Connection port is 0.1″ pitch, single row for easy breadboarding and wiring
Pins are documented on the back of the LCD to assist in wiring it up
Single LED backlight included can be dimmed easily with a resistor or PWM and uses much less power than LCD with EL (electroluminescent) backlights
Can be fully controlled with only 6 digital lines!
Built in character set supports most English/European/Japanese text, see the HD44780 datasheet for the full character set
Up to 8 extra characters can be created for custom glyphs or ‘foreign’ language support
Comes with necessary contrast potentiometer and strip of header
For more information, check out this datasheet with useful stuff like the character map. To use with an Arduino, we suggest using our updated LiquidCrystal library. This one is faster, more complete, uses 1 less pin and is works with more LCDs.
To use, connect pin 1 (GND) to ground, pin 2 (VDD) to +5V, pin 3 (Vo) to the middle of the pot, pin 4 (RS) to Arduino pin 7, pin 5 (RW) to ground, pin 6 (E) to Arduino pin 8, leave pins 7-10 disconnected, pin 11 thru 14 (DB4-DB7) to Arduino pins 9 thru 12, pin 15 (BL+) to +5V and pin 16 (BL-) to ground. See For a detailed photo if you’re having difficulty
Then delete the old LiquidCrystal library in Arduino/hardware/libraries and in its place copy the updated LiquidCrystal library. Now in the IDE select the LiquidCrystal->CustomChars example sketch to see the image above! (You may need to adjust the contrast pot.)
Unusual distribution Offensive: The supplier EnBW wants its future electricity can twitter. Kunden sollen so genau über den eigenen Verbrauch informiert werden – und damit Energie sparen. Customers should be as accurate about their own consumption to be informed – and thus save energy. Hamburg – Das Unternehmen Yello Strom, eine hundertprozentige Tochter des Energiekonzerns EnBW Hamburg – The company Yello Strom, a wholly owned subsidiary of energy group EnBW , will seine Stromzähler künftig Twitter-fähig machen. , Wants its future electricity Twitter compatible. The gauges could be the consumption of individual customers by the minute on the internet.
Customer service on all channels “We have taken the first twitternde prototype developed and tested successfully,” said Yello current boss Martin Vesper SPIEGEL ONLINE. Was letztlich dazu führt, dass der Zähler eine Nachricht twittert, steht noch zur Diskussion. What ultimately leads to the counter a message twittert, is still under discussion. Vieles sei aber denkbar. Much, however, conceivable. So könnten beispielsweise unregelmäßig hohe Ausschläge beim Verbrauch einen Tweet an den Kunden auslösen. For example, the irregular high rashes consumers Tweet trigger to the customer. Or the counter chirped once daily for a summary of the costs.
Tweet-a-Watt is a DIY wireless power monitoring system. The project uses an ‘off the shelf’ power monitor called the Kill-a-Watt and adds wireless reporting. Each plug transmits the power usage at that outlet to a central computer receiver. The receiver can then log, graph and report the data. This pack contains nearly everything* necessary to build a single outlet monitor and receiver. To monitor additional outlets, you will need an add-on transmitter pack. One outlet can monitor up to 1500 Watts.
This is fun – Maker Hacker Trading Cards. Phil (pt) the creative director here at Adafruit wanted to do a series at MAKE with all their makers at the first Maker Faire back in 2006, we’d still love to get a Mr. Jalopy rookie card!
You know, I never really got into Baseball cards as a kid. I do remember liking the stale gum in the Top’s packs you would get as you were checking out at the grocerystore, but never cared to much for the cards. One summer my dad got us a full set of Donruss cards, and we put all the cards in protective sheets in an album. That was pretty much the extent on my baseball trading card days. I had a few friends who were fanatical, but I just couldn’t get into it. I’d rather go take apart a telephone and make my own electromagnet or shocker.
A couple weeks ago I was reminiscing about this and was thinking that maybe it wasnt the cards them self, but more the subject mater. I’ve never really been a sports guy. So I thought that it would be cool to have trading cards for Maker’s and Hackers. Maker Hacker Trading cards if you will. I decided to make a few to see how they would look.
Glenn made a baseball bat violin, here he is playing the Star Spangled banner played on a Louisville Slugger (Glenn Donnellan / National Symphony Orchestra)…
I really like TV-B-Gone by Mitch Altman. The idea to have an universal remote to switch off any TV set is just marvelous! But for some real sneaky operation I wanted a much smaller version which perfectly fits into my pocket. So how about a small experiment how small you can go (and still solder by hand). So here it is: (most probably) the world smallest implementation of TV-B-Gone:
The µTVBG is based on the ATTINY85 implementation by Lady Ada. I just downloaded the schematics and replaced some parts, reduced the number of IR diodes and did a new board layout. Nothing special. Even the firmware works unchanged.The whole board measures a mere 1.4 cm to 2.5 cm – small enough to fit in in every pocket.
Authorize.net credit card service which many online stores use (including Adafruit) went down for the first time ever it seems, at least for us. We were unable to get any information but twittercame through.
Update: Everything is working again it seems – we’re hoping authorize provides some more information once they put the fires out (literally).
What is a tilt sensor? Tilt sensors allow you to detect orientation or inclination. They are small, inexpensive, low-power and easy-to-use. If used properly, they will not wear out. Their simplicitiy makes them popular for toys, gadgets and appliances. Sometimes they are referred to as “mercury switches”, “tilt switches” or “rolling ball sensors” for obvious reasons.
They are usually made by a cavity of some sort (cylindrical is popular, although not always) and a conductive free mass inside, such as a blob of mercury or rolling ball. One end of the cavity has two conductive elements (poles). When the sensor is oriented so that that end is downwards, the mass rolls onto the poles and shorts them, acting as a switch throw.
Tilt switches used to be made exclusively of mercury, but are rarer now since they are recognized as being extremely toxic. The benefits of mercury is that the blob is dense enough that it doesnt bounce and so the switch isnt susceptible to vibrations. On the other hand, ball-type sensors are easy to make, wont shatter, and pose no risk of pollution.
While not as precise or flexible as a full accelerometer, tilt switches can detect motion or orientation simply. Another benefit to them is that the big ones can switch power on their own. Accelerometers, on the other hand, output digital or analog voltage that must then be analyzed with extra circuitry.
Dear Ladyada (Limor), Thank you soooo much for signing my autograph book. I know you were busy and had lots of things to do, but you still gave me some time! Thank you!! You are so amazing for all the cool electronic and crafty stuff you work on. It’s hard to find other girls who like electronics and robots and stuff anywhere, but your stuff helps me and dad says you’re a great role model. We bought your motor shield and the wave shield for our little robot. I helped solder both of them and maybe soon we’ll have our little bot rolling and talking!
Adjustable 30W 110V soldering irons are now in stock – This ‘pen-style’ soldering iron is just about the best entry-level tool I’ve seen. It’s not as powerful as a Weller WES51 but it is self-contained and easy to use. With proper care it will last for many years. Turn it off when not in use, clean the plated tip with a sponge (no filing or sanding!) The screwdriver tip is perfect for through-hole soldering and can also do some larger surface mount. Plug is 110 US-style and can only be used in 110V countries. Comes with a very simple flip-up stand which is only marginally useful. Unless you are very careful, a ‘real’ soldering stand is suggested. In the Adafruit store!
But wait, there’s more! Adjustable 30W 220V soldering iron – Plug is 220 Euro-style and can only be used in 220V countries. If you’re in the UK or non-Euro plug country, use a basic plug adapter such as those found in any hardware store. Comes with a very simple flip-up stand which is only marginally useful. Unless you are very careful, a ‘real’ soldering stand is suggested. In the store!
SoftPot (ribbon sensor) in stock! Manufactured by Spectra Symbol, these are nice little ribbon controllers (also known as ‘soft potentiometers’) with an adhesive backing. There is a nominal 10K resistance across the two outer leads. The middle pin resistance with respect to either of the outer pins changes depending on where on the strip one presses. When no pressure is applied, the middle pin floats, so be sure to use some sort of weak pullup, such as 100K ohm. Pick one up a the Adafruit store!
Great news – SparkFun is officially making some of their kits “open source hardware”. A couple weeks ago SparkFun and Adafruit chattered over hamburgers and one of the topics was the future and continuation of open source hardware, something we all think everyone benefits from. From the start SparkFun has always been a supporter of OSH and now they’re putting the file out there with specific licensing for open source hardware! Nathan’s note: One of the great things about open source is the ability to say “Hey, I’m pretty sure this works, but it may not be the best way to do it. Can you help me out?”! Check out their ClockIt kit, one of many we suspect will be OSH’ed!
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