SF Serial LCD 16x2 Problems

Development Boards Arduino
1

So I have 2 of my parallel LCD screens with SF Serial LCD backpacks. These screens worked perfectly before using the backpack.

Using the SparkSoftLCD library and using Arduino digital pin 2 (not standard RX/TX pins) to communicate (everything at 9600 baud). I still have the issue of writing a new sketch the screen gets garbage on it and often changes the brightness setting. This requires a 5 sec. power down.

But I did have the system displaying, refreshing etc… just as it should.

All of a sudden I have one screen that lights up and displays nothing, the other shows the top half of the “Spark Fun.com” Splash Screen but not the lower half. The “half view” screen does not go past the Splash screen no matter what.

I’ve searched and used all the different attempts at resetting the backpack:

Serial.print(0xFE, BYTE); //Command code

Serial.print(0x72, BYTE); //Reset code

Specifically this one by Talada (yes I moved the LCD RX line to Arduino Pin 1(serial TX)

//SerLCD FIX v0.1 by Talada
/*Upload with SerLCD attached. Once running, start Serial
  Monitor. Follow instructions in Serial Monitor.*/
  
void setup(){
  Serial.begin(9600);  //Begin serial communication.
}

void lcdReset(){               //New Function
  Serial.print(0xFE, BYTE);  //Command code
  Serial.print(0x72, BYTE);  //Reset code
}

void cls(){                       //New Function
  Serial.print(0xFE, BYTE);  //Command Code
  Serial.print(0x01, BYTE);  //Clear Screen Code
}

void loop(){
  Serial.print("Attach GND now");     //Note: You can attach the GND while Reset is being sent
  delay(1000);
   
     for (int repeater=0; repeater <= 15; repeater++){    //sends Reset Command 15 times
          lcdReset();
          delay(500);
         } 

  cls();
  Serial.print("LCD Reset! Remove GND");    //You have 21 seconds to remove GND before Reset is sent again.
  delay(20000);
  
}

Can anyone else provide an insight to why i have 2 $30 bricks?

2

I adjusted the contrast on the blank screen and now displays when powered off for a long time. Oncei it’s powered up it has to sit off for along time (30 mins) before it will display again.

Does anyone have any input to this problem??