Hello friends, I’ve been inspired by GreatScott!’s YouTube videos and am trying to build a DIY LiPo Charge/Protect/Boost Circuit. Below is an image of the first version of the PCB I designed.

Here is my pcb,


However, I’m facing some issues while building this PCB.

The problem is: in GreatScott!’s design, the battery negative (-Ve) terminal is connected to the ground pin of the FS312F-G IC. But this ground pin is not connected to the PCB ground (the copper pour). My question is: should this pin be connected to the circuit ground (copper pour)?



When I connect the battery negative (-Ve) terminal to the ground pin (pin 6) of the FS312F-G IC, I don’t get any output from the boost converter. But as soon as I connect the battery negative (-Ve) terminal to the PCB/circuit ground (copper pour), the boost converter works and gives output.

So my question is: what exactly is going wrong here?

Another issue is that the footprint of the FS8205 IC in GreatScott!’s PCB does not match the pinout of the FS8205 IC I am using. What could be the problem here?

 

At first glance, looks like one chip is upside down, suggesting it is mounted on the underside of the board. The GND pin on first image seems to be to trace (pour) on underside

 

The simplest explanation is "production change (REVISION)That is why the color images do not match.
WHY is that a problem for you??
There is often a reason, (not revealed to most folks) for why board power connections are located where they are.
AND, aside from that, you may not be where you think you are, regarding connections. THAT PCB looks like it would be easy to get lost on.