Save Battery Life on Your ESP32 - How to Make a custom PCB

*🔴 Order this Board & Get $5 Credit:*
Get this exact board as a Shared Project on PCBWay: [https://www.pcbway.com/project/sharep...]
New to PCBWay? Get a $5 credit on your first order here: [https://pcbway.com/g/908Dno]

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We are finally doing it! After optimizing our code for Deep Sleep in previous videos, we hit a hardware wall. Standard dev boards just use too much power. Today, we are designing a custom "bare bones" ESP32-C3 PCB from scratch in KiCad to hit that theoretical 5µA deep sleep current.

I’ll walk you through the entire journey: from designing the schematic and removing power-hungry components (bye-bye voltage regulator and USB chip!), to using PCBWay’s full turnkey PCB assembly service to get the boards manufactured and assembled. We also tackle a tricky "brownout" issue when trying to measure microamps on the test bench!

If you want to build battery-powered IoT devices that run for years, this is the guide for you.

*📂 Project Files & Code:*
Download the full KiCad Schematic, PCB files, and Code on GitHub: [https://github.com/Ben-BJD/esp32-c3-b...]
Read the Full Companion Article (Step-by-Step Guide): [https://bj-dehaan-solutions.com.au/ar...]

*📺 Related Videos:*
Part 1: ESP32 Deep Sleep Tutorial: [   • Save Battery Life on Your ESP32 – Deep Sle...  ]
Part 2: ESP32 Battery Life Q&A – Save Power with These Code Examples! [   • ESP32 Battery Life Q&A – Save Power with T...  ]
ESP32 Data Logging (ThingSpeak): [   • ESP32 WiFi Data Logging Tutorial (No Cloud...  ]
Fun Morse Code Project: [   • Blink Morse Code with an Arduino  ]

*⏱️ Timestamps:*
0:00 - The 5µA Quest
1:16 - Why Custom Hardware?
1:58 - De-risking: LiFePO4 & FTDI Tests
3:17 - KiCad Tutorial: Schematic Design
4:22 - KiCad Tutorial: PCB Layout
5:16 - Ordering Turnkey Assembly from PCBWay
6:27 - Testing: Does it work?
8:07 - The 5µA Measurement Hack
9:56 - Conclusion

*🔧 Hardware Used:*
ESP32-C3-MINI-1
LiFePO4 Battery (3.2V)
FTDI Programmer
LM2596 Buck Converter (for testing)

*About this Project:*
This project explores affordable pcb prototype assembly for hobbyists and startups. We utilize PCBWay's turnkey pcb assembly services to handle pcb fabrication and component sourcing. If you are wondering how to order a custom pcb with components or need a pcb assembly cost estimator, this video covers the full pcb assembly process from design to delivery. We cover what files are needed for pcb assembly (Gerber files and BOM), submitting a DFM check, and how to get a quote for pcb assembly. Whether you need rapid prototyping pcb assembly services or small batch pcb assembly cost details, this custom pcb for esp32 projects tutorial has you covered.

#ESP32 #PCBDesign #KiCad #PCBWay #Electronics #IoT #DeepSleep #BatteryLife