RGB LCD Shield Kit (714) pin assignment

[wishbne]

The directions for using the RGB LCD Shield 714 while detached say:
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Detached Usage
If you want to have the shield disconnected from the Arduino (say to panel mount it) or if you want to use it with a different type of processor board, its very easy!

Just power the 5V pin with 5V, common ground to GND and then connect the SCL labeled pin (top left) to I2C clock and SDA to I2C data. Those are the only four wires you need to control the entire shield
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I am using a Rev 3 Arduino and I can tell which pins to use for data, reset and 5V. But I cannot tell which pin, hole at this point, to use for the ground. Is it the one right next to the 5V?

Thanks

[adafruit_support_bill]

There are two pins marked GND next to the 5v pin. You can use either one.

[wishbne]

I was aware of which pin to use on the Arduino. The labels make that kind of obvious. The question is which hole on the boards. Since the shield lines up directly atop the Arduino, I assume that the ground on the shield is one of the two pins next to the hole above the 5V. Can I use either pin on the shield or do I need to use a specific one? Unfortunately, nothing on the shield is labelled.

Sorry I wasn't clearer with the original inquiry.

Thanks.

[adafruit_support_bill]

Looking at the back of the board, the GND pin closest to the VIN pin is connected to the ground plane.

[cyborg5]

Forgive my ignorance since this is my very first Arduino project. I want to use this LCD shield detached. The instructions say I only need for wires and I've had no problem figuring out how to hook up 5 volts and ground. But they also say "connect the SCL labeled pin (top left) to I2C clock and SDA to I2C data". I cannot figure out where any of these particular pins are either on the shield or on my Arduino device. Nothing on either of the circuit boards has those labels on it so your making some sort of assumptions that this poor newbie can't figure out
Could someone give more specific instructions on what connects to where when using this shield detached? Perhaps even upload a photo or take a stock photo of one of these circuit boards and just drawings of arrows that explain where all of these pins are?
Sorry to be such a dunce.

[cyborg5]

One more ignorant question… When you say that the shield can be used completely detached with just these four wires, does that also mean that the five pushbuttons are available or just the text display?

[adafruit_support_bill]

SCL is analog pin 5
SDA is analog pin 4
That gives you access to both the display and the buttons

[stoney0rose]

im having trouble locating which pins to connect the SCL and SDA to from the arduino to the LCD Shield kit, ive assembled perfectly, using a 16x2 blue white LCD with back-light
ive installed the RGB LCD shield library, and am running arduino 1.0 and when i place the shield on the arduino uno, and i upload the code i get..
Binary sketch size: 7294 bytes (of a 32256 byte maximum)
avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: resp=0x30
in the error box with nothing on the LCD

i believe i have everything connected correctly?

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[adafruit_support_bill]

im having trouble locating which pins to connect the SCL and SDA to from the arduino to the LCD Shield kit

Since you are using it plugged into the Arduino, all the connections are made for you.

i get..
Binary sketch size: 7294 bytes (of a 32256 byte maximum)
avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: resp=0x30
in the error box with nothing on the LCD

That indicates a communication problem between your computer and your Arduino.

Remove the shield (just to make sure it is not causing any problems)
Open "Tools->Board" and make sure you have the correct board type selected.
Open "Tools->Serial Port" and make sure you have the correct serial port selected.

Then try the upload again

[stoney0rose]

thanx, i changed to com 3 and it uploaded correctly, placed the LCD shield on the uno and it boots up but the text on the lcd is all jumbled text and characters. also the back-light flickers, and the text sometimes fades in and out of contrast

[stoney0rose]

after about 5 min of running the code, the back-light just turned off.
awhile back i programmed an atmega 328, but after doing so i changed the Tools>Board back to arduino uno and i still have the Tools>Programmer>Arduino as ISP, but im not uploading using programmer so i don't think that would interfere.

[adafruit_support_bill]

Post photos showing the soldering on the back of the board too. It may be the lighting, but some of the solder joints look borderline 'frosty'. The solder should be smooth and shiny. A frosted appearance can indicate a 'cold' joint which could give you intermittent conductivity.

[stoney0rose]

i used flux aswell, a bit excessive, then tried cleaning the leftover flux with a tissue and that just made it look worse, if it is the joints and i refix um would you suggested a heating gun to get rid of the excess flux?

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[cyborg5]

I notice that there are two unused pins. That means you're using the monochrome LCD rather than the RGB version. The sample code assumes that you're using RGB and it changes colors every time you push a button. Change all the code to use the white color option in all locations rather than the other colors. That way you're sure that the backlight is always on. I don't know if that was your problem but it was a problem I had using the same set up.

[adafruit_support_bill]

A few frosty looking joints on the back too. Re-touch any suspicious looking ones with a clean, hot iron until they are smooth and shiny.
The flux won't hurt anything. But if you want to clean it, get some 90% or better isopropyl alcohol (lesser concentrations will just leave you with a sticky mess).

Also, as cyborg5 says, that is a monochrome lcd. What happened to the one from the kit?