Use the free online Raspberry Pi Pico Simulator to learn Pi Pico and LCD1602 coding without real hardware!
In this article, you will see how to connect an LCD to your Raspberry Pi Pico and also display your own text without a need for real hardware! WE will use the free online Raspberry Pi Pico Simulator
A brief overview of the LCD1602 component
- An LCD display with 2 lines, 16 characters per line.
- The LCD1602 comes in 2 possible configurations: I2C configuration and standard configuration. The I2C configuration is usually simpler to use
- The I2C configuration simulates a PCF8574T chip that controls the LCD module.
- Normally, you wouldn't have to worry about this as the LiquidCrystal_I2C library takes care of the communication with the chip.
- Normally, you'd configure the chip in 4-bit parallel mode, which means you only need to connect RS, E, D4, D5, D6, and D7 pins to Arduino.‡ If you need to control the backlight, connect the anode to an I/O pin. Otherwise, connect it to the supply voltage. For a real circuit, you'd also need a current-limiting resistor
The code
// LCD1602 and Pi Pico!
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7);
void setup() {
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("Hello World!");
lcd.setCursor(2, 1);
lcd.print("> Pi Pico <");
}
void loop() {
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("Everything is");
lcd.setCursor(2, 1);
lcd.print("> POSSIBLE <");
delay(2000);
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("Believe in ");
lcd.setCursor(2, 1);
lcd.print("> YOURSELF <");
delay(2000);
}
The simulation output on Raspberry Pi Pico simulator
wokwi Raspberry Pi Pico simulator and LCD1602 interface
Further tasks that can be accomplished with Raspberry Pi Pico simulator
- Build your own MENU or navigation systems
- Build your own custom LCD character on the Pi Pico simulator and share the link/project with others
- Make PI Pico generate a random number and display it on screen every 10 seconds
Support and feedback on Raspberry Pi Pico simulator
You can always hop on to the Discord channel for RP2040 for any of your queries or suggestions. There is a growing community of fellow Raspberry pi Pico and Arduino users waiting to welcome you!
Please visit the Electrotantra YouTube channel for more videos on the Arduino and Raspberry Pi Pico simulators.