PCB design with external connections.

Question

I need to design a PCB with multiple independent components. The connections will be provided externally. How do I make pins/connections in the schematic without getting "Unconnected" errors?

autodeskguest · Answer

On 13/07/17 00:44, Rishab Sharma wrote:

I need to design a PCB with multiple independent components. The connections will be provided externally. How do I make pins/connections in the schematic?

There are three options:

1) create a new library for the off-board components, with schematic

symbols showing their off-board placement somehow. One option is to have

gaps between the symbol and the pins. Then associate them with packages

that have the pads you want to connect your wires to.

2) Decide on a connector you're going to use for all off-board

components to hang off. Show this connector on the schematic, with some

annotation text to explain what's connected to it.

3) Just draw the connections using pads, e.g. from testpad.lbr, and

annotate the schematic. This will allow you to put your wires anywhere

you like on the board.

I would probably choose option 1 because, to me, it's by far the

clearest and neatest. Option 3 is flexible but that leads to ugly

assemblies.