Adafruit
RGB backlight positive LCD 16x2 + extras [black on RGB]
A 16 × 2 character LCD with a full RGB backlight, displaying black text on a customisable colour background. Set the backlight to any colour — red, green, bl...
A 16 × 2 character LCD with a full RGB backlight, displaying black text on a customisable colour background. Set the backlight to any colour — red, green, blue, purple, teal, white, or anything in between — by controlling three independent LED channels. With excellent daylight readability and vibrant colours, this display is a versatile upgrade over standard single-colour LCDs.
The LCD is pin-compatible with standard 16 × 2 HD44780 displays. Pins 1–16 follow the standard pinout (only the red LED is used in legacy setups), while pins 17 and 18 control the green and blue backlight LEDs. On-board resistors allow direct 5 V drive at approximately 20 mA per LED. A single LED backlight illuminates the entire display.
Key Features
- Full RGB Backlight – Independent red, green, and blue LED control for any background colour
- Black on RGB Text – High-contrast black characters on a coloured background
- HD44780 Compatible – Standard 16 × 2 pinout with two extra pins for green and blue LEDs
- 5 V Logic – On-board resistors for direct drive at ~20 mA per LED
- Excellent Daylight Readability – Clear, legible text in bright conditions
Specifications
- Display – 16 × 2 character LCD
- Text Colour – Black
- Backlight – RGB (pins 16, 17, 18)
- Logic Voltage – 5 V
- Backlight Current – ~20 mA per LED channel
- Interface – Parallel (HD44780-compatible)
Package Contents
- 1× RGB Backlight Positive LCD (16 × 2, black on RGB)
- 1× 10 kΩ Contrast Potentiometer
- 1× Header Pin Strip
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- LCD
- LCD stands for liquid crystal display, a screen technology that uses a backlight and liquid crystals to show images or text. It matters because LCD modules usually need a display driver and enough controller pins or a bus interface to send image data.
- LED
- A light-emitting diode is a small electronic component that lights up when current flows through it in the correct direction. In this kit, LEDs create the flashing effect, so polarity and correct soldering matter for the project to work.
- potentiometer
- A variable resistor usually turned with a knob or shaft to create an adjustable electrical signal. It is often used for inputs such as volume, brightness or position, so it helps beginners learn how a microcontroller reads changing values.
- RGB
- Short for red, green and blue, usually referring to an LED that can mix those three colours. It matters because controlling an RGB LED teaches how separate outputs combine to create different colours.
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Related Tutorials
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