hoosier45678

I have a 2x20 (4-bit) Seiko hd44780 lcd which I am planning to mount in the car as soon as I got the contrast straightened out.


WHen I have the contrast pin wired to gnd, the screen shows nothing. When it's wired to +5 it's readable but very dark.


Now that I have the pot wired in, it still works if I have it turned up to 5V, but if turn it down to a comfortable viewing contrast (3.8V) the screen soon starts showing a storm of gibberish. In some cases, it returns briefly to showing proper output and in other cases the screen goes blank.


I've tried wiring the pot in both 'directions':
(1,2,3)=(+5,Cntr,gnd) & (1,2,3)=(gnd,cntr,+5)
... but it shows the same behavior either way


What's going on?


The pot: (It's the 63X-103)
http://www.nteinc.com/pot_web/63x.html

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