Arduino 16*2 LCD displaying random characters instead of expected text - arduino

Question

I'm trying to display some data to my 16*2 LCD module but there are some random characters being shown. I have some simple code that I used to test my LCD display and it works perfectly. Code:
#include<LiquidCrystal.h>
// initializing pins - RS, E, rest of data pins
LiquidCrystal lcd(1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7);
void setup() {
lcd.begin(16, 2);
}
void loop() {
lcd.print("Testing"); // thats the top row string
delay(1800);
lcd.setCursor(2, 1); // move to the 2nd row, 1st col
lcd.print("Display this!");
delay(1800);
lcd.clear();
lcd.setCursor(7, 1);
delay(400);
lcd.blink();
lcd.setCursor(6, 1);
delay(400);
lcd.setCursor(5, 1);
delay(400);
lcd.setCursor(4, 1);
delay(400);
lcd.setCursor(3, 1);
delay(400);
lcd.setCursor(2, 1);
delay(400);
lcd.setCursor(1, 1);
delay(400);
lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
lcd.noBlink();
lcd.print("Silly Isn't It?");
lcd.cursor();
delay(1800);
lcd.noCursor();
lcd.clear();
}
However, I have more things on the breadboard now - the LCD, micro SD reader, potentiometer and an LM35 temperature sensor
and this my code:
#include<LiquidCrystal.h>
#include <SD.h>
#include <SPI.h>
////////// LCD
//initializing pins - RS, E, rest of data pins
LiquidCrystal lcd(1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7);
const int CS_PIN = 10;
const int POW_PIN = 8;
int refreshRate = 2000; // for reading vals
////////// LEDs
int ledPinR = 11;
int ledPinG = 12;
int ledPinY = 13;
////////// LM35
float temp;
int tempPin = A0;
void setup() {
////////// LED
pinMode(ledPinR, OUTPUT);
pinMode(ledPinG, OUTPUT);
pinMode(ledPinY, OUTPUT);
////////// LCD
lcd.begin(16, 2);
lcd.print("please wait..."); //thats the top row string
delay(2000);
lcd.clear();
lcd.blink();
////////// SD
Serial.begin(9600);
Serial.println("\nNow Initializing SD card...");
pinMode(CS_PIN, OUTPUT);
pinMode(POW_PIN, OUTPUT);
digitalWrite(POW_PIN, HIGH);
if(!SD.begin(CS_PIN)){
Serial.println("\nSomething went wrong. Probably card failure, card format, or something else.");
return;
}
Serial.println("\nCard ready!");
File commandFile = SD.open("tempLevels.txt");
if(commandFile){
Serial.println("\nNow Reading Command File...");
while(commandFile.available())
{
refreshRate = commandFile.parseInt();
}
Serial.print("\nTapiwa, the refresh rate is: ");
Serial.print(refreshRate);
Serial.print(" ms");
commandFile.close();
}
else{
Serial.println("Oops! Failing to read command file!");
return;
}
}
void loop() {
////////// LM35
temp = analogRead(tempPin);
float mV = (temp / 1024.0) * 5000;
float tempVal = mV / 10;
Serial.println("\nTemperature is: ");
Serial.println(tempVal);
File dataFile = SD.open("log.csv", FILE_WRITE); // dont know about that .csv format
if(dataFile)
{
dataFile.print("\nTemperature is: ");
dataFile.print(tempVal);
dataFile.println("Deg");
dataFile.close();
Serial.println("\nSaved in DataFile >> Temperature is: ");
Serial.print(tempVal);
}
else
{
Serial.println("DataFile error! Reading not saved");
Serial.println("Could not open log file! Not on SD card!");
}
lcd.print("Temp: ");
lcd.setCursor(2, 1); // 2nd row, 1st col
lcd.print(tempVal);
delay(2000);
lcd.clear();
delay(refreshRate);
}
I'm getting the results in the serial monitor but the LCD displays random characters which resemble encrypted text. Where did I go wrong?
I've looked at at multiple posts on this site and other sites but they are not that useful:
This one made sense but not useful in my case.
This one too!.
And this one

Answer 1

If you take a look at the documentation of Serial, it says:
All Arduino boards have at least one serial port (also known as a UART or USART): Serial. It communicates on digital pins 0 (RX) and 1 (TX) as well as with the computer via USB. Thus, if you use these functions, you cannot also use pins 0 and 1 for digital input or output.
Thus, you should rearrange your scheme so that the LCD doesn't use pin 1.