14 LCDs

lucas_siglo21 · Post by **lucas_siglo21** » November 29th, 2008, 2:13 am

well, i have 14 LCDs 20x4 without backlight and i'll probably get more

they all work, i've cleaned them after i took that picture
they were part of some kind of data terminals and now they are getting rid of them with a hammer, so i saw like 500 displays like those destoyed by a hammer, and that traumatized me.
i'll get some more, i'll take as much displays as i can because they are destroying them...

so... what can i do with a lot of displays???

Post by **caesar** » November 29th, 2008, 9:15 am

You can connect:

* a maximum two of them to the parallel port

* at least 4 to a microcontroller and make a bigger display - you will need to write a program to controll those displays.

and if you like to have fun with hardware, you can use like 20 to 24 connected to a microcontroller and driven by Smartie. You will be limited only by the number of microcontroller pins.

You can call it your LCD Farm.

BTW, nice find!

lucas_siglo21 · Post by **lucas_siglo21** » November 29th, 2008, 1:54 pm

when i have some free time i'll do somehing, maybe some terminals, because i have keyboards too(numeric, matrix)

GizmoTheGreen · Post by **GizmoTheGreen** » November 30th, 2008, 1:36 pm

would you care to sell some for a cheap penny?

ceasar, how to connect 2 displays to parallel port? schematic?
does smartie support this already?

lucas_siglo21 · Post by **lucas_siglo21** » November 30th, 2008, 2:25 pm

i wouldn't care, but shipment will cost you a lot, i am in argentina

Post by **caesar** » November 30th, 2008, 5:10 pm

Gizmo, it simple, connect 2 exactly the same (run wires to both) only the "E" wire is separate. to the first one is the same, to the second display is connected from LPT pin 17.
In Smartie you select 4x40 as display (those are basically 2 displays in one).

GizmoTheGreen · Post by **GizmoTheGreen** » November 30th, 2008, 6:03 pm

lucas, how much would it cost to send 5 or so to sweden?

caesar, i can connect 2 4x20 this way?
would it be physically, like this

4x20 4x20

or

4x20
4x20

lucas_siglo21 · Post by **lucas_siglo21** » November 30th, 2008, 6:04 pm

how would you control backlight by software if you are using that configuration?

lucas_siglo21 · Post by **lucas_siglo21** » November 30th, 2008, 6:05 pm

sweden?, i don't know, but probably a lot, how much are you paying for them in there?

GizmoTheGreen · Post by **GizmoTheGreen** » November 30th, 2008, 8:01 pm

About 200 SEK for a 4x20 one, (at the nearest shop to me)
so thats about 25 USD according to google

lucas_siglo21 · Post by **lucas_siglo21** » November 30th, 2008, 8:36 pm

here they cost the same.
i could get all those for free.

everyway i don't want to get rid of them.

i was talking with people who was destroying them and they said that they bought them for 7 dolars each buying by thousands.
i think they were bought aproximately 10 years ago.

GizmoTheGreen · Post by **GizmoTheGreen** » November 30th, 2008, 8:42 pm

how many could you fix?
i'd be happy to buy some from you, i bet you could get more than you would be able to use yourself anyway, a rare opportunity indeed

lucas_siglo21 · Post by **lucas_siglo21** » November 30th, 2008, 9:29 pm

all of them are working, i didn't take destroyed ones, i talked with that people and i said them if they could give me the displays instead of destroying them, i'll go for more tomorrow.
they are not in selling conditions everyway, even if they work, metal case is oxidated, they were exposed to 10 years of usage.
I can't sell them because they should be destroyed or donated, if someone notes that they are being sold, i and other people can get in troubles.
so, i'll take the precaution of not sell them.

GizmoTheGreen · Post by **GizmoTheGreen** » November 30th, 2008, 10:01 pm

I would pay for the shipping then, if thats possible.

a little oxidation i dont mind

also, i meant, how many can you get ahold of, like, 50, 100?

lucas_siglo21 · Post by **lucas_siglo21** » November 30th, 2008, 10:36 pm

maybe, i don't know, i'll see tomorrow, how many do you want?

GizmoTheGreen · Post by **GizmoTheGreen** » November 30th, 2008, 10:45 pm

as many as possible

more than 10 would be great.
i guess i can afford max 50$ shipping, can't promise anything though

lucas_siglo21 · Post by **lucas_siglo21** » November 30th, 2008, 10:52 pm

i can sell them to you 10 dollars each. and, you pay the shipment, i don't know how much it would cost.
i'll only sell them if i can get more, if not i won't.

GizmoTheGreen · Post by **GizmoTheGreen** » November 30th, 2008, 10:56 pm

i thought you said you couldnt sell them?
only donate.

i only offered to pay for the shipping

lucas_siglo21 · Post by **lucas_siglo21** » November 30th, 2008, 11:02 pm

no, they could only donate the displays or destroy them, i recieved the donations.
i want to sell them, some.

GizmoTheGreen · Post by **GizmoTheGreen** » November 30th, 2008, 11:13 pm

oh, i understand then.

well, 10$ a piece is still to much, even if its half the price of retail, they are just too old... i would give you max 2$ a piece plus shipping

sorry

lucas_siglo21 · Post by **lucas_siglo21** » November 30th, 2008, 11:21 pm

don't worry,
i won't sell them for 2 dollars, they are useful for me and some friends, to put them in robots. and to show data from microcontrollers.

GizmoTheGreen · Post by **GizmoTheGreen** » November 30th, 2008, 11:24 pm

okay, good luck with that then, if you ever get some leftovers, dont be afraid to give me a PM on this forum

lucas_siglo21 · Post by **lucas_siglo21** » November 30th, 2008, 11:40 pm