Reverse Engineer PCB With KiCAD 7 |PCB FROM PCBWAY.COM

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My demonstration on how to reverse-engineer simple PCB with KiCAD7.
0:00 Example target
0:25 Sponsored by PCBWAY.COM
1:11 Steps before KiCAD
1:30 KiCAD First steps
2:50 Importing photos
4:20 Placing components
6:05 Rest of the process
I removed components one by one from sacrificial module and measured them. Then I added those parts to KiCAD schematic editor, with same reference numbers as on the actual PCB.
Next I sanded solder mask off from the PCB, took photos of both sides. I flipped the backside to make it align with photo of the front side. Photos were cropped to exact PCB size, to make it easier to scale them in KiCAD.
Then I placed the component on the PCB editor, manually checked which pads were connected together and then switched to schematic editor to add the connection between those pads. When connection was made, I could route the traces in PCB editor. Pad by pad, trace by trace it took some time, but I ended up with schematic of the board. I was able to make the modifications to fix the problem I had with original modules.
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[@Hackvlog]

It's hard to choose what to keep in the video and which parts to remove. I wanted to keep this video ~10min long, but the original recording was 10x longer. Hopefully the message comes through and this is as informative video as I intended.

[@yasirshahzad3732]

can you make reverse engineering using altium?

[@AfricanBushmechanic]

please post the long video too. am trying learn how reverse engineer pcb . you video was very helpful too

[@igormikhaylov2051]

This is a very useful video for me! Thank you very much! Using this video as instruction I'm repairing my old Christmas lights

[@leiferickson3183]

Great work! Thanks for making this video.

[@Hackvlog]

Thank you! This type of videos take a while to make, so it's nice to get positive feedback from viewers. It makes the whole process worth it.

[@sleepib]

I don't like deleting unused pads, because the thickness of the soldermask can impact how the pins that are used get soldered, and also because I don't want the risk of the soldermask wearing through and causing a short.

[@Hackvlog]

That makes so much sense! Especially in this case, because pins are floating over the solder mask and probably moving when connecting and disconnecting a cable... Rubbing the soldermask off over time.Thanks for feedback!

[@NicBellamy]

That was information-dense but easy to follow, nicely done. I learnt a few new tricks

[@Hackvlog]

Thanks! Always great to hear these videos are helpful.

[@Bianchi77]

Nice video, well done, thanks for sharing :)

[@KrotowX]

Very reasonable way how to reverse engineer unknown circuits. Although by following your tutorial directly we will have problems if PCB that somebody want to reverse enginner, must remain intact. Currently I have 6x1S LiPo/LiHV battery charger for repair thar I can't destroy in such way because can't damage the PCB. But I'll try to draw circuit from board photo anyway.

[@andymouse]

Awesome video....cheers.

[@Edmorbus]

Thanks for sharing

[@andybellklas1678]

I like the Finnish accent, sounds nuts.

[@andymouse]

Very useful....cheers.

[@Hackvlog]

Glad to hear that! Thanks!

[@sudheerkumar5966]

Very good sir

[@Hackvlog]

Thanks!

[@jw228w]

thanks for doing this.i have been looking for a way to generate a schematic for a test equipment pcb with components already installed.i only took photos, do you know if I can change these photos, perhaps a different format,to put in the KiCAD program and begin to perhaps trace the wiring? thanks John

[@norm1124]

Very helpful, thank you ❤

[@bredzl5839]

Is this possible on Kicad 6 ? Or should i update it

[@Hackvlog]

The background image feature was added in KiCad 7. Here are some of the other new features of version 7: www.kicad.org/blog/2023/02/Version-7.0.0-Released/ For me this background image feature was important enough and I decided to update once I saw it.

[@KrotowX]

Upgrade straight to KiCad 8. It have many things improved. And much easier in work PCB editor too.