For the production version of my VController project, I would like to use 12 RGB displays. As the PCF chips only have eight addresses I would like to connect three displays to one PCF8574. I would like to know if this idea will work or not.
The idea is inspired by this example:
https://www.hackmeister.dk/2010/08/4-lcd-displays-on-1-arduino/
The code for controlling the displays would be something like this:
But I guess I am getting into trouble for omitting the R/W pin. I also want to use the pin that normally is used for backlight to control another display. Or should I be using an MCP23016 instead? AFAIK the LiquidCrystal library is not compatible with that chip.
To control the RGB backlights, I would like to add an WS2811 chip for each display. This will turn the display into a Neopixel LED and that will give me complete control over colour and brightness of the display.
I have worked the idea out in a rough schematic (I have connected just the wires between the displays and the chips)
Is at possible to work this way, or have I forgotten something important?
View attachment Multicoloured display schematic.pdf
The idea is inspired by this example:
https://www.hackmeister.dk/2010/08/4-lcd-displays-on-1-arduino/
The code for controlling the displays would be something like this:
Code:
// Set the pins on the I2C chip used for LCD connections:
// addr, en,rw,rs,d4,d5,d6,d7,bl,blpol
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd1(0x27, 5, 5, 4, 0, 1, 2, 3);
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd2(0x27, 6, 6, 4, 0, 1, 2, 3);
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd3(0x27, 7, 7, 4, 0, 1, 2, 3);
But I guess I am getting into trouble for omitting the R/W pin. I also want to use the pin that normally is used for backlight to control another display. Or should I be using an MCP23016 instead? AFAIK the LiquidCrystal library is not compatible with that chip.
To control the RGB backlights, I would like to add an WS2811 chip for each display. This will turn the display into a Neopixel LED and that will give me complete control over colour and brightness of the display.
I have worked the idea out in a rough schematic (I have connected just the wires between the displays and the chips)
Is at possible to work this way, or have I forgotten something important?
View attachment Multicoloured display schematic.pdf