Arduino to 16x2 LCD Panel Connections

gistfile1.txt

+------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| LCD Pin          | Connect to                                     |
+------------------+------------------------------------------------+
| 1 (VSS)          | GND Arduino pin *                              |
| 2 (VDD)          | + 5v Arduino pin                               |
| 3 (contrast)     | Resistor or potentiometer to GND Arduino pin * |
| 4 RS             | Arduino pin 12                                 |
| 5 R/W            | Arduino pin 11                                 |
| 6 Enable         | Arduino pin 10                                 |
| 7                | No connection                                  |
| 8                | No connection                                  |
| 9                | No connection                                  |
| 10               | No connection                                  |
| 11 (Data 4)      | Arduino pin 5                                  |
| 12 (Data 5)      | Arduino pin 4                                  |
| 13 (Data 6)      | Arduino pin 3                                  |
| 14 (Data 7)      | Arduino pin 2                                  |
| 15 Backlight +   | Resistor to Arduino pin 13 **                  |
| 16 Backlight GND | GND Arduino pin*                               |
+------------------+------------------------------------------------+

* Use a breadboard rail to make multiple connections to the Arduino GND pin
* For potentiometer connection, use the potentiometer's center pin and either of the other pins to make the connection from LCD pin 3 to Arduino GND
** A current limiting resistor or potentiometer (40 Ohm minimum) should be used to avoid excessive current.