I’m learning how to design PCB’s and one thing I’m sometimes struggling with is finding the correct components in easyeda. The most recent example is the correct PJ301M mono jack socket (thonk). I almost ordered my PCB with the following component on it:
There are quite a few PJ301’s that seem to just have soldering pads but no holes and I simply don’t understand it. When googling for surface mount PJ301M’s I couldn’t really find anything so I got the impression that these things exist just to trap me into ordering useless PCB’s.
Do you guys have tips & tricks for selecting the proper components? I believe many of us are either using through-hole components or relying on completely assembled SMD designs so given that, it might be helpful to curate a list of ‘verified’ components/footprints for synth DIY because its apparently easy to select the wrong one.
Also, I have this slider potentiometer with a built-in LED which I got off of aliexpress and I thought it might be cool to design a sequencer or something using them. Unfortunately, they don’t fit onto protoboard so I would have to design a PCB. But how do I ever figure out which component it is?
My snarky advice would be to use KiCad; I have very little experience with EasyEDA but one reason I settled on KiCad was the mess that EasyEDA symbol/footprint selection is. In KiCad there aren’t a dozen versions of PJ301M. In fact there aren’t any at all in the standard footprint libraries, but it’s easy enough to find a footprint online — or if needed, it’s not hard to create a footprint — and add it to a custom library such as the one I have that contains most of the components I ever use and none that I don’t. That makes selection much easier. Don’t know if you can do that in EasyEDA.
Ha! In Ireland and Scotland a common reply to strangers asking for directions is, “well, I wouldn’t start from here.” More for the fun of it than any snarky intent.
As always your input on so many matters here is much appreciated Rich.
I will finish these projects in easyEDA for sure as I’m already done 98% but if you say that kicad is so much better, I will give it a try.
I haven’t managed to find a datasheet of a slider that looks like it and actually has the LED. But here is a listing of the same product. It is pretty vague and very likely some kind of knock off replica. Perhaps it is not a good idea to spend a lot of time designing a PCB for it as it may be hard to reliably source these components later on I remember buying them just because they looked cool.
I remember buying them just because they looked cool.
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