Give Pads the same name in Eagle?

Other Hardware General Electronics
1

Hi I want to have a couple of pads called GND on my PCB, but when I add GND pads it will call them all sorts of thing like GND14, GND18 and so on on the silkscreen.....is there a way to do it so the pads are all just called GND on the silkscreen?

2

They are probably not connected to the GND. Use the Name command (right click on pad -> Name) to rename it to the GND. This will also create a connection.

3

Budvar10:
Use the Name command (right click on pad -> Name) to rename it to the GND

Just get the error message "Name already exists" :frowning:

4

?
It should open an window asking "Connect signals?"...
Did you "right click on the pad -> Name"?

5

Budvar10:
?
It should open an window asking "Connect signals?"...
Did you "right click on the pad -> Name"?

Yep

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6

Ah, I thought you need it on PCB not in the schematics. Why to create pads in the schematics? You need just GND symbols or connector with the pin connected to the GND.

7

Budvar10:
Why to create pads in the schematics?

Because if I try and add a pad to just the PCB I get the error message:

"Can't backannotate this operation. Please do this in the schematic!"

8

Create the pad as a device with a schematic symbol and a footprint - like any other connector.

9

I idea you need it on PCB now not within the schematics. Why create pads within the schematics? You want just GND symbols or connector with the pin linked to the GND.

10

Yeah, you can't have two components with the same name, even if they're just single pads.
There are a couple of solutions:

  1. name the pads GND, GND1, GND2, and so on, and the change the silkscreen on the PCB so they are all labeled "GND" ("Smash" the part, which separates the name and the footprint. Delete the name, and add your own text on tNames. (I assume that's it's the PCB silkscreen you actually care about.)
  2. Create your own "GND" part in a library, with the "GND" label instead of the ">NAME" that is usually there.
  3. instead of using a part in your schematic, create a "via 'GND'" with the desired name on the PCB, move it wherever you want, and add whatever names you want manually (I don't like this one much, because vias can disappear when you "ripup" signals.

I usually don't fab a board without massively modifying the "default" silkscreen contents. eg:

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