PCB Design for Power Distribution

flux

1:30

Thinking deeply about your request.

Working on your request.

Analyzing the schematic.

Evaluating components and results.

Working on your request.

Running design review.

Creating a plan.

Working on your request.

Creating a concise plan.

Planning the call.

You want me to finish all remaining schematic net connections for this power board.
  • I’ve updated the plan to:
    1. finalize rail names
    2. complete the upstream power path
    3. wire one reference USB-C channel
    4. replicate it across exactly six outputs
    5. close out remaining connectivity issues
The plan is ready to execute. Click Start on the plan bar.
6 days

Started implementing a plan

#Goal

- Finish all schematic net connections for the 12V LiFePO4 power distribution board, ensuring that the input protection chain, current/voltage monitoring, 5.1V buck regulator, 3.3V logic rail, six USB-C power-only output channels, service headers, and test points are fully connected and functionally complete.

#Implementation plan

1. Lock the power architecture & rail names

1. Finalize identifying and labeling the 12V battery input, 5.1V buck regulator, and 3.3V logic rail nets.

2. Complete the upstream power path

1. Connect the full input protection chain with the appropriate fuses, TVS diodes, and other components in-line with the battery input.

2. Connect the current/voltage monitoring circuitry to sample the 12V input and the power rails.

3. Connect the 5.1V buck regulator output to supply the downstream USB-C outputs and auxiliary circuits.

4. Connect the 3.3V logic rail to the proper digital components and monitoring circuits as required.

3. Develop one reference USB-C power output channel

1. Connect the buck regulator output to a canonical USB-C port symbol ensuring proper power-only configuration.

2. Attach service headers and test points to that channel to enable measurements and debugging.

4. Replicate the validated USB-C channel across exactly six outputs

1. Duplicate the wiring and connection scheme of the reference channel to ensure consistent connection in each channel.

2. Verify that each of the six USB-C channels is properly connected to the 5.1V rail and isolated with its own service header/test point setup.

5. Run a schematic connectivity closure pass

1. Review and resolve remaining net connectivity to ensure compliance with the functional requirements.

2. Confirm that all nets, including monitoring paths and safety circuits, are connected.

#Success criteria

- The entire schematic net list is complete with all power protection, regulation, and distribution branches connected.

- The schematic presents exactly six fully wired USB-C power output channels with associated service headers and test points.

- The monitoring paths and logic rail connections are correct, enabling the board to be sent for review.

6 days

Task completed.

1:03

6 days

inspected existing schematic and identified missing nets

1:47

Running design review.

Accessing knowledge base.

Started: inspecting schematic state and pin mappings

6 days

flux

0:09

I found the core power path, monitor, buck, LDO, six eFuses, six USB-C controllers, six USB-C connectors, service headers, and test points already placed. I am now closing the remaining schematic connectivity around the existing six-channel architecture rather than changing the component set.
6 days

No changes applied.

0:10

6 days

wiring rails, telemetry, and usb-c channels...

0:31

Started: wiring rails, telemetry, and usb-c channels

6 days

Updating connections...

6d 3:27:25

6 days

Stopped due to a problem. Please try again.

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Project Specification
Design Summary
Status: Approved
Manufacturing target: Prototype
Software / firmware: N/A - hardware-only power distribution board
Scope
Purpose
Design and build a full 12V LiFePO4 power distribution board that accepts a battery input, protects and monitors the input rail, generates regulated 5.1V and 3.3V rails, and distributes 5.1V power to six USB-C output ports on a 150 mm x 100 mm 2-layer PCB intended for JLCPCB manufacturing.
In scope
  • 12V battery input with over-current, reverse-polarity, and surge protection
  • Input current and voltage monitoring
  • 12V to 5.1V buck conversion
  • 3.3V logic rail generation
  • Six USB-C power output ports
  • Test points, board-edge connectors, and service headers
  • 150 mm x 100 mm 2-layer PCB implementation
Out of scope
  • Data connectivity over USB-C
  • Battery charging
  • Enclosure-specific mechanical adaptation beyond board outline and edge-access placement
System context
This board is a standalone DC power backplane for a 12V LiFePO4 battery system. It provides protected power intake, diagnostics, regulated low-voltage rails, and six downstream USB-C power outputs for attached loads.
Key interfaces
  • 12V battery input connector
  • Six USB-C power-only output connectors
  • I2C service header for telemetry devices
  • Board-edge 5.1V and 3.3V auxiliary headers
Attach: simple block diagram
Diagram



  
    
  
  
    
  






























12V LiFePO4 Input
Protection Stage
Shunt And Monitor
12V Protected Rail
5.1V Buck
3.3V LDO
USB-C Port 1
USB-C Port 2
USB-C Port 3
USB-C Port 4
USB-C Port 5
USB-C Port 6
I2C And Service Header
Test Points
Requirements
Functional
  • The board shall accept a 12V LiFePO4 battery input.
  • The board shall protect the input against over-current, reverse polarity, and surge events.
  • The board shall monitor input current and voltage for diagnostics.
  • The board shall generate a regulated 5.1V rail for six USB-C output ports.
  • The board shall generate a 3.3V rail for logic and monitoring circuits.
  • The board shall expose test points and service connectors for bring-up and validation.
Electrical
  • Input power: 12V nominal LiFePO4 battery rail
  • Key rails: 12V protected rail, 5.1V main output rail, 3.3V logic rail
  • Critical interfaces: USB-C CC configuration/control, I2C telemetry bus
  • Power distribution intent: high-current 5.1V routing sized for multi-port USB power delivery with conservative copper widths on a 2-layer PCB
Mechanical / environmental
  • Board size fixed at 150 mm x 100 mm
  • Board stackup fixed at 2 copper layers
  • Edge-access placement required for USB-C connectors and primary battery input connector
Key constraints
  • JLCPCB manufacturability intent for fabrication and assembly-compatible footprints where possible
  • 2-layer routing only, requiring careful power-path width allocation and grounding strategy
  • USB-C ports are power-only outputs, not data ports
  • Bottom-layer ground fill preferred for return current and thermal spreading
Dependencies and risks
Dependencies
  • Final chosen USB-C source/control implementation depends on library availability and datasheet-supported source-mode wiring
  • Final inductor and some protection footprint selections depend on library coverage and JLCPCB stock
Key risks
  • 2-layer board may require aggressive copper allocation for the 5.1V distribution network
  • USB-C source-port controller choices in library may not match the originally preferred MPN/package set exactly
  • Thermal dissipation in buck regulator, input FET, and per-port protection devices must be checked during layout review
Validation
Success criteria
  • Complete schematic with protected 12V input, telemetry, buck regulator, 3.3V rail, six USB-C outputs, test points, and service headers
  • PCB layout sized to 150 mm x 100 mm with 2-layer stackup and manufacturability-oriented rules
  • Correctly wired power paths with clean schematic and layout review results
Planned checks
  • ERC and schematic review for completeness and missing connections
  • DRC and airwire review after layout configuration
  • Power integrity review of high-current traces and thermal pads
Release-facing notes
Expected deliverables
  • Schematic
  • PCB layout
  • BOM
  • Manufacturing package
  • Bring-up notes via design notes document
Special release notes
  • USB-C ports are power-only and intentionally omit data connectivity
  • Test points required on 12V input, protected 12V, 5.1V, 3.3V, and ground
  • Preference for JLCPCB-compatible library parts and footprints
Change notes / open questions
Changes in this revision
  • Frozen project brief transcribed into formal specification
  • Architecture diagram added
  • Layout envelope and manufacturing intent captured
Open questions
  • Confirm final per-port USB-C source controller implementation from available library parts
  • Confirm exact current budget per USB-C output and whether all six ports are intended to support simultaneous maximum load

    Design Summary

    Scope

    System context

    Requirements

    Functional

    Electrical

    Mechanical / environmental

    Key constraints

    Dependencies and risks

    Validation

    Release-facing notes

    Change notes / open questions

Documents

    Project Specification

Assets

Assets are files uploaded to this project which can be used in various ways.

12V LiFePO4 Power Distribution Board thumbnail
12V LiFePO4 power distribution board requirements package: 150 mm x 100 mm 2-layer SMD PCB with 12V battery input, input protection, 12V-to-5.1V buck conversion, six USB-C power outputs, 3.3V logic rail, current/voltage monitoring, test points, board-edge connectors, and JLCPCB-aligned fabrication outputs.

Properties

Pricing & Availability

Distributor

Qty 1

Arrow

$74.55–$82.80

Digi-Key

$16.55–$18.84

LCSC

$24.34–$24.54

Mouser

$36.42

TME

$7.11

Verical

$10.61–$88.12

Controls