Drawing and ordering your own custom pcbs

[skeer]

So disclaimer.. I don't think that this quite fits in here.. but it might not perfectly fit anywhere.

Ok so Im still building out my remote gate opener.. slowly. I breadboarded an LED flasher circuit I found online a month ago that uses an automotive relay versus a transistor.. pretty cool but that's not the point. The point is I had ordered and am waiting on some generic empty pcb board to solder everything down to when I came across a pro tip. Some more learned folks are likely already aware but Easyeda.com and jlcpcb.com.

Using Easyeda I was able to draw out the pcb.. silkscreen, top and bottom layers. It provides circuit simulation and will throw errors if say you leave a trace disconnected. Anyway long story short I ordered the min qty of 5 for $2 and the cheapest shipping was like a buck more. Just wanted to throw it out there because I wished I had seen this sooner.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Many years ago I did a little PC board design (long before any automated design tools were available) as part of my job, I always thought it was kind of fun. It makes you wonder how in the world they can provide the boards for so little money.

 

[skeer]

Definitely.. Im positive they're coming from overseas but a buck.30 to ship? I mean they're small but damn.

I envision finding reasons to use them more.

 

[duneslider]

Just curious but why the automotive relay instead of a transistor? The relay is gonna cost way more than a transistor (although neither is really that expensive...)

jlpcb is a bargain though, if you make a lot it gets even cheaper.

 

[larry4406]

Does it work?

 

[skeer]

Just curious but why the automotive relay instead of a transistor? The relay is gonna cost way more than a transistor (although neither is really that expensive...)

jlpcb is a bargain though, if you make a lot it gets even cheaper.

Really because I have enough auto relays to last a lifetime… lol

 

[Kezorm]

Looks great! PCBs have become ridiculously easy and cheap over the past 10 years or so. What used to be $500+ and 2 weeks lead time is now << $50 and a few days. PCBWay and JLCPCB are my go to PCB suppliers. KiCad for design - https://www.kicad.org/

 

[Max]

Looks great! PCBs have become ridiculously easy and cheap over the past 10 years or so. What used to be $500+ and 2 weeks lead time is now << $50 and a few days. PCBWay and JLCPCB are my go to PCB suppliers. KiCad for design - https://www.kicad.org/

+1 on kicad. Free and effective.