I am in the process of wiring up a BPP-420 LCD to the Program port on our RC for use with Kevin Watson’s serial port code. I have pin 3 of the serial connector connected to the data pin on the LCD, I have the +5 pin from a digital I/O connected to the +5 pin on the LCD, and I have pin 5 and the ground from a digital I/O connected to the ground pin on the LCD. Is this the proper wiring? I couldn’t find an actual pinout of the Program port, so I just went with the RS-232 standard, but I want to make sure it’s right before I power it up.
Refer to page 11 of “2004 Full-Size Robot Controller Reference Guide”.
If I call +5V pin 1, then pin 1 goes to +5 of the LCD, Pin 2 goes to data in of the LCD and pin 4 goes to ground on the LCD.
That’s the TTL port, not the Program port. My LCD only works on RS-232 voltage levels, and besides, I’m already using the TTL port for the camera.
Did you get this working? I’ve wired my LCD to use pin 2 as it’s source of serial data.
-Kevin
I haven’t tested it yet, because I’m particularly afraid of the magic smoke when working with something this expensive. I will move the data line over to pin 2. Do I have the other wiring correct?
My LCD only works on RS-232 voltage levels
Someone just told me in another thread that RS-232 is does 5 to 15 volts. Dont see how that is going to help you, but it might and I dont feel like thinking too much. Actually I think it was that thread about reprogramming in competition.
shrug The specs make no difference to me. My LCD needs +5 for power, and RS-232 level data. I can get the +5 from any of the dig I/O pins, and I can evidentally get RS-232 data from the Program port. All I need to do is figure out how to wire it.
Yes, it looks fine. Connecting the LCD data line to pin 3 of the program/serial port wouldn’t smoke anything because it’s the serial port’s Rx line.
-Kevin
Excellent. Thank you very much, Kevin. I can’t wait to hook this up tomorrow. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Did it work?
Heh. I dont think he finished soldering it. Other priority projects took over his (and the person doing the soldering) time. When he gets it finished and working … we’ll get some pictures of it and post it.