Engineers Garage

  • Electronic Projects & Tutorials
    • Electronic Projects
      • Arduino Projects
      • AVR
      • Raspberry pi
      • ESP8266
      • BeagleBone
      • 8051 Microcontroller
      • ARM
      • PIC Microcontroller
      • STM32
    • Tutorials
      • Audio Electronics
      • Battery Management
      • Brainwave
      • Electric Vehicles
      • EMI/EMC/RFI
      • Hardware Filters
      • IoT tutorials
      • Power Tutorials
      • Python
      • Sensors
      • USB
      • VHDL
    • Circuit Design
    • Project Videos
    • Components
  • Articles
    • Tech Articles
    • Insight
    • Invention Stories
    • How to
    • What Is
  • News
    • Electronic Product News
    • Business News
    • Company/Start-up News
    • DIY Reviews
    • Guest Post
  • Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online
    • EG Forum Archive
  • DigiKey Store
    • Cables, Wires
    • Connectors, Interconnect
    • Discrete
    • Electromechanical
    • Embedded Computers
    • Enclosures, Hardware, Office
    • Integrated Circuits (ICs)
    • Isolators
    • LED/Optoelectronics
    • Passive
    • Power, Circuit Protection
    • Programmers
    • RF, Wireless
    • Semiconductors
    • Sensors, Transducers
    • Test Products
    • Tools
  • Learn
    • eBooks/Tech Tips
    • Design Guides
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars & Digital Events
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • EE Training Days
    • LEAP Awards
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • DesignFast
  • Guest Post Guidelines
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

PCB Designing using Kicad (Part 7/12)

By Venugopal M September 16, 2016

Electrical Rules check (ERC):

After creating the schematic and annotating circuit, it is necessary to check whether the circuit has any electrical errors. Like, if Nets are not connected properly, the input is not connected to the input pin, Vcc and GND shorted anywhere in the circuit, or any pin electrical type not selected properly, etc.  All these  are electrical error types. If we have made any such mistake  in schematic, and if we are not performing any ERC, then after completing the PCB we cannot get the desired result from the circuit. So, ERC is mandatory.
  
: The Electrical Rules Check (ERC) tool performs an automatic check of the schematic. The ERC checks for any errors in your sheet, such as unconnected pins, unconnected hierarchical symbols, shorted outputs, etc.
 
To perform ERC on a schematic, we have to click on the ERC icon . If the circuit has no errors, then it shows Errors and warnings as zero. On the other hand, if it finds any errors it will show us the number of errors and warnings. 
 
Screenshot of Electrical Rules Checker Window on KIcad
 
Fig. 1: Screenshot of Electrical Rules Checker Window on KIcad
 
Screenshot of Electrical Rules Checker Window on KIcad
 
Fig. 2: Screenshot of Electrical Rules Checker Window on KIcad
 
If ERC finds any errors or warnings it gives the details like error at which pin,  along with an  appropriate reason. In schematic also it will show a green arrow mark to indicate the error. 
 
 
Screenshot of a Warning or Error Detected by ERC on KIcad
 
Fig. 3: Screenshot of a Warning or Error Detected by ERC on KIcad
 
 
So, there is no need to struggle in order to find out where the error is present and why. But we have to find the solution.
 
I completed a circuit, and got 6 warnings but there were no errors in ERC report. In these warnings, first two warnings  included,  pins not connected. Actually, I did not connect pin 5, 6 of the Component DS1 properly. Remaining warnings  were regarding  not connected and not driven pin warnings. If we look at the green arrows in the schematic, we can realize the mistakes.  
 
Actually, I had not connected LCD 4,5,6, pins properly. I placed Net labels but didn’t connect them properly; So I adjusted labels and nets, and made connections properly. Again I performed ERC. Once again, I got the same errors. After observing schematic thoroughly, I found that LCD 4,5,6 pins  were not connected to microcontroller 10,11,12 pins. Instead, I had placed “not connect” at microcontroller 10, 11, 12 pins. So to solve this, I placed Nets with suitable connecting labels to LCD. Once again I performed ERC. This time, I got only two warnings. 
 
Screenshot of a Warning or Error Detected by ERC on KIcad
 
Fig. 4: Screenshot of a Warning or Error Detected by ERC on KIcad
 
 
To solve these two warnings I spent a lot of time. These  were ‘not driven’ warnings. Finally, I found the solution. The mistake was that while creating an ADC0804 component in library editor, I had selected the wrong electrical type of the “V-in” pin. I had selected V-in pin as power input, but it is power output. After adjusting this, I got one warning in ERC report i.e.   LCD 2nd pin was not connected to pot. So by giving Net and suitable label I solved that  as well. Finally, in ERC report, I got “0” warnings and “0” errors. 
 
ERC configuration:
 
In ERC report window, the optional panel allows us to configure connectivity rules to define electrical conditions, warnings, and check. If we need any modifications in this panel we can do that. In this, we can see that squares are arranged in the matrix. Each square indicates that pin type and pin electrical type. If we need any changes in present configuration, we can  do so by clicking on the desired square in the matrix.
 
 
Screenshot of ERC Configuration in KIcad
 
Fig. 5: Screenshot of ERC Configuration in KIcad
 


Filed Under: Tutorials

 

Next Article

← Previous Article
Next Article →

Questions related to this article?
👉Ask and discuss on EDAboard.com and Electro-Tech-Online.com forums.



Tell Us What You Think!! Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

EE TECH TOOLBOX

“ee
Tech Toolbox: 5G Technology
This Tech Toolbox covers the basics of 5G technology plus a story about how engineers designed and built a prototype DSL router mostly from old cellphone parts. Download this first 5G/wired/wireless communications Tech Toolbox to learn more!

EE Learning Center

EE Learning Center
“engineers
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.

HAVE A QUESTION?

Have a technical question about an article or other engineering questions? Check out our engineering forums EDABoard.com and Electro-Tech-Online.com where you can get those questions asked and answered by your peers!


RSS EDABOARD.com Discussions

  • Diode recovery test Irrm timing.
  • How to make string LEDs?
  • The Analog Gods Hate Me
  • Battery Deep Discharge – IC Workarounds?
  • Safe Current and Power Density Limits in PCB Copper(in A/m² and W/m³) simulation

RSS Electro-Tech-Online.com Discussions

  • Raise your hand if your car had one of these:
  • Tektronix 2235 channel 1 trace unstable
  • How to make string LEDs?
  • Wideband matching an electrically short bowtie antenna; 50 ohm, 434 MHz
  • The Analog Gods Hate Me

Featured – LoRa/LoRaWan Series

  • What is the LoRaWAN network and how does it work?
  • Understanding LoRa architecture: nodes, gateways, and servers
  • Revolutionizing RF: LoRa applications and advantages
  • How to build a LoRa gateway using Raspberry Pi
  • How LoRa enables long-range communication
  • How communication works between two LoRa end-node devices

Recent Articles

  • Tria modules integrate edge AI processing with multi-core processors
  • pSemi introduces RF switch with 52 dBm PMAX,PEAK and 90-dBm IIP3 linearity
  • XP Power launches 1.3 kW power supply with 58.9 W/cm³ density
  • How to enable Wi-Fi provisioning in ESP32-based IoT products
  • Amphenol RF introduces FAKRA to SMA adapters with 4 GHz operating frequency

EE ENGINEERING TRAINING DAYS

engineering

Submit a Guest Post

submit a guest post
Engineers Garage
  • Analog IC TIps
  • Connector Tips
  • Battery Power Tips
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • EE World Online
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • EV Engineering
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips
  • 5G Technology World
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy

Search Engineers Garage

  • Electronic Projects & Tutorials
    • Electronic Projects
      • Arduino Projects
      • AVR
      • Raspberry pi
      • ESP8266
      • BeagleBone
      • 8051 Microcontroller
      • ARM
      • PIC Microcontroller
      • STM32
    • Tutorials
      • Audio Electronics
      • Battery Management
      • Brainwave
      • Electric Vehicles
      • EMI/EMC/RFI
      • Hardware Filters
      • IoT tutorials
      • Power Tutorials
      • Python
      • Sensors
      • USB
      • VHDL
    • Circuit Design
    • Project Videos
    • Components
  • Articles
    • Tech Articles
    • Insight
    • Invention Stories
    • How to
    • What Is
  • News
    • Electronic Product News
    • Business News
    • Company/Start-up News
    • DIY Reviews
    • Guest Post
  • Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online
    • EG Forum Archive
  • DigiKey Store
    • Cables, Wires
    • Connectors, Interconnect
    • Discrete
    • Electromechanical
    • Embedded Computers
    • Enclosures, Hardware, Office
    • Integrated Circuits (ICs)
    • Isolators
    • LED/Optoelectronics
    • Passive
    • Power, Circuit Protection
    • Programmers
    • RF, Wireless
    • Semiconductors
    • Sensors, Transducers
    • Test Products
    • Tools
  • Learn
    • eBooks/Tech Tips
    • Design Guides
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars & Digital Events
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • EE Training Days
    • LEAP Awards
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • DesignFast
  • Guest Post Guidelines
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe