Beginner PCB design for LED clock

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pcbgogo_dph
Posts: 21
Joined: 16 Aug 2018, 22:15
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Beginner PCB design for LED clock

#1 Post by pcbgogo_dph » 09 Oct 2018, 15:25

Hi everyone,

I'm designing an LED clock using an Arduino, 74HC595s for the control, and ULN2803s for grounding the LEDs.

I've got everything working on a breadboard, designed on a schematic and a first version laid out on a pcb in Eagle. I've never designed a pcb before,Usually,PCBGOGO helps me complete the design and production so I'm sure there's lots of little errors.

The main question I have is related to decoupling capacitors and a ground plane. I was having trouble finding out online if the capacitors should have their own pathway to the 74HC595s, or if they could both simply be connected to the ground plane.

I haven't put the ground plane in in this version, and any suggestions overall are much appreciated.

Thanks for any help.

Schematic: https://ffsmultimedia.com/eagle/clock-sch-v1.png
PCB: http://ffsmultimedia.com/eagle/clock-brd-v1.png
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Retika
Posts: 3
Joined: 03 Feb 2019, 22:35
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Re: Beginner PCB design for LED clock

#2 Post by Retika » 05 Feb 2019, 19:43

I investigated your PCB explicitly to perceive what you did with the decoupling capacitors.

A simple to recall general guideline while setting down decoupling capacitors is to dependably put them as close as conceivable to the stick they feed capacity to. At that point when laying the power follow, let the line go first into the capacitor than to the power stick. Hence, you should expel the following that appears to keep away from the capacitor. The follow may render the capacitor pointless.

The capacitors can have a similar ground plain with everything else. Keep in mind that all grounds ought to dependably be integrated.

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