# Blue Character OLED 16x2

**Type:** Product page · **SKU:** ADA823 · **Brand:** [Adafruit](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/adafruit-australia)
**Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/blue-character-oled-16x2.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/blue-character-oled-16x2.html.md))

## Retired product

This product is retired and no longer available for purchase. Search the catalogue for an alternative.

## Description

When you need low power, ultra-high contrast and any-angle readability, you can't beat these great looking character OLEDs. They are pin/shape compatible with 'standard' HD44780 LCDs. The code is slightly different (they're more timing sensitive) so [Adafruit have Adafruit's own Arduino library that plays better with the OLEDs than the standard LiquidCrystal library](https://github.com/ladyada/Adafruit_CharacterOLED). Best of all, no backlight or contrast control is required, so they're even simpler to get running.
 
 **This OLED is not compatible with any of our LCD shields or backpacks!**

- 16 characters wide, 2 rows
- Bright blue OLED text on black background
- Connection port is 0.1" pitch, single row for easy breadboarding and wiring
- Pins are documented on the back of the LCD to assist in wiring it up
- No backlight! Each pixel is an individual LED
- Can be fully controlled with only 7 digital lines! (Any analog/digital pins can be used)
- Built in default character set supports English/Japanese text. Can also be set to use Western European and Russian, see the WS0010 datasheet for the full character sets
- Up to 8 extra characters can be created for custom glyphs or 'foreign' language support
- Comes with a strip of header
- Works with 3V or 5V power & logic
 
As an added bonus, the controller allows you to use it as a 100x16 graphic display as well - check the WS0010 datasheet for details. Adafruit don't have a tutorial for this mode.
 
 By default, the module is set up to be 4 or 8-bit HD44780 compatible. If you're handy with a soldering iron, you can apparently place it in 'SPI' mode, by changing some of the jumpers on the back of the PCB. Adafruit don't have a tutorial for using this mode, check the datasheets for details.
 
 For basic wiring information, check out Adafruit's detailed step-by-step Arduino+LCD tutorial however, [you'll need to use Adafruit's character OLED library and wire up the RW pin instead of grounding it](https://github.com/ladyada/Adafruit_CharacterOLED)

## Technical Details

For more information, check out Adafruit's detailed step-by-step Arduino+LCD tutorial

Adafruit have [a datasheet that has dimensions and pin-locations](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/datasheets/WEH1602.pdf) and then a [WS0010 datasheet with the detailed commands for control](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/datasheets/WS0010.pdf)
 
 [This NHD display datasheet](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/datasheets/NHD-0216KZW-AB5.pdf) seems to be identical and has some information on how to set the display into SPI mode by adjusting the L\_CS\_H and L\_PS\_H resistor jumpers on the back of the PCB

 ![](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/wysiwyg/resources/rohs_icon.jpg)

## Guides for this product

- [Character Displays with Particle](https://core-electronics.com.au/guides/particle/character-displays-with-particle/)

## Videos for this product

- [Character Displays with Particle Photon and Electron](https://core-electronics.com.au/videos/character-displays-with-particle-photon-and-electron)

## Images

- [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/8/2/823-05.jpg)