Help finding alternative LCD Monitor ET-C1602BV1

[UncleMurphy]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently repairing a generator (Briggs and Stratton Elite 9500) that was gifted to me that had a cracked LCD monitor. I've done heaps of back tracking to find a replacement without having to pay $400 for the manufacturer's parts prices.

The markings on the back are; ET-C1602BV1 I have tracked this down to be made by a Chinese company called Eastet.

Specs: http://www.eastet.com/index.php?c=article&id=363

Additional info: I think it is 1602 character, 5V LCD monitor.

Now a search through eBay for the above "1602 5V LCD monitor) leads to a huge array of LCDs for Arduinos but the issue in my case lies with the pin numbers on the bottom.

Most are 1 to 16 or 14 to 1, 16 and 15. What I'm after is a 14 to 1, 15 and 16 configuration that is on the bottom left of the PCB.

Would anyone here be able to lead the way with any alternatives that they may know of or even how I can adapt one of those more common eBay find LCDs for my application?

Thank you

[benj38]

The important thing to note about your LCD is not only that it is 16x2, and the pin numbering order, but the controller IC.
Your LCD uses the KS0066u, which, as far as I know is compatible with HD44780 (I am not sure if there are some edge cases where this compatibility is not 100%, but we can most probably assume that you will be fine). The HD44780 is the most common controller for the myriad of 16x2 LCD modules sold on eBay, etc. for use with an Arduino.

Thus, you are lucky that indeed these ubiquitous LCD modules use a controller compatible with yours, and all that need to be resolved is the pin ordering.

My suggestion is that you simply buy a 14-1,16,15 module, and do a little surgery on the instrument's PCB to switch the traces that go to pins 15 and 16 (simply cut the traces and solder patch wires instead). This should be much simpler and faster (and almost certainly cheaper) than trying to hunt down the more rare 14-1,15,16 modules.

[tooki]

I poked around eBay for 4 minutes and looked at maybe 6 listings before finding one that shows the required pinout: https://www.ebay.com/itm/LCD-Display-1602-2x16-Big-Characters-5V-122-44MM-Arduino-Blue-/173321938669?_ul=CH

So they’re definitely out there and not terribly hard to find. But I agree with benj38 that it’s super easy to swap if need be.

P.S. Just search for “big 1602 LCD”. They’re always 5V by default, and they’re not monitors, so those search terms would harm your search results.

[UncleMurphy]

Brilliant find gents, thanks heaps. I have ordered the one linked (blue isn't so bad).

Do you know the technical term for the header pins that need to be soldered into the new board?

Let's see if it works when it arrives!

[tooki]

Glad to help!


They're just standard 0.1" (2.54mm) pitch headers.