Hi,

I am completely new to LCD programming, and I am looking for someone who can really help me out with designing a program to control a dehydrator that I am trying to build.

Originally I was planning to use an expensive thermostat which controls switching the heating element on and off.. However, after doing some reading, I discovered that people can take semi-accurate temperature readings just from the 8501.. So this leads me to believe that with the appropriate programming, I can use this chip as the main controller to also shut off the heating element, and no longer need the costly thermal switch. If anyone is knowledgable about this, and how I can go about using this chip to 1) turn power on/off, 2) allow text messages to scroll horizontally and vertically, 3) display the temperature inside the unit, 4) shut on and off a heating element depending on the temperature differential set within the program, 5) run the dehydrating cycle for a specified amount of time (1 to 99 hours), and 6) beep when the unit is through with a heating cycle.

If anyone can get me started in the right direction, I would be so grateful.

Sincerely,

Patrick Collins
PATRICKCO@AOL.COM