Basic Graphics Test Wiring

Wiring up the display in SPI mode is pretty easy as there are not that many pins! We'll be using hardware SPI, but you can also use software SPI (any pins) later. Start by connecting the power pins

  • 3-5V Vin connects to the microcontroller 5V pin
  • GND connects to Arduino ground
  • SCK connects to SPI clock. On Arduino Uno/Duemilanove/328-based, thats Digital 13. On Mega, its Digital 52 and on other chips its ICSP-3 (See SPI Connections for more details)
  • MISO is not connected
  • MOSI connects to SPI MOSI. On Arduino Uno/Duemilanove/328-based, thats Digital 11. On Mega, its Digital 51 and on other chips its ICSP-4 (See SPI Connections for more details)
  • CS connects to our SPI Chip Select pin. We'll be using Digital 10 but you can later change this to any pin
  • RST connects to our Display Reset pin. We'll be using Digital 9 but you can later change this pin too.
  • D/C connects to our SPI data/command select pin. We'll be using Digital 8 but you can later change this pin too.

For the level shifter, we use the CD74HC4050 which has a typical propagation delay of ~10ns

Install Arduino Libraries

We have example code ready to go for use with these TFTs. It's written for Arduino, which should be portable to any microcontroller by adapting the C++ source.

Five libraries need to be installed using the Arduino Library Manager…this is the preferred and modern way. From the Arduino “Sketch” menu, select “Include Library” then “Manage Libraries…”

Type “gfx” in the search field to quickly find the first library — Adafruit_GFX:

Repeat the search and install steps, looking for the Adafruit BusIOAdafruit Zero DMA, Adafruit ST7735 and ST7789, Adafruit SPIFlash, and SdFat - Adafruit Fork libraries.

After restarting the Arduino software, you should see a new example folder called Adafruit_ST7735, and inside, an example called graphicstest.

Since this example is written for several displays, there are two changes we need to make in order to use it with the 2.0" display.

First, in the graphicstest source code, look for the lines as follows:

    // For 1.44" and 1.8" TFT with ST7735 (including HalloWing) use:
    Adafruit_ST7735 tft = Adafruit_ST7735(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_RST);

    // For 1.3", 1.54", and 2.0" TFT with ST7789:
    //Adafruit_ST7789 tft = Adafruit_ST7789(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_RST);

comment out the first line, and uncomment the second, so it looks like:

    // For 1.44" and 1.8" TFT with ST7735 (including HalloWing) use:
    //Adafruit_ST7735 tft = Adafruit_ST7735(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_RST);

    // For 1.3", 1.54", and 2.0" TFT with ST7789:
    Adafruit_ST7789 tft = Adafruit_ST7789(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_RST);

Second, we need to set the correct initializations sequence. In the graphicstest source code, look for the lines as follows:

  // Use this initializer if using a 1.8" TFT screen:
  tft.initR(INITR_BLACKTAB);      // Init ST7735S chip, black tab

  // OR use this initializer (uncomment) if using a 1.44" TFT:
  //tft.initR(INITR_144GREENTAB); // Init ST7735R chip, green tab

  // OR use this initializer (uncomment) if using a 0.96" 180x60 TFT:
  //tft.initR(INITR_MINI160x80);  // Init ST7735S mini display

  // OR use this initializer (uncomment) if using a 1.3" or 1.54" 240x240 TFT:
  //tft.init(240, 240);           // Init ST7789 240x240

  // OR use this initializer (uncomment) if using a 2.0" 320x240 TFT:
  //tft.init(240, 320);           // Init ST7789 320x240

comment out the first line, and uncomment the fifth, so it looks like:

// Use this initializer if using a 1.8" TFT screen:
  //tft.initR(INITR_BLACKTAB);      // Init ST7735S chip, black tab

  // OR use this initializer (uncomment) if using a 1.44" TFT:
  //tft.initR(INITR_144GREENTAB); // Init ST7735R chip, green tab

  // OR use this initializer (uncomment) if using a 0.96" 180x60 TFT:
  //tft.initR(INITR_MINI160x80);  // Init ST7735S mini display

  // OR use this initializer (uncomment) if using a 1.3" or 1.54" 240x240 TFT:
  //tft.init(240, 240);           // Init ST7789 240x240

  // OR use this initializer (uncomment) if using a 2.0" 320x240 TFT:
  tft.init(240, 320);           // Init ST7789 320x240

Now upload the sketch to your Arduino. You may need to press the Reset button to reset the Arduino and TFT. You should see a collection of graphical tests draw out on the TFT.

Changing Pins

Now that you have it working, there's a few things you can do to change around the pins.

If you're using Hardware SPI, the CLOCK and MOSI pins are 'fixed' and can't be changed. But you can change to software SPI, which is a bit slower, and that lets you pick any pins you like. Find these lines:

// OPTION 1 (recommended) is to use the HARDWARE SPI pins, which are unique
// to each board and not reassignable. For Arduino Uno: MOSI = pin 11 and
// SCLK = pin 13. This is the fastest mode of operation and is required if
// using the breakout board's microSD card.

#if defined(ADAFRUIT_PYBADGE_M4_EXPRESS) || defined(ADAFRUIT_PYGAMER_M4_EXPRESS)
    // For PyBadge and PyGamer
    Adafruit_ST7735 tft = Adafruit_ST7735(&SPI1, TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_RST);
#else
    // For 1.44" and 1.8" TFT with ST7735 (including HalloWing) use:
    //Adafruit_ST7735 tft = Adafruit_ST7735(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_RST);

    // For 1.3", 1.54", and 2.0" TFT with ST7789:
    Adafruit_ST7789 tft = Adafruit_ST7789(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_RST);
#endif

// OPTION 2 lets you interface the display using ANY TWO or THREE PINS,
// tradeoff being that performance is not as fast as hardware SPI above.
#define TFT_MOSI 11  // Data out
#define TFT_SCLK 13  // Clock out

// For ST7735-based displays, we will use this call
//Adafruit_ST7735 tft = Adafruit_ST7735(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_MOSI, TFT_SCLK, TFT_RST);

// OR for the ST7789-based displays, we will use this call
//Adafruit_ST7789 tft = Adafruit_ST7789(TFT_CS, TFT_DC, TFT_MOSI, TFT_SCLK, TFT_RST);

Comment out option 1, and uncomment option 2 for the ST7789. Then you can change the TFT_ pins to whatever pins you'd like!

The 2.0" IPS TFT display has an auto-reset circuit on it so you probably don't need to use the RST pin. You can change

#define TFT_RST    9

to

#define TFT_RST   -1

so that pin isn't used either. Or connect it up for manual TFT resetting!

This guide was first published on Aug 11, 2019. It was last updated on Mar 26, 2024.

This page (Arduino Wiring & Test) was last updated on Mar 08, 2024.

Text editor powered by tinymce.