[HOW-TO] Build a LCD Display and use it

Camoes · Last edited by Camoes on Wed Oct 15, 2003 2:00 am; edited 2 times in total

BUILD A LCD DISPLAY AND USE IT

0) INTRODUCTION
The reason i built my self a LCD for my server is, that i'd like to monitor it without using a 2nd monitor or beeing sshed into it all the time. A LCD was perfect to display it's load, network-traffic and temperatures. In my opinion it's also more fun to build it yourself then buy an overpriced allready readymade LCD.

As i thought some other ppl might be interested in this also i decided to write this HOW-TO, so here we go.

1) THE HARDWARE PART
1.1 getting the right hardware
There are some LCD Displays who are supported by linux drivers, so you don't need to get one specific LCD, but at least you should check at LCDproc or lcd4linux if your LCD is supported.
The most widespread displays are the one with a HD44780 Chip. They are supported very well by LCDproc and lcd4linux, cheaper then Cristalfontz displays for example and enough for my needs.

:!:

THIS HOW-TO IS JUST FOR DISPLAYS WITH HD44780 CHIPS. If you use other hardware don't follow this hardware guide, i could COMPLETLY DESTROY your LCD !!! :!:

so what do we need ?

1 LCD Display with HD44780 Chip (best would be a 20x4 Display)
1 D-SUB Plug with 25 Pins
1 ribbon cable with 25 wires
1 10k Ohm pre-set potentiometer
1 100 Ohm pre-set potentiometer
1 power plug with 4 pins

you will also need 1 soldering gun (which should have a small tip, because you really need to do some fine work sometimes), solder and some patience

1.2 The wiring scheme

[img:c4e5572ad7]http://www.camscode.org/images/lcd/th_schaltplan.jpg[/img:c4e5572ad7]
Click to enlarge
(image from moddingfaq.de)

:!:

make sure to connect the 5V line really to the 5V of the power suply and NOT to the 12V line. Else it could damage or destroy your LCD ! :!:

Best would be if you got a manual for your power suply to check where the 5V and Ground Lines are, but you can also check it with a voltmeter (but remember, fumbling around with a running power suply is allways dangerous)
Also note, that the D-SUB plug on the picture is shown from the front (!), so take care you solder the cable onto the plug right.

1.3 Connecting
Now as everything is done, we can connect the LCD to the PC. The D-Sub goes to your parallel port of course and the power-plug to one free cable from your power suply. If you did everything right you should see on a 20x2 display 1 row and on a 20x4 display 2 rows (the first and third line).

2) THE SOFTWARE PART
Now comes the easy part. There are 2 drivers for LCDs in portage right now, LCDproc and lcd4linux. As lcd4linux is not working for me i will just explain how to use LCDproc for now.

2.1 LCDproc
first of all you need to emerge it of course. A simple

Shadowline · n00b Joined: 18 Sep 2003 Posts: 14

Nice How-To, but would you happen to know how to get a CrystalFontz 634 USB lcd working ? I've searched high and low for a exact, easy to understand faq on this and have been unable to find diddly squat on this subject.

Camoes · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2003 11:46 pm Post subject:

lcd4linux has an usblcd driver but it is just for LCDs with HD44780 Chip, but maybe it also works with Cristalfontz Displays although i doubt it.
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ben_h · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2003 12:36 am Post subject:

Ohhhhhh, wow. This is pretty darn excellent.

After seeing those shots of the LCD with little bar graphs and all, I simply don't have a choice. I'm doing this.

Thanks, an excellent HOWTO. I look foward to following it!

Blue Lightning · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 7:21 am Post subject:

Also, for a barebones LCD device that you can cat directly to (it basically behaves like a terminal), try lcdmod.

Camoes · Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2003 10:46 am Post subject:

now that's great

if i manage to do some usefull stuff with it i'll update the how-to
thanks for the tip

_________________
e = pi = 3
breakmygentoo

oscrmyer · n00b Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Posts: 31 Location: Seattle

I did something very simular, but I cat files that I wanted to display. My next task to see if I can comp up with some type of mad to control the pc. Im think that I might try to build some type of MP3 applicance.
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Camoes · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2003 1:53 am Post subject:

i tried to use lcdmod and after some hassle at least the module loaded.
First of all i doesnt compile with 2.6 kernel, so i had to switch back, but for some reason i dont get any output on the display. lsmod also says the module is unused.
Maybe it is my wiring. Did you use LCDproc before, and if yes what wiring config did you use ? I'm kinda lost here

But at least i made an ebuild for it, you can fetch it in my first post

_________________
e = pi = 3
breakmygentoo

lizardloop · Apprentice Joined: 16 Mar 2003 Posts: 278

What do I do with the code for that ebuild posted in the first post? i.e how do I turn it into an ebuild I can install?

Onion Avenger · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 6:44 pm Post subject:

NICE!!!!
Now I know what my next project will be...

Thanks a bundle, Camoes!

Camoes · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 7:32 pm Post subject:

@lizardloop:
copy/paste the code in a new file called lcdmod-0.6.7.ebuild
activate the local portagedir in /etc/make.conf.
Do

Onion Avenger · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 8:40 pm Post subject:

Camoes: where did you get your LCD?
I found a few good ones at crystalfontz but they're all serial, not parallel...

Camoes · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 10:26 pm Post subject:

uhm at some electronics-store in germany, but i doubt this will help you

_________________
e = pi = 3
breakmygentoo

Onion Avenger · Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2003 11:58 pm Post subject:

m33sb3w · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 5:15 am Post subject:

Here is a 20x4, easy ordering, not bad shipping. I ordered one today. I just have to try this out. Thanks Camoes!

Edit: I just had to say something about the service...I ordered my LCD on Tuesday afternoon for $16 plus $3.85 shipping. It was shipped from Oregon to me in Pennsylvania and I was AMAZED when I picked up my mail today, Thursday afternoon, only 50 hours after I placed the order, and the LCD was there waiting for me; it was also very well packaged. If you want to try this project and you're in the US, this site is the way to go!

Forse · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2004 3:49 pm Post subject:

I was searching for this for a long time, thnx. I was wondering just are there any bigger displays supported by LCDproc or other software? I mean I want much bigger display, maybe like 240x128 Graphic LCD from http://www.crystalfontz.com/products/index-grph.html .

Stolz · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 4:48 am Post subject:

Whay modules do I need for parallel port LCD to work?

I've selected

Camoes · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 10:51 am Post subject:

You also have to activate

Deebster · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 10:10 pm Post subject:

Anyone going to show us photos? Gimme...

Stolz · Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2004 10:21 am Post subject:

gschneider · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2004 2:09 pm Post subject:

has anybody tried putting the current emerge state on lcdproc?

something like this:

Klovnen · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2004 4:57 pm Post subject:

anyone from norway who knows where to get this kind of lcds?
i have looked at elfa, but their website really suck, and my catalouge is.. ehm, gone

Sibben · n00b Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 40 Location: Sweden

I would like to use a LCD (one of the larges types) as a monitor for my server, anyone knows if this can be done? My server is in a closet and it would be nice to have access to a simple bash-shell on a LCD for maintainance work.

Zkronk · Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2004 10:03 am Post subject:

Stolz · Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2004 11:00 am Post subject:

It's a windows' box.
Actually I'm using lcd4linux (CVS version) but it isn't so poweful.