Waveshare Troubleshooting: Common Issues and Fixes

Even reliable hardware encounters issues. This guide addresses the most common Waveshare problems and their solutions.

Table of Contents

Display Issues
HAT Detection
Driver Problems
Power Issues
SPI/I2C Issues
FAQ

Display Issues

Display is blank

Check power connections (separate power for large displays).
Verify correct dtoverlay in config.txt.
Try a different HDMI cable or port.
For SPI displays, verify SPI is enabled in raspi-config.

Display shows wrong colours

Check SPI mode and bit order in driver configuration.
Verify the correct display driver is installed (ILI9341 vs ILI9486 vs ST7789).

HAT Detection

HAT not detected on I2C

sudo i2cdetect -y 1  # Should show device address
# If empty: check wiring, enable I2C in raspi-config, reboot

HAT not detected on SPI

ls /dev/spi*  # Should show spidev0.0
# If missing: enable SPI in raspi-config, check dtoverlay

Driver Problems

Module not found: Install with pip3 install or apt install.
Permission denied: Run with sudo or add user to spi/i2c/gpio groups.
Kernel version mismatch: After kernel update, reinstall kernel-dependent drivers.

Power Issues

Undervoltage warning (lightning bolt icon): Use 5V/3A power supply. Do not power HATs from Pi USB.
Random reboots: Motor/relay current spikes causing brownouts. Use separate power supply for motors.
HAT not powering on: Check if HAT needs separate power input (motor drivers, relay boards).

SPI/I2C Communication Issues

SPI speed too high: Reduce SPI clock speed if getting garbled data.
I2C address conflict: Two devices on same address. Change address via solder jumpers on one device.
Pull-up resistors: I2C needs 4.7K pull-ups. Most HATs include them, but bare modules may not.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where to get help?

1. Waveshare wiki. 2. Waveshare forum. 3. Raspberry Pi forums. 4. GitHub issues on Waveshare repos.

How to identify my display controller?

Check silk-screen markings on the PCB, or the product page on Waveshare wiki. Common: ILI9341, ILI9486, ST7789, GC9A01, SSD1306.

Factory reset possible?

For programmable modules (RP2040, ESP32), re-flash firmware. For passive HATs, there is nothing to reset.

Warranty claims?

Contact the retailer (Zbotic.in) for warranty issues on products purchased through them.

Conclusion

Most Waveshare issues stem from power supply problems, missing interface enables, or incorrect driver selection. This guide covers 90% of common issues.

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