Blog - JLCPCB

Search

Circuit Symbols: Key to Understanding Electrical and Electronic Diagrams

Circuit symbols are essential in electrical and electronic diagrams for representing complex circuits and components in a standardized and simplified manner. These symbols are crucial for engineers, electricians, and technicians to understand circuit functions without documentation. Universal recognition of these symbols ensures consistent interpretation across languages and regions, aiding education and training. Circuit diagrams consist of various components like switches, capacitors, resistors, and......

Feb 17, 2025

Electronic Devices and Circuits

In the realm of modern technology, electronics devices and circuits play a crucial role in powering everything from everyday gadgets to complex machinery. Understanding the fundamentals of these components can provide valuable insights into how various electronic systems operate and interact. This blog explores the basics of electronics devices and circuits, their types, functions, and the significance of their design in today's technological landscape. Electronics means study of flow of electrons in ......

What is a Circuit Breaker: Types and Applications

A circuit can be damaged which will reduce its reliability. Therefore, electrical circuits need to be protected using circuit protection devices. Usually fuses, chokes, decoupling capacitors, zener diodes, protection diodes are enough to prevent the electronics from any mishap. Circuit breakers are also used for the same purpose in electrical systems. A circuit breaker can be defined as a type of switching device that prevents damage to the electrical system by acting as a switch and that interrupts t......

Countersunk Holes in PCB Design

When designing printed circuit boards (PCBs), engineers often need to create holes in the board to mount components or attach connectors. Two common hole types are countersunk and counterbored. While they may seem similar at first glance, there are important differences between countersunk and counterbore holes that impact their use in PCBs. Both terms are commonly used in CNC machining. Normally countersunk is a cone shaped hole and the counterbore is a cylindrical flat-bottomed hole. This article wi......

Building a Simple Circuit with a Breadboard

If you are new to electronics, building a simple circuit is the perfect way to get started. A breadboard is one of the easiest tools you can use for this. It is a small, reusable board that helps you connect components without any need for soldering. This means you can try different ideas, fix mistakes, and learn without any permanent changes. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to build a basic circuit on a breadboard. By the end, you will have a working circuit and a clearer idea of ho......

Understanding the Role of PCB Controllers in Electronic Design

A PCB Controller is an important part of designing and building electrical systems. It controls the functions of different mechanical parts on a printed circuit board (PCB) and makes sure they can talk to each other easily. People use PCB controllers in a lot of different situations, from home technology to factory automation. The purpose of this article is to discuss the importance of PCB controllers, including the different kinds, their uses, and the best ways to choose and use them. 1. What is a PC......

Critical Role of GPIO Pinout Selection in Embedded Systems

General-purpose input and output (GPIO) are vital in many embedded systems from microcontrollers to single-board computers like Raspberry Pi. From simple do-it-yourself electronics to industrial automation, GPIO pinouts are essential for all sorts of projects, since they let you link and interact with sensors, LEDs, motors, and other outside components. In this article, we will discuss what GPIO pinouts are, how they function, various types of them, and the best approach to apply them in your designs.......

PCB Failure Analysis: Understanding the Causes and Solutions

Printed circuit board (PCB) failure analysis is vital for finding and resolving issues causing electronics to stop working. PCBs are highly complex and feature numerous layers of circuitry that interact with one another, hence it can be difficult to understand why something is not working. A damaged component may bring down the entire system. By doing a failure analysis, makers can make PCB designs more reliable and stop problems from happening again. This article goes into detail about why PCB failur......

FPC Soldering Methods: A Complete Guide to Techniques and Their Applications

Flexible Printed Circuits (FPC) are extensively utilized in a variety of electronic devices because of their flexibility, lightweight design, and high-density attributes. FPC soldering is a critical process for connecting components to circuit boards, and the selection of soldering method directly impacts the performance and reliability of the circuit board. This article will examine four common FPC soldering techniques—hot pressing soldering, reflow soldering, wave soldering, and manual soldering—emp......

Analysing RAMPS: RepRap Arduino Mega Pololu Shield

The RepRap Arduino Mega Pololu Shield (RAMPS) is an open-source hardware expansion board designed to control 3D printers. It acts as an interface between the Arduino Mega 2560 microcontroller and various components of a 3D printer, including stepper motors, heating elements, cooling fans, and sensors. Its modular design includes plug in stepper drivers and extruder control electronics on an Arduino MEGA shield for easy service, part replacement, upgrade-ability and expansion. Additionally, a number of......

What are Flex PCBs? Your Simple Guide to Bendable Circuit Boards

If you have ever wondered how your smartphone folds, your smartwatch curves around your wrist, or a medical device fits snugly inside the human body, the answer often lies in a tiny, bendable hero ‘the flexible printed circuit board’, or ‘flex PCB’. Unlike their rigid cousins (the flat, stiff circuit boards) you might picture in older electronics; flex PCBs twist, fold, and squeeze into spaces where traditional boards simply can. Let’s break down what makes these boards special, how they are built, an......

Understanding SMT PCB Boards Technology: An Essential Component of Modern Electronics

Surface Mount Technology (SMT) has changed manufacturing of modern electronics. It has made designs and assembly methods more efficient. Many modern electronics depend on SMT PCB boards, which make it possible for circuit designs to be small and efficient. This is what today's technology needs. This article discuss about many types of SMT PCB boards, their uses, and the best methods for designing and assembling them. 1. What is an SMT PCB Board? Printed circuit boards called SMT PCB boards, use surfac......

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD): The Hidden Threat to Electronics

It's possible your next electronic device could be deployed in an area where it is exposed to high voltages or static electricity. In these cases, a system’s vulnerability to ESD should be determined through testing and simulation. Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) is the sudden transfer of static electricity from one object to another. This phenomenon occurs when there is a difference in electrical potential between two surfaces, leading to an abrupt discharge of energy. The charge can be accumulated par......

The Role of Flex PCB in Wearable Technology and IoT Devices

Wearable tech and IoT devices are changing our lives every day. You see smartwatches, fitness trackers, and even smart home gadgets becoming part of our routines, all thanks to advances in technology. At the heart of these innovations are flexible printed circuit boards that make it possible to design devices that are both compact and comfortable. Traditional rigid boards just do not offer the same freedom; flexible PCBs allow designers to fit circuits into curved, space-saving forms that meet the uni......

The Role of Simulation in Electronics Circuit Design

Circuit simulation is a process that uses mathematical models to determine how a circuit will function when it is physically manufactured. In modern integrated design, advanced tools are used to create IC designs with billions of transistors. However, as manufacturing a circuit is complex and expensive, it is necessary to ensure that the designed circuit works as intended before it is manufactured. This is where circuit simulation comes into play. By using simulation, engineers can predict circuit beh......

Capacitors 101: How They Work, Their Functions, and Types

Capacitors are indispensable components in PCB (Printed Circuit Board) design, providing functionality from energy storage and noise filtering to voltage regulation. Whether you're designing a simple circuit or a complex multi-layer board, understanding the different types of capacitors and their applications is crucial. The basic structure of a capacitor consists of two metal plates separated by a layer of dielectric. Capacitors can be of fixed or variable type. Capacitance is a fundamental concept i......

A Beginners Guide to Impedance Control in PCBs

When a digital signal is transmitted from one point to another, it causes a change in the state of the signal line. This change can be understood as an electromagnetic wave moving through the circuit. Reflection occurs when this wave encounters a boundary between different mediums. At this boundary, some of the wave's energy continues as a signal, while the rest is reflected. This process repeats until the energy is either absorbed by the circuit or dissipated into the environment. For electrical engi......

Understanding the Importance of DFM Analysis in PCB Design

Design for Manufacturing (DFM) analysis helps you on whether a printed circuit board (PCB) is fit for manufacturing, assembly, and sales. Early in the planning process, it looks for and fixes any possible problems arising throughout production. This will increase manufacturing efficiency and help to save expenses. DFM analysis is quite vital in the complex world of electronics, where even little design errors can create delays costing a lot of money. This article discusses the different types of DFM i......

The War between Alternating and Direct Current

The late 19th century witnessed one of the most significant technological rivalries in history: the war between Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC). This battle, often referred to as the "War of Currents," was primarily between two legendary inventors—Thomas Edison, who championed DC, and Nikola Tesla, who promoted AC, backed by industrialist George Westinghouse. Thomas Edison, a pioneer in electrical technology, developed the first practical electric light bulb and established the Edison......

From Bands to Values: How to Read the Resistor Color Code

Resistors are a key component in electronic circuits, controlling the flow of electrical current. Resistors are available in many different values, shapes, and physical sizes. Practically all leaded resistors with a power rating up to two watt have this pattern of colored bands. Color bands on the body of a resistor, carry crucial information about their resistance value, tolerance, and sometimes even the temperature coefficient. A resistor can have anywhere from three to six colored bands, with four ......

From Waste to Worth: Eco-Conscious PCB Production

On the way to becoming more sustainable, the electronics industry is adopting environmentally friendly procedures in the production of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). Sustainable practices for manufacturing and recycling PCBs have only recently begun to be implemented in the industry. With the new restrictions on the use of toxic substances and other ways of manufacturing, the PCB industry is addressing climate change. Notable manufacturers of PCBs observe rules such as RoHS and REACH regulations and o......