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

• Character LCD Tutorial (Arduino & CircuitPython)