Are you thinking about designing a PCB? The first step in this process is to work on the schematic which can either be done by pen and paper or using the most up-to-date PCB and schematic design software.

This can be quite tricky if you are new to schematic design, but don’t worry because we have put together some essential tips to help you get started, including tips that are particularly relevant if you are working with a printed circuit board manufacturer. Keep reading to find out more. 

Download The Software

While it is entirely possible to create an effective schematic using a pencil and paper, this is not the most effective way to do it. Even simple schematic drawing software is better than pencil and paper and so you should be taking advantage of this. Schematic drawing software is easy to find online and it comes with plenty of great features. If you download the right package, you will be able to compare your schematic with your PCB design using the software and improve it.

Use Optional Resistors And Components

The next essential tip for PCB schematic design that we have for you is to use optional resistors and components. These things will only take up a small portion of the space on the PCB, but they can help to add some support for the specific configurations that you are going to be adding to your PCB design. Make sure to consider this for an effective schematic.

Name Every Net

When you are working on your schematic design, we suggest that you try to name every important new that is on there. This is true even if the net only connects two pins that are on the same page. The reason for this being that you can make the PCB design part of the project much easier. You will be able to tell more clearly which net you are routing, and this will help you out a lot along the way.

Add BOM Only Components

Our final essential tip for those who are working on a PCB schematic is to add ‘BOM only’ components onto the schematic. If you manage to do this then you will find that you can save yourself a lot of time along the way and you can improve the way that you purchase your materials. This includes everything from the spaces to the heatsink and it can be very helpful. Try to include this and you will thank yourself later.

Conclusion

If you are thinking about designing your own PCB in the near future and want to start with the schematic, we suggest that you try out some of the tips that we have given you in this article. Think about downloading the best possible software package for you and ensure that you include the BOM only components into your design. If you can spend some time working on these things, then you will find that your schematic is much more effective, and you will be able to move onto the next stage of the project.