The Display-O-Tron Breakout pairs a high-contrast 16 × 3 character LCD with an RGB backlight on a compact breakout board. It runs from either 3.3 V or 5 V and supports SPI, 4-bit, and 8-bit interfaces via the ST7036 controller — making it compatible with Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and most other microcontrollers.

The RGB backlight is driven by onboard FETs, so you only need to supply logic-level signals to the R, G, and B pins (PWM supported) for full colour mixing.

Key Features

• 16 × 3 Character LCD – High-contrast display with ST7036 controller
• RGB Backlight – FET-driven, controllable via PWM for any colour
• Dual Voltage – Operates from 3.3 V or 5 V supply
• Multiple Interfaces – SPI, 4-bit, and 8-bit addressing (HD44780-compatible)
• M2.5 Mounting Holes – Easy to secure in enclosures and projects

Ideal For

• Raspberry Pi status displays and dashboards
• Arduino projects needing a compact character LCD
• IoT devices with visual feedback

Resources

• Datasheet (PDF) – Includes sample wiring diagrams for all modes of operation
• Python ST7036 Driver – Pimoroni library for Raspberry Pi
• DogLcd Arduino Library – Arduino-compatible driver