LCD Display not working - PIC heating...

[keithdoxey]

Any other idea?

You say in your first post that you are using 16F88

Try adding the line....

ANSEL = %00000000 ' Disable Analogue Inputs

..to disable the analogue inputs which are on by default.

Regards

[BobK]

Hello again,

DEFINES are not DEFAULTS. Defaults are part of the 16F88.inc file and pertain to certain setup requirements. These are also configurable by you if you need to change them for your particular application. DEFINES are used to setup things like LCD displays, serial printers or other types of serial outputs using the DEFINE DEBUG type statements. You must add the define statements yourself. Again another topic to read in the MELABS PBP manual.

I don't know anything about the Microchip programmer. If I get a chance this coming weekend I'll look it up. I use the MELABS USB and EPIC programmers and they don't have enough power to handle programming and powering your circuitry.

I ordered 4 of those serial LCD driver boards. If they get here by Thursday I'll get one built over the weekend and let you know how they work. I though the prices were well within reason.

Sorry about the ansel = item. I didn't take the time to read the datasheet. Shame on me! But at least I was on the right track! Thanks Keith!!!

BobK

[Charles Linquis]

One thing to look at - the pins on an LCD are a bit weird. The pins are numbered as if you put a connector on the FRONT side of the board.
Most people put the pins out the backside. As a result, what you think is pin #1, really isn't

Check that before you try anything else. If that is the problem (it reverses the odd and even pins), the display is probably destroyed.

Don't ask me how I know all this !

[flotulopex]

Well,

Seems still to be lots of things to try before I jump out of the window ;-)

It's lunch time now and still a few hours to go before I get back home to try/check everything you suggest.

One thing is sure, I took a great care on the display's pins locations and this should not be wrong (the complete wiring is simple and I used colored wires to make it even more clear to check). Nevertheless, according to Charles's experience, I'll check this over again.

Meantime, about the DEFINEs, where can I see what is "behind" this or that particular command? The PBP book (chap. 4.16) doesn't tell much about this.

NB: I live on the groundfloor...

[blainecf]

Chip heats up because it's in backwards. I know because I've done it several times! Easy to get things turned around.

bcf

[flotulopex]

Still getting the same effect on my displays = first line, all pixels on; second line, all off - like picture in attachment in post #1.

I'll order a new display and try again. Hope to give you more info shortly.

Thank you for all your suggestions.

Blainecf, I always put some nail varnish as a mark on the upper side of my PICs ...because what happened to you, happened to me too sometimes ago :-)

[keithdoxey]

Still getting the same effect on my displays = first line, all pixels on; second line, all off - like picture in attachment in post #1.

Have you got a contrast pot connected and does the display change when you adjust it ?

[keithdoxey]

Sorry about the ansel = item. I didn't take the time to read the datasheet. Shame on me! Thanks Keith!!!

Neither did I !!!!

I learnt the hard way the first time I used the 16F88 and couldnt get some of the pins on PortB to work right