Arduino RC Controller ground help

Projects General Guidance
1

I hate to reach out to here vs. the original poster of a guide I'm following, but I have no where else to turn as the OP is not responding looks like.

The guide in question

Long story short, I've followed the above guide to the T, no corners cut, no knock off brands and yet I seem (reading the comments) to be the only person who when I apply power (7v - #2 18650 batteries), nothing happens. (Yes I tried flipping the power switch :slight_smile: )

  • If I take my power leads from the PCB, over directly to the pro mini's raw/ground, my chips light up.
  • If I ground the PCB and apply power to raw pin directly, nothing.

That's when I noticed something funny..
It appears that the PCB has NO ground traces at all. Not on my board, no on the board in the guide's video (from what I could catch) and not in the PCB project file.

So here is my question:

Can anyone tell me why this schematic (that has no ground traces), works for the author and other developers but not me? Also, why are there no ground traces.. is that normal?

I've already confirmed the raw pin is getting power by testing raw pin and PCB ground in, but I get 0 volts if I test raw pin and ground directly on pro mini. Again leaving me wondering why no ground traces on the board.

I'm so confused.

2

Because EVERYTHING outside the traces is ground plane. No "traces" necessary.

Paul

3

I see. I've sorted this out I think.
It appears the guide's gerber direct download gives you a file that manufactures the PCBs without ground plane..
where as if I export the project from link above, I get ground plane tracing.

Joy..

Thank you for getting me sorted.
Off to spend more money looks like.

4

Glad to have helped. Good luck.

Paul