2.9 inch e-paper display (296x128): specs and pinout
A 2.9 inch black and white e-ink display module with 296 x 128 pixels, an on-board controller and an 8-pin SPI connector, supporting partial refresh. Facts below come from the Waveshare 2.9 inch e-Paper Module manual; the stocked module's own maker is not confirmed.
Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 296 x 128 | source Overview / Specification (p.7) |
| Display colours | Black, White | source Specification (p.7) |
| Operating voltage | 3.3 V or 5 V (all pins at the same level); the raw panel is 3.3 V and the module accepts 5 V only if it has the built-in level converter | source Specification footnote 3 (p.7); Notes item 9 (p.6) |
| Interface | 3-wire SPI / 4-wire SPI | source Specification (p.7) |
| Refresh time (experimental) | Partial 0.3 s; full 2 s | source Specification (p.7-8) |
| Refresh power (experimental) | 26.4 mW typ; standby below 0.017 mW | source Specification (p.8) |
| Working temperature | 0 to 50 C | source Specification (p.7) |
| Display area | 66.89 mm x 29.05 mm; dot pitch 0.138 x 0.138 mm | source Specification (p.7) |
| Viewing angle | above 170 degrees | source Specification (p.8) |
Power
| Value | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Supply | 3.3 V or 5 V, same level on every pin | source Specification (p.7-8) |
| Current | Refresh 26.4 mW typ, standby below 0.017 mW (power figures, not current) | source Specification (p.7-8) |
Pinout
The 8-pin list is from the Waveshare 2.9inch e-Paper Module manual V2.0. The stocked module may be a clone of that layout; header order and panel revision (the manual does not name the controller) are not confirmed.
| Pin | Function | Voltage | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VCC | Power | 3.3 V / 5 V | source Interfaces (p.8) | |
| GND | Ground | 0 V | source Interfaces (p.8) | |
| DIN | SPI MOSI pin | same as VCC | source Interfaces (p.8) | |
| CLK | SPI SCK pin | same as VCC | source Interfaces (p.8) | |
| CS | SPI chip select, low active | same as VCC | source Interfaces (p.8) | |
| DC | Data/Command select (High: data; Low: command) | same as VCC | source Interfaces (p.8) | |
| RST | Reset, low active | same as VCC | source Interfaces (p.8) | |
| BUSY | Busy, high active | same as VCC | Polarity as printed in this manual version | source Interfaces (p.8) |
Build with it
Project ideas for the 2.9 inch e-paper display (296x128). Each link opens Soldr with the prompt filled in; Soldr assigns the pins, checks power and shows how to wire every part.
- E-paper weather card: Run the ESP32 3.3 V SPI signals and 3.3 V supply, which is inside the manual's 3.3 V range for every module version. Put the panel to sleep after each refresh.
- Room temperature card: A few-minute refresh and a sleep call afterwards match the manual's care notes. The DS18B20 data line needs a 4.7 k pull-up to its supply; the resistor pack's values are not listed, so pick the 4.7 k part (yellow, violet, red bands) and confirm it with a multimeter.
- Clock face: Use partial refresh for the minute and an occasional full refresh, as the manual advises.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the panel powered after a refresh: the manual says to set it to sleep mode or power it off when it does not need to refresh, because keeping the high voltage on can permanently damage it (source: link, Notes item 3, p.5)
- Using partial refresh all the time: do a full refresh after several partial refreshes or the panel can be permanently damaged (source: link, Notes item 1 p.5)
- Mixing logic levels: the manual says every pin must be at the same 3.3 V or 5 V, and 5 V works only on the newer module that has the converter fitted (source: link, Specification footnote 3 p.7, Notes item 9 p.6)
Not covered by the official source
- The stocked module's maker is not confirmed; the Waveshare manual is used as the reference layout only.
- BUSY polarity and controller differ between Waveshare's 2.9 inch panel versions; this manual version prints BUSY as high active and names no controller.
- Waveshare's Raspberry Pi and Arduino wiring tables are not given here; only the module connector is listed.
Sources
- link (Waveshare 2.9inch e-Paper Module User Manual V2.0, 2018-12-05)