PhG]

Excellent video. Great to see you're creating more videos again !

[sparrowXXIII]

Perfect tutorial for my learning style. With my friend, Space Bar, it was quite straightforward to follow. Looking forward to explore more projects on your channel.
Crossing my fingers you have an e-ink display video!

[stephenwong]

Mind the signalling voltage, pico uses 3.3V, but most other Arduino parts uses 5V. Use of 5V signal on a pico will damage it.

[bonkbonk]

thank you so much you helped me with my project a lot, kept coming back to this video!! keep up the good work

[TBL_stevennelson]

Thank you for such a great project.
You should write for a computer magazine.

[TheFonurb]

Worked perfectly with my Pico, thanks!

[pinapple]

Thank you for make
Ing this it was really helpful!!