Hello Everyone,

As an electronics hobbyist who has primarily worked with Raspberry Pis and breakout boards of RP2040 and ESP32, I'm getting into designing my own PCBs. I've started learning about PCB design, but I'm facing a major challenge: choosing compatible components, specifically the right MCU/SoC and a compatible flash memory chip. I know that manufactures provide reference schematics which we can use a starting point for our design.

My main question is this: Is there a tool similar to PC Part Picker for selecting electronics components for a PCB? Something where I can start with an MCU, then find compatible flash chips, power supplies, and other parts.

Any suggestions or recommendations on how to approach this would be greatly appreciated. Also, if my approach is not feasible and I'm thinking about this all wrong, please let me know!

 

Welcome to AAC!

My main question is this: Is there a tool similar to PC Part Picker for selecting electronics components for a PCB? Something where I can start with an MCU, then find compatible flash chips, power supplies, and other parts.

I don't know what PC Part Picker is, but no. Parts are selected at schematic entry; before a PCB is made. If components are available in multiple footprints, the PCB layout program should let you specify the desired package.

 

There are many part vendors. They have search tools. digikey
At the home page there is a search window. Just for fun enter RESISTOR. enter
12 pictures pop up to help you. I am going to pick "through hole resistor". Click on the picture.
Now we have 500,000 options. Slide to the right. I want a 5% resistor but I know that 1% is about the same price so I picked 1% through 5% push apply.
Now I pick 0.25W or 1/4 watt. apply
Now pick 1K and apply.
There is a check box for "in stock". That will get rid of the things that are missing today. Down to 75 choices.
Each column has a up arrow and down arrow. That allows you to pick price (or any value) and sort high to low.
Now I will go and select 5% only. apply 25 choices.
Now I decided to use Metal Film and sort by price.
I now can see data sheets and good picture of each part, compart prices.

 

I don’t know of any such software.

Imagine that you are a cabinet or furniture maker. You need to select hardware, screws, nuts, bolts, washers, dowels, staples, hinges, knobs, etc. How does one do that?

As far as I am aware, you do this from personal knowledge, experience, the application and situation, and what’s available in the market place.

I suggest that you start by building. You will learn from personal experience and from what others are doing. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. We all do all the time. It is quite common to have to redo a PCB layout because you chose the wrong footprint of a device.

Good Luck!

 

Welcome to AAC!

Thank you very much.

 

Welcome to AAC!

I don't know what PC Part Picker is, but no. Parts are selected at schematic entry; before a PCB is made. If components are available in multiple footprints, the PCB layout program should let you specify the desired package.

Thank you very much for the detailed walkthrough from your explanation looks like we have to repeat this for every component that we are going to use in our PCB while check if previously selected components are compatible with each other.

 

There are many part vendors. They have search tools. digikey
At the home page there is a search window. Just for fun enter RESISTOR. enter
12 pictures pop up to help you. I am going to pick "through hole resistor". Click on the picture.
Now we have 500,000 options. Slide to the right. I want a 5% resistor but I know that 1% is about the same price so I picked 1% through 5% push apply.
Now I pick 0.25W or 1/4 watt. apply
Now pick 1K and apply.
There is a check box for "in stock". That will get rid of the things that are missing today. Down to 75 choices.
Each column has a up arrow and down arrow. That allows you to pick price (or any value) and sort high to low.
Now I will go and select 5% only. apply 25 choices.
Now I decided to use Metal Film and sort by price.
I now can see data sheets and good picture of each part, compart prices.

Thank you very much for the detailed walkthrough from your explanation looks like we have to repeat this for every component that we are going to use in our PCB while check if previously selected components are compatible with each other.

 

looks like we have to repeat this for every component

At some point you need to order parts. You will need to find part numbers for every part.

I use KiCAD but most PCB software has a way of adding the part numbers to the parts on the schematic.
Example:
R8
1K 1/4W Description
R0603 PCB footprint
1234-4816 digikey part number.
www.resistor maker.com/metal film/....data sheet.
You need to find this information anyway. Most CAD programs will make the shopping list for you. In some cases, you can send that to the parts store.

 

looks like we have to repeat this for every component that we are going to use in our PCB

Yes. It sounds daunting but I know of no other way but to allow another person to do it for you. It is actually not difficult to do especially the second time around.

As an example, I built my own CNC machine. It took me two months to select, source and order every single nut, bolt, rail, motor, switch, cable, connector, etc.

I consider it as having fun while learning.

 

There is no magic wand that will pick 'compatible' products. Designer need to understand application, read datasheets and ensure that things can work together. For example one common issue is supply voltage. One may not mix 5V and 3V3 devices arbitrarily. Some may tolerate the other voltages, others nay not. So you need to dive into documentation and check what each side needs. Vut even when they do not match, it us not game over ... Check level translators.
Forum is a crear resources and AI can be helpful - just dont blindly trust what comes out... Think if suggestions makes sense or ask for clarification

 

What does it mean for devices to be compatible?
Voltage, current, power, tolerance, material, temperature, package, footprint?

To give you a simple example of proper device selection, here is a simple voltage regulator circuit. Suppose that Vin is 9 V and you require Vout to be 5 V. How does one select the resistor and zener diode to be “compatible“?

SPOILER: I can tell you there is no proper answer because the question lacks essential pieces of information.