Two Different Ground Nets?! | 1 Min PCB Design Review

Technical Consultant Zach Peterson reviews an open-source ECU project in KiCad, using Altium 365's ECAD connectivity feature. Zach points out some critical design flaws, including a triangular connector symbol, unconnected ports, a BGA on a two-layer board, two different ground nets, and unnamed pins.
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[@AltiumAcademy]

🔹 Want your design reviewed? Reach out here: www.linkedin.com/in/zachariah-peterson/

[@dd884e5d8a]

Did the author of this design explicitly request your review or was your smugness 100% unprompted? Also, what are the odds that the missed connections in the schematic are a bug from the Altium importer?

[@97mesut]

I like having EMI problems for my designs because then I can create a "debug" Jira ticket, add it as my quarterly goal, do nothing for 2 months then press add layers in altium for the solution.
don't send this to my boss

[@codures]

The ECU is usually fit in a strong aluminum case. The all is usually fit inside the engine area, surrounded by metal parts that provide strong shock protection. Faraday's law applies to cars too.
However, a BGA that size on a 2 layer board is utterly wild. He did an amazing job.

[@Zachariah-Peterson]

Yeah he did a good job on the routing with the BGA, not complaining about it. But the SI/EMI issues would be a problem. You can't solve all of that by placing in an aluminum case.

[@codures]

@Zachariah-Peterson I bet the harnesses coming out of that ECU would radiate in both MW and SW bands but for a developing country with low GDP, one can't have it all. My 2 cents he did it on 2 layers to make it ready for CNC mill etching.

[@RainLovesCobain]

Are these 2 ground planes supposed to be floating with respect to each other? Let’s say we have AC input on the top layer and a PFC circuit on the bottom layer. Where to place the DC output? How to use layers 2 and 3 as grounds? Thanks!

[@emelineclank9448]

When can we get a design review from your own design? Pretty curious to see what that would look like

[@Zachariah-Peterson]

We did one awhile ago, here it is: th-cam.com/video/cVPAljV2AL0/w-d-xo.html

[@denisson6351]

Masterclass, as always Mr. Peterson. But there is one more question without an answer: where can we buy this sort of Altium merch like your hoodie in this video?

[@Audio_Simon]

That was a bit brutal! 😅

[@InSearchOfScience]

Are the ground nets for Analog vs Digital GND? I have seen strong assertions that separating grounds is no longer correct practice, but not much literature on the subject. Any App notes regarding this?

[@RainLovesCobain]

+1

[@MrPeplonski]

I was wondering why TWO internal ground planes? Because one layer is otherwise unused when going from 2->4 layers and might aswell make it to a GND plane or are there other reasons?

[@robegatt]

to keep the returns as close as possibile to signals, mandatory for high speed, a little less for other types of circuits, but a good practice nevertheless

[@ElectroExplained]

Do you also do only a schematic review? Im also working on an open-source ecu and wanted some tips

[@Zachariah-Peterson]

Send me a message on linkedin and let me see what you have

[@diegoabche]

what he meant with the final message: "hey wanna get roasted online with your pitiful design? send it to me, don't wait!"

[@Zachariah-Peterson]

Well I have been asked to get "roasted" by people, so....