How to Use OLED 1.5": Examples, Pinouts, and Specs

The Waveshare 128×128 1.5inch OLED is a compact, high-quality Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display designed for small electronic devices. With its 128×128 resolution, this display delivers sharp, vibrant colors and wide viewing angles, making it ideal for applications requiring clear visual output in a small form factor. Its low power consumption and self-emissive technology make it a popular choice for portable devices, wearables, and DIY electronics projects.

• Wearable devices (e.g., smartwatches)
• Portable measurement tools
• IoT devices with visual feedback
• DIY electronics and prototyping
• Small-scale gaming consoles or displays

Below are the key technical details of the Waveshare 128×128 1.5inch OLED:

The OLED display uses an SPI interface for communication. Below is the pinout description:

To use the Waveshare 128×128 1.5inch OLED with an Arduino UNO, follow these steps:

1. Wiring: Connect the OLED pins to the Arduino as shown below:

   • GND → GND
   • VCC → 5V
   • SCL → Pin 13 (SPI Clock)
   • SDA → Pin 11 (SPI MOSI)
   • RES → Pin 8
   • DC → Pin 9
   • CS → Pin 10

2. Install Required Libraries:

   • Install the Adafruit_GFX and Adafruit_SSD1351 libraries from the Arduino Library Manager.

3. Upload Example Code: Use the following example code to display text and graphics on the OLED:

   #include <Adafruit_GFX.h>       // Graphics library for OLED
   #include <Adafruit_SSD1351.h>  // Driver for SSD1351 OLED
   
   // Define OLED display dimensions
   #define SCREEN_WIDTH 128
   #define SCREEN_HEIGHT 128
   
   // Define SPI pins for the OLED
   #define OLED_CS   10  // Chip Select
   #define OLED_DC    9  // Data/Command
   #define OLED_RST   8  // Reset
   
   // Create an instance of the display
   Adafruit_SSD1351 display = Adafruit_SSD1351(SCREEN_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT, 
                                               OLED_CS, OLED_DC, OLED_RST);
   
   void setup() {
     // Initialize the display
     display.begin();
     display.fillScreen(SSD1351_BLACK);  // Clear the screen
     display.setTextColor(SSD1351_WHITE);  // Set text color to white
     display.setTextSize(1);  // Set text size to 1 (smallest)
     display.setCursor(0, 0);  // Set cursor to top-left corner
     display.println("Hello, OLED!");  // Print text
     display.display();  // Update the display
   }
   
   void loop() {
     // Add any additional functionality here
   }
   

• Voltage Compatibility: Ensure the OLED is powered with the correct voltage (3.3V or 5V). Incorrect voltage may damage the display.
• SPI Communication: Use the correct SPI pins on your microcontroller. For Arduino UNO, these are pins 11 (MOSI) and 13 (SCK).
• Reset Pin: The RES pin must be properly connected to ensure the display initializes correctly.
• Library Compatibility: Use the Adafruit_SSD1351 library, as it is specifically designed for this type of OLED.

1. The display does not turn on:

   • Verify the power connections (VCC and GND).
   • Ensure the correct voltage (3.3V or 5V) is supplied.
   • Check the SPI connections and ensure they match the pinout.

2. The display shows random or distorted output:

   • Ensure the SPI clock and data lines (SCL and SDA) are properly connected.
   • Verify that the Adafruit_SSD1351 library is installed and used correctly.
   • Check the initialization code for errors.

3. The display remains blank after uploading code:

   • Confirm that the RES pin is connected and functioning.
   • Ensure the display.begin() function is called in the setup.

• Use a multimeter to check for continuity in the wiring.
• Test the OLED with example sketches from the Adafruit_SSD1351 library to rule out software issues.
• Double-check the pin configuration and ensure no pins are left floating.

By following this documentation, you should be able to successfully integrate and use the Waveshare 128×128 1.5inch OLED in your projects.