RioRand LCD Module for Arduino 20 x 4, White on Blue

Worked after a little work but to be fair this is my first Arduino project. Even after following all the forums, instructions, and schematics it didn't display properly. Your typical "Hello World" would only print symbols. After even more reading I found something that eventually pointed me in the right direction. Wired with a cable going to the 10 pin on the Arduino. Below is the code I used and instructions on which wires go where.//Arduino 5v to + on bread board//Ardiono ground to - on bread board//Pin 1 to left side of Potentiometer(Left side of Potentiometer also to gound-)//Pin 2 to right side of Potentiometer (Left side of Potentiometer also to 5v on bread board)//Pin 3 to center pin of potentiometer//Pin 4 to Digitial Pin 12 on Arduino//Pin 5 to Digitial Pin 11 on Arduino//Pin 6 to Digitial Pin 10 on Arduino//Pin 7 not used//Pin 8 not used//Pin 9 not used//Pin 10 not used//Pin 11 to Digital Pin 5 on Arduino//Pin 12 to Digital Pin 4 on Arduino//Pin 13 to Digital Pin 3 on Arduino//Pin 14 to Digital Pin 2 on Arduino//Pin 15 to 220 ohm resistor then to 5v/+ on bread board//Pin 16 to Ground(-) on bread board// include the library code:#include <LiquidCrystal.h>// initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pinsLiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2);void setup() { // set up the LCD's number of columns and rows: lcd.begin(20, 4); // Print a message to the LCD. lcd.print("hello, world!");}void loop() { // set the cursor to column 0, line 1 // (note: line 1 is the second row, since counting begins with 0): lcd.setCursor(0, 1); lcd.print("Line 2"); lcd.setCursor(0, 2); lcd.print("Line 3"); lcd.setCursor(0, 3); // print the number of seconds since reset: lcd.print(millis()/1000);}

Good LCD and it does what it is supposed to do. Shipped fast and worked perfect. I've attached a couple of pictures after soldering. Some people here have suggested other ways if wiring it, the follow way works just fine and is relatively easier. I'm also pasting some test code._________________________________________________Wiring:1 to GND 2 to 5V 3 to the center pin on the potentiometer 4 to Arduino digital pin 12 5 to GND 6 to Arduino digital pin 11 7 (no connection) 8 (no connection) 9 (no connection) 10 (no connection) 11 to Arduino digital pin 5 12 to Arduino digital pin 4 13 to Arduino digital pin 3 14 to Arduino digital pin 2 15 to 5V 16 to GND_________________________________________________Test Code:// include the library code:#include <LiquidCrystal.h>// initialize the library by associating any needed LCD interface pin// with the arduino pin number it is connected toconst int rs = 12, en = 11, d4 = 5, d5 = 4, d6 = 3, d7 = 2;LiquidCrystal lcd(rs, en, d4, d5, d6, d7);void setup() { // set up the LCD's number of columns and rows: lcd.begin(16, 2); // Print a message to the LCD. lcd.print("hello, world!");}void loop() { // set the cursor to column 0, line 1 // (note: line 1 is the second row, since counting begins with 0): lcd.setCursor(0, 1); // print the number of seconds since reset: lcd.print(millis() / 1000);}_________________________________________________

With ribbon cables properly aligned the jumpers from Arduino to the LCD are straight across. I used the following cables. Elegoo 120pcs Multicolored Dupont Wire 40pin Male to Female, 40pin Male to Male, 40pin Female to Female Breadboard Jumper Wires Ribbon Cables Kit for arduino When I first powered the Arduino up with the Hello World program the LCD turned on a bright blue but with no letters were visible. I had to adjust the contrast to make the letters appear. The display looks better than the photo indicates. The contrast is good over a wide viewing angle.For the sake of completion I repeat the pinout here that I copied from another review that has the nice Hello World. Check that review out as well by Sandra H.on March 21, 2017.//Arduino 5v to + on bread board//Ardiono ground to - on bread board//Pin 1 to left side of Potentiometer(Left side of Potentiometer also to gound-)//Pin 2 to right side of Potentiometer (Left side of Potentiometer also to 5v on bread board)//Pin 3 to center pin of potentiometer//Pin 4 to Digitial Pin 12 on Arduino//Pin 5 to Digitial Pin 11 on Arduino//Pin 6 to Digitial Pin 10 on Arduino//Pin 7 not used//Pin 8 not used//Pin 9 not used//Pin 10 not used//Pin 11 to Digital Pin 5 on Arduino//Pin 12 to Digital Pin 4 on Arduino//Pin 13 to Digital Pin 3 on Arduino//Pin 14 to Digital Pin 2 on Arduino//Pin 15 to 220 ohm resistor then to 5v/+ on bread board//Pin 16 to Ground(-) on bread board

Works as advertised. Good for the price.