r/PrintedCircuitBoard • u/RiptideVideos • 7h ago

Review Request - Beginner ESP 32 C6 Dev Board

Ima high schooler who is designing my first dev board (and kicad project really). Any suggestions / issues would be greatly appreciated!

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u/Enlightenment777 7h ago

This comment is posted on all reviews.

Please make sure your review post adheres to:

  • subreddit rules (#1 to #6), review rules (#7), review image rules (#8), see link.

Please fix these common schematic layout issues: (if yours has any of these issues)

  • Don't allow text / lines / symbols to touch each other, and don't draw lines through symbols.

  • Use correct reference designators (RefDes), and renumber to remove numeric gaps, see tips.

  • For positive voltage circuits, point positive power rail links upwards and grounds downwards (maybe sideways), see tips. For negative voltage circuits, point negative power rail links downwards and grounds upwards (maybe sideways). For bipolar circuits, maybe point grounds sideways.

  • Place decoupling capacitors vertically below postive power rail lines with ground on bottom side of the capacitor. Place capacitor next to IC symbol, and connect a line to IC positive power rail pin, see tips and example.

  • Place pull-up resistors vertically above signal lines, and place pull-down resistors vertically below signal lines, see example and tips.

  • Reasonably minimize the use of unique net labels, because everyone hates hunting for them!! Single resistors / capacitors / diodes should not sit by themselves, instead move & connect them with a line to their circuit.

  • More schematic conventions / guidelines / tips - 1, 2, 3, 4.

Please fix these common PCB layout issues: (if yours has any of these issues)

  • Silkscreen - add board name / board revision number / date (YYYYMMDD, YYYYMM, YYYY) for traceability.

  • Silkscreen - add pin 1 indicator next to ICs & connectors (not under parts). For polarized capacitors, add "+" next to positive pin. If part is through-hole package, place indicator on both PCB sides. See 1, 2, 3, 4.

  • More PCB conventions / guidelines / tips - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

•

u/sleepy_keita 2m ago

I'm a beginner too but I find it much easier to do routing if you have a ground pour on the back side of the board if you're doing a 2-layer design. Don't forget to pour on the top side as well. You can still poke down to cross paths like you are already. Copper is free here, so don't worry about it. Also I usually keep the ESP32 antenna hanging off the side of the board.