High Power Circuit Board Design (PCB) - KiCad 5 - Part 2/2

Part 2/2 - PCB layout and design on a high powered LED driver board controlled by a touchscreen LCD display.
Software used is Kicad 5.0
microtype.io/
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[@jdennee]

Love these style videos where you explain why you did what you did. Keep them coming!

[@10e999]

Like to see more of this format on other, maybe more complexe, projects !

[@Technical_Audio]

Very instructive video that came along for me at the right time. I just happen to be laying out my first KiCAD board and it is high- power too. It is for a high power audio amplifier stage having 16 power devices. Your copper pour instruction is just what I needed. Thanks

[@MicroTypeEngineering]

You're very welcome! Glad it helped

[@WagonLoads]

Suggestion for future video... ==== 5S BMS board with i2c interface that can be linked to a esp32 ==== Project: I have an old metal detector that uses old NiCad batteries that have to be pulled out every time they need to be recharged. That is a extreme hassle with all of the connections that have to be plugged and unplugged.. Compared to modern solutions, like the DeWalt power tool quick change battery, or the kind of battery packs used in old camcorders.. The battery pack will be used in a (White's Coinmaster 6000D) metal detector.... It originally uses 14 AA batteries arranged in 2 rows, and wired as follows: (+12v)---(GND)---(-9v) Requirements: Try to do all upgrades with as close to zero modifications to the original equipment.. or invisible/reversible mods.. Solution: I want to replace it with a 5S BMS with wifi to post charge condition to a website. Are there any 5S BMS boards with i2c interface that can be linked to a esp32? The detector case is metal, so it might need an external antenna... Is there a trick to make the headphone jack share speaker out with charging power input? without drilling holes in the case.. My only thought is 1. using a magnet on the headphone plug that would switch it from charge mode to speaker mode. or 2. replace the headphone jack, with one that has extra connections for power in... The second option would be more idiot proof... Any other suggestions????

[@stephanliu4965]

Looking forward to more of your works. Thank you.

[@niklaswennerstrand1010]

Nice to see your work. You asked for sugestions and here are two. 1. If you have signal busses and you have the space to spread them out do that to reduse cross talks. 2. Avoid sharp angles in traces to pads or other traces. The etchent fluid might have hard time to etch there and you also might have small flakes of copper in those areas comming lose during PCB manufactoring. (Floting around and end up as shorts in fine picth designs.) Example seen at 10:37.

[@MicroTypeEngineering]

Thanks for the comment! 1. Yeah that's definitely good to give traces space. But these are very low speed traces, with a full ground plane underneath. 8 mil is plenty of space. 2. That really was only an issue on older board fab methods. Acid traps don't really happen anymore. Of course it's best to avoid them still, and try not to go under 90 degrees. But, I didn't have a sharp trace angle. Double check the video, that wasn't a 90 degree angle at 10:37.. electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/115653/are-acid-traps-real-2014

[@niklaswennerstrand1010]

@@MicroTypeEngineering Yes the time on sharp edge was actually a couple of seconds later (So that you would not miss it). And you could debate the importance of sharp edges. The debate in Stackexchange covered a lot of views but it is still a good practice to avoid sharp edges. Fabs do request changes by you or they do it themselves based on geometry and processes they use. Your board had big geometries and it would certainly pass fab requirements in most cases. But it is still a good habit or rule of tumb to implement. Here is a video that a PCB nerd like me and maybe you would enjoy about PCB manufacturing things to know. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGfCpKmIg6-MotU Greetings from Sweden.

[@aaxa101]

I just would put the decoupling capacitor for the lcd display before the 5V reaches the connector, not after.

[@happyhippr]

Honestly surprised to only see 700subscribers

[@AntonioBdeJesus]

Great job man! Thank you very mutch for sharing. Please keep doing the great job.

[@KidCe.]

i really like videos like this 2 Part one ! There is so much to learn from. Id really like to see more videos of this type comming ! :D You acutally safed my ass beacuse of the calcuation you did on the mosfet. I was planning my PCB for 10A and used 38A rated IRF5210 PMOS fets but i didnt relised that i would drive the temperature of them up to 300°C without a heatsink. Now i need to find a lower Rds on PMOS or find out if a "PCB Heatsink" with vias to the 2nd layer could solve the temperature Problem.

[@MicroTypeEngineering]

Hah yes! It always becomes a balancing act between Rds and gate charge. The maximum rating of MOSFETs is always arbitrary high, as thermals will be limiting factor.

[@d3stinYwOw]

Hi! Can you do a video with tips & tricks making PCB layout in KiCAD, like copper zones to thicken the traces? TO sum this up. Mayby some RF stuff, too?

[@rickjljr11]

Input fuse and TVS? With a core aren't you supposed to make the pad a wagon wheel to make it easier to solder?

[@mattsurvilo7163]

Love your videos! Two questions 1. Do you ever have to worry about thermal reliefs when using such thick traces/polygon pours? 2. I noticed you do individual traces to your SMD pads on your LCD screen. Is there an advantage to breaking the large 5V trace up into two small ones over just connecting the two with one large trace in between them? Thanks in advance!

[@smferreiro2610]

Wonderful video! It's always better for me to follow a real case, than studying "hipothetical" cases. How are those bare copper busbars drawn? This one is covered, but I'm thinking in a PCB for an inductor heating device (50A), and I was thinking in soldering a copper braid stripe afterwards, but I need the trace is not covered in insolating varnish.

[@tbremard]

Can you discuss about Orcad / Kicad?

[@giorgiopiazza1148]

I really appreciate your videos and have purchased KICAD based on how helpful and well you demonstrate the use of KICAD. I found it really easy to draw the first schematic, however, when I go into PCB mode I have problems with the wire not connecting to the component. So the components cannot be connected. It seems like the wire is sticking to the mouse cursor. I would really appreciate any advice or even a youtube clip on how to resolve this issue. Again, thank you for your fantastic videos.

[@andu5296]

Really nice couple of videos! Congrats!

[@MicroTypeEngineering]

Thank you 😊

[@placiduzzu]

Thanks for posting this video!

[@franksprenkels1375]

hey i love your videos. my dream is also to have a smt line

[@sblantipodi]

How can that small traces you have done from the main voltage bar run 5A? Are you sure that that small traces can run 5A?

[@stephanliu4965]

Amazing and nice work. Is it possible for you to share the project files to subscribers to learn and study? Frankly, the video is played too fast to follow.

[@MicroTypeEngineering]

I can't for this project since it was for a client, but on projects in which I can (Quick Circuit Blocks) I will start doing that. Thanks!

[@pipdang2468]

I'm currently an EE student and im so glad I came across your channel, subscribed immediately. Can you elaborate on copper pours? My current project requires delivering a few amps from a super cap to a servo, and I want to get it on a PCB.

[@davidcollins6164]

dude, i just want to be able to make a simple adapter, like dual usb 3.0 receptacle to 19 pin usb motherboard header, so i can make sleek cables and reduce connector space waste inside enclosures, how do i just do that simplest 'adaptor' pcb's?

[@richardhead8264]

Great video! Curious how long you've been involved in PCB layout, and electronics in general?

[@MicroTypeEngineering]

So KiCad for around 2 years, and electronics I started back in middle/high school for hobbiest work, and 4 years ago professionally

[@kitingboarding]

Awesom. Super helpful and clear. Could you walk us through how you might approach a 12vdc 50a h-bridge driver. I think also an h-bridge driver for these popular treadmill motors. Mine is 240vdc 8a. I am a bit nervous about it myself. It would make a great spindle motor for cnc. An h-bridge driver would allow for ridged tapping cycles with encoder and more. I think that would be very poplar!

[@MicroTypeEngineering]

Noted. Yeah, I'm thinking a high-power brushed motor driver would be a nice project. Seems to be a common request.

[@kitingboarding]

@@MicroTypeEngineering thank you for the reply. Has made my day!

[@CulinarySpy]

Very helpful! I'm doing a 230vac/2A circuit on one end of a board with 25vdc/1A circuit on the other end. Double-siding the tracks plus using 'copper pour' tracks as well was really helpful and should keep temperatures right down. Do you have any suggestions for isolation of high voltage to low voltage? So far I have cut slots under triac drivers, relays etc. and spaced things a good distance.

[@MicroTypeEngineering]

Glad I was able to help! You sound on the right track. Make sure to follow IPC specs for creepage/clearance and you should be good to go!

[@MadJDMTurboBoost]

From what I understand, all those stitching vias create loops in the traces that can induce currents due to EMIs. Are these effects negligible?

[@MicroTypeEngineering]

The main issue with vias are when they are on traces. When they are used to stitch planes, it reduces the impedance

[@mars5617]

I thing your videos are pretty entertaining i love to watch them.But if you could make complex types taht would be great (for example embedded Linux board).Also pls add more component choosing parts.

[@MicroTypeEngineering]

Noted!

[@carlosgarcialalicata]

I'm an internet-self-learner Hobbist,( which I don't think it's a good idea). Is there anywhere where we can get our designed reviewed for advices?

[@alden.kuljici]

Can we get the link to the footprint library you are using lib_fp, since the component footprints you are using are not available in the standard KiCad library. :)

[@MicroTypeEngineering]

Yeah.. I need to get around to making the footprints I use public for the videos.

[@andymouse]

can you please go over your use of "pour's" in more detail, in fact I would like you to cover all of what you do from more of a beginners perspective, or is that not what you plan with your channel?...……….nice work though (subscribed)

[@BVRamesh100]

The placement of Temperature sensor is not accurate as it see the temperature of channel 1 nearest and other channel has decreasing effect. It would have been better if you place it on other side in between channel 3 and 4 below mosfet, as it see the temperature rise better and quicker. Since thermal effect takes time and the most rise will be seen in middle, the present location see rise in temp when channel 3 / 4 would have blown out.

[@MicroTypeEngineering]

That may be true. But this is in a sealed enclosure. I am looking more for if the enclosure itself is overheating. The temperature threshold I set is derated enough to alert before any channels overheat

[@Electheo]

Is it possible to create the 3D drawings of the footprints in Solidworks?

[@MicroTypeEngineering]

You can, and export as a dxf, then import the dxf lines into KiCad

[@Electheo]

MicroType Engineering thank you!

[@totoxahc]

Why don't you trust the official kicad libraries?

[@MicroTypeEngineering]

I design PCBs for clients as a job. I'm not going to trust a footprint that wasn't made by me to be used in a board I'm designing for a client. Especially when the majority of kicad's library is made by hobbyists.

[@dxingindia8282]

@@MicroTypeEngineering yes, 1206 resistor package from kicad official library is not correct pad size is too small i wasted one pcb, i moved to Digikey library now its ok, better to print the layout and check the actual size

[@naasikhendricks1501]

What is Ur copper thickness?

[@MicroTypeEngineering]

Just 1oz

[@naasikhendricks1501]

@@MicroTypeEngineering so u have high heat build up?

[@mykalimba]

The "Ki" in KiCad is pronounced "key" as in keyway, not "ky" as in... Kyle. 😄

[@MicroTypeEngineering]

Haha yes! Surprisingly I actually know that, I just like the other way better