LCD Module 16X4 Character Display Screen Blue Support I2C

The 16x4 Character LCD Display Module is a popular and versatile alphanumeric display that provides double the text capacity of the standard 16x2 LCD. With 4 rows × 16 characters = 64 characters of display space, this LCD is ideal for projects that require more information visibility, such as menu systems, multi-line sensor readouts, status dashboards, configuration screens, and educational electronics displays.

The display features an attractive blue backlight with crisp white characters, providing excellent readability in various lighting conditions, including dim or dark environments. Each character is rendered in a 5×8 dot-matrix grid, giving clear and consistent text quality. The module supports both English and Japanese (Katakana) character sets, along with 8 user-definable custom characters that you can program for special symbols, icons, or graphics.

This LCD is built around the industry-standard HD44780 controller (or compatible), which makes it fully compatible with the popular LiquidCrystal library in Arduino, as well as similar libraries for ESP32, STM32, Raspberry Pi, PIC, and other microcontrollers. The standard 16-pin parallel interface allows direct connection in 8-bit or 4-bit mode, with the 4-bit mode being the most popular as it saves valuable GPIO pins.

For projects where GPIO pins are limited or the wiring needs to be simplified, this module supports the optional addition of an I²C backpack (PCF8574-based), which reduces the number of required connection wires from 16 down to just 4 (VCC, GND, SDA, SCL). With the I²C interface, the LCD can be controlled using the popular LiquidCrystal_I2C library, making it incredibly easy to display text with just a few lines of code.

The module operates on a standard 5V power supply and uses a 6:00 viewing angle orientation, providing optimal readability when viewed from below the display level (typical for benchtop devices). The adjustable contrast (via an external potentiometer) ensures clear visibility under various ambient lighting conditions.

Whether you're building a smart thermostat, weather station, robot control panel, retro game device, or industrial monitor, the 16x4 LCD provides the extra display real estate to show meaningful, well-formatted information.

Specifications

• Product Type: Character LCD Module
• Display Format: 16 Characters × 4 Lines (64 characters total)
• Display Color: White Characters on Blue Backlight
• Character Matrix: 5 × 8 dots per character
• Interface: Parallel (16-pin) — I²C optional (with PCF8574 backpack)
• Controller: HD44780 (or compatible)
• Font: English / Japanese (Katakana)
• Custom Characters: 8 user-definable
• Operating Voltage: 5V DC
• Backlight: LED (Blue)
• Backlight Voltage: 5V
• Viewing Direction: 6:00 o'clock
• Outline Dimensions: 87.00 (W) × 60.00 (H) × 13.50 (T) mm
• Operating Temperature: 0°C to +50°C
• Storage Temperature: -20°C to +70°C
• Compliance: RoHS Compliant

Pinout (Standard 16-pin Parallel)

• Pin 1 (VSS): Ground
• Pin 2 (VDD): +5V Power Supply
• Pin 3 (VO): Contrast Adjustment (via potentiometer)
• Pin 4 (RS): Register Select
• Pin 5 (RW): Read/Write
• Pin 6 (E): Enable
• Pins 7–14 (D0–D7): Data Lines
• Pin 15 (LED+): Backlight Anode (+5V)
• Pin 16 (LED-): Backlight Cathode (GND)

With Optional I²C Backpack:

• VCC: +5V Power Supply
• GND: Ground
• SDA: I²C Data Line
• SCL: I²C Clock Line

Applications

• Sensor Data Displays — temperature, humidity, pressure, voltage, current
• Menu-Driven User Interfaces — multi-level menus and navigation
• Smart Home Control Panels — multi-line status and command displays
• Weather Stations — showing time, temperature, humidity, and forecasts
• Robot Control Panels — sensor readouts and operational status
• Industrial Automation — process monitoring and control panels
• DIY Calculators — multi-line input/output displays
• Educational & STEM Projects — teaching display interfacing
• 3D Printer Displays — print status, temperature, and progress
• GPS & Navigation Devices — displaying coordinates and routes
• Retro Gaming Devices — text-based games and adventures
• Server Status Monitors — displaying network and CPU stats
• Aquarium & Greenhouse Controllers — multi-parameter monitoring
• Energy Meters — voltage, current, power, and energy display
• Time & Date Display Devices — multi-line clocks and calendars
• Audio Equipment — volume, source, and EQ settings display
• Test Equipment — DIY meters, oscilloscopes, and analyzers
• IoT Devices — local display for WiFi-connected products
• Replacement Display — for damaged 16×4 LCDs in existing equipment
• Status Dashboards — multi-parameter system overviews