Built-in project · Arduino Uno R3

RFID reader with an I2C LCD on an Arduino Uno

An RC522 reader on the SPI pins with SS on 10 and RST on 9 reads a card’s UID and shows it on an I2C LCD on A4 and A5, as well as in the serial monitor. The whole build, an Arduino Uno and 2 more parts, runs here in your browser on the firmware below; open it in the editor to change the wiring or the code and run it again.

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The parts retail for about $37. On Mokxi they're free.

RFID reader with an I2C LCD · Arduino Uno R3live0.000 s 0.00x
Click to open it in the editor
The circuit itself, running here on the simulator. Press what can be pressed; click anything else to open it in the editor.

The code

The firmware exactly as the editor opens it. Change a line there and press Run: it compiles in the browser.

sketch.ino · Arduino Uno R3
// An RFID reader that shows each card's ID on an LCD.
//
//   RC522 SDA (SS) -> pin 10   SCK -> pin 13   MOSI -> pin 11   MISO -> pin 12
//   RC522 RST -> pin 9   3.3V -> 3.3V   GND -> GND
//   I2C LCD GND -> GND   VCC -> 5V   SDA -> A4   SCL -> A5
//
// Every card carries a serial number, its UID. The reader talks SPI on pins
// 11, 12 and 13 and the display I2C on A4 and A5, so the two never share a
// wire. The RC522 runs on 3.3 V: never wire it to 5 V.
//
// Click the reader and pick a card to hold to it.

#include <SPI.h>
#include <MFRC522.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>

const int SS_PIN = 10;
const int RST_PIN = 9;

MFRC522 reader(SS_PIN, RST_PIN);
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2);

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  SPI.begin();
  reader.PCD_Init();
  lcd.init();
  lcd.backlight();
  lcd.print("Hold a card");
  Serial.println("Mokxi Uno: RC522 on SS 10 and RST 9, LCD on A4 and A5");
}

void loop() {
  if (!reader.PICC_IsNewCardPresent() || !reader.PICC_ReadCardSerial()) return;
  lcd.clear();
  lcd.print("UID:");
  lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
  Serial.print("Card UID:");
  for (byte i = 0; i < reader.uid.size && i < 5; i++) {
    if (reader.uid.uidByte[i] < 0x10) lcd.print("0");
    lcd.print(reader.uid.uidByte[i], HEX);
    lcd.print(" ");
    Serial.print(reader.uid.uidByte[i] < 0x10 ? " 0" : " ");
    Serial.print(reader.uid.uidByte[i], HEX);
  }
  Serial.println();
  reader.PICC_HaltA();
  reader.PCD_StopCrypto1();
  delay(1000);
}

Parts list

4 parts, plus the jumper wires. They retail for about $37; on Mokxi they're free.

How it is wired

11 connections, pin by pin, read from the circuit itself. Each line is one set of pins joined together, by a jumper wire or a breadboard strip.

  • Ground: Arduino Uno R3 pin GND; RFID reader, MFRC522 pin GND
  • Arduino Uno R3 pin 13; RFID reader, MFRC522 pin SCK
  • Arduino Uno R3 pin 12; RFID reader, MFRC522 pin MISO
  • Arduino Uno R3 pin 11; RFID reader, MFRC522 pin MOSI
  • Arduino Uno R3 pin 10; RFID reader, MFRC522 pin SDA
  • Arduino Uno R3 pin 9; RFID reader, MFRC522 pin RST
  • Arduino Uno R3 pin 3V3; RFID reader, MFRC522 pin 3.3V
  • Arduino Uno R3 pin 5V; Character LCD with I2C backpack pin VCC
  • Ground: Arduino Uno R3 pin GND; Character LCD with I2C backpack pin GND
  • Arduino Uno R3 pin A4; Character LCD with I2C backpack pin SDA
  • Arduino Uno R3 pin A5; Character LCD with I2C backpack pin SCL

Change it and keep it

Open it in the editor, change the circuit or the code, and keep your version in a free account.