Theoretically you can use them without a driver, but you will need to tie up 8 output pins on the arduino for each of the segments. The drivers allows you to cut down that number to 3(?). To use multiple displays research "multiplexing"
Unfortunately I do not have it anymore. But it involved turning on and off the outputs as needed by the drivers, then pausing, then changing the outputs again.
Correct, digital pins differ from analog pins in this way.
Low is NOT no current, just very minimal.
KE5AUX 2 years ago
so HIGH or LOW on each of the 4 inputs? 1001 would be HIGH LOW LOW HIGH? i haven't been able to find anything that clarifies this
Huggy13ear 2 years ago
i bought 4 of the 7-seg LEDs but do you need the driver to use them with arduino?
buggyiscool 2 years ago
Theoretically you can use them without a driver, but you will need to tie up 8 output pins on the arduino for each of the segments. The drivers allows you to cut down that number to 3(?). To use multiple displays research "multiplexing"
KE5AUX 2 years ago
i think ill suffer with 8 outputs but thanks for the explanation/help! 5/5 for that
buggyiscool 2 years ago
would you mind sharing the code?
Huggy13ear 2 years ago
Unfortunately I do not have it anymore. But it involved turning on and off the outputs as needed by the drivers, then pausing, then changing the outputs again.
KE5AUX 2 years ago