Hi all, I’m attempting to build a cricket scoreboard and I have come here for some advice. I’d like to have 4 displays being controlled separately by 4 different keypads. 2 displays need to have 3x 7 segment displays. 1 display needs to have 2x 7 segment displays. And 1 display needs to have 1x seven segment display. The display I’d like to use is the 6.5” one. And the key pad I’d like to use is COM-14662.
I’m struggling to work out how I’d get all this up and running, so any suggestions on parts I’d need and how I’d go about setting it all up would be very much appreciated.
Thank you in advance
Hi Cricket.
I can’t help with the code you’d need to write, but I have some parts suggestions for you.
What I’d use for a keypad is the [Qwiic Keypad - 12 Button rather than the regular 12 button keypad. The reason for this it it takes the number of wires needed to operate the keypad down from 7 to just two. That makes construction a lot simpler.
For a controller for each scoreboard, I’d go with the [RedBoard Qwiic since it has the socket built in for the Qwiic Keypad. You just need a [Qwiic cable to connect the keypad with the RedBoard.
For seven segment displays, you mentioned the 6.5" displays we carry. You need something to drive those and I’d use our [Large Digit Drivers for that. One on the back of each display will do the trick. You can cable multiple displays together with some [4" six wire jumpers.
And to provide power to the RedBoard and seven segment displays, you need a 5 volt and 12 volt power source. Our [Power Connector Breakout Kit - 12V/5V would work nicely for that.
You’re still going to need to write the code that makes everything function, but the parts above will accomplish what you’re looking to do. :-)](SparkFun ATX Power Connector Breakout Kit - 12V/5V (4-pin) - KIT-15701 - SparkFun Electronics)](Jumper Wire - 0.1", 6-pin, 4" - PRT-10366 - SparkFun Electronics)](SparkFun Large Digit Driver - WIG-13279 - SparkFun Electronics)](Flexible Qwiic Cable - 200mm - PRT-17258 - SparkFun Electronics)](SparkFun RedBoard Qwiic - DEV-15123 - SparkFun Electronics)](SparkFun Qwiic Keypad - 12 Button - COM-15290 - SparkFun Electronics)
Thank you very much for your reply. All the information is very helpful. Would I have to write the code on a particular format or does anyone have a template I could use?
We don’t have any kind of template, but you might have a look at the example code for the Large Digit Driver and the Qwiic Keypad as a starting point.