Hello,
I would like to place a capacitor array (a single part containing multiple capacitors). I couldn’t find any symbol for that (only resistor arrays). When I searched for it the Google AI told me that there is no capacitor array in KiCad and that I can just use normal capacitor symbols and then assign a multi-part package to the symbols? I don’t think that is correct, I mean how should KiCad know what symbols belong to one part if I have multiple arrays (let alone the correct pins). And I couldn’t find an option where I can just select a few symbols and then say “merge into multi-component device” or something like that.
Is there a simple way to place a capacitor array without the need to design a new symbol?
Best regards
Stefan
So not this ?
No, not a network where one side of all capacitors are connected, just 4 capacitors in a single package, like for example this: https://www.yageo.com/en/Chart/Download/pdf/CA0508MRX7R7BB104
That’s a connector. Of course I can place some part that has the correct number of pins, but I would like to have a readable schematic that has the correct symbol.
Yes, like that, just that I want to use a part with 4 capacitors
A copy of a part of the datasheet:
KiCad does have a few “4 part” arrays, but not for capacitors, and no 0508 size.
If this was my project, I would:
- Take a default capacitor, and make a copy of it in a personal library.
- Modify it to become a 4 unit part.
- either modify one of the resistor array footprints or create a new footprint for it.
There are no pin numbers in the Yageo datasheet, and there is also no indication of how the capacitors are mapped in this footprint. It’s easy to make a (quite logical) assumption, but you should really verify this.
Ok, so there is no simple solution, I have to create a custom part?
It takes 5 mins to create . . . you get EXACTLY what you need, and you learn how to do it if you haven’t done it before.
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Well, I just thought oh that was easy, now I noticed I cannot connect to my part, because for some reason the pins are not aligned correctly. So not so easy after all…
The pins have the wrong spacing or they are just not on the same grid as the rest of the drawing?
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Open an existing symbol that is similar, save a copy to your personal Library, open that from your Library and modify it, that way you keep many features on the correct spacing.
They had not the same grid as the rest of the drawing.
I used an existing symbol (the resistor array) and I made the part slightly smaller, as the capacitors are smaller than the resistors, so I moved the pins.
For some reason KiCad does not seem to be able to open kicad_sym files, I had to edit the symbol in the schematic and then export it again.
I don’t like the concept of a “personal” library. If I share a project I would have to share a library with a lot of unrelated parts not even used in the project? I rather have single files.
Also you may get inconsistencies: Maybe you edit part a, somebody else edits part b and then you end up figuring out what part is correct.
You need to read the manual.
Don’t skip “Getting Started” - it mentions some of the problems you seems to have.
Some key words:
- Symbol editor
- Project library
- “Units” within symbols
Do not try to use a stock AI assistant - none of them give good advice about KiCad.
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Johnbeard is being very polite. 
The above are all misconceptions. Libraries, Personal or Kicad, are not shared with projects. Only the symbols used in the project are shared.
All pins for symbols need to be placed on a 50mil grid. If space is a real premium, 25mil may be used, however, in this case the pin numbers will overlap each other.
Kicad library symbols are Read Only.
This means they can only be edited on the schematic or if moved to a personal library.
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You say Symbol so I assume you mean Symbol . . . . symbols are symbolic, they don’t need to be smaller just because the physical part is smaller, they are symbolic.
Footprints are physical representations and MUST be the correct size.
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In my projects I have a footprints and a symbols folder, where I copy all custom footprints/symbols that I use in that project (mostly found somewhere on the net), so that if I share the project it has all footprints/symbols included. I know that the footprints/symbols are copied directly into the schematic/pcb design, but having this folders makes it very easy to copy a symbol/footprint to another project and also let’s you see what is custom to the project.
IMHO the idea of editing symbols/packages inside the schematic/pcb design is an anti-feature, because you end up with different versions of the same footprint/symbol.
Maybe there should be a warning if a pin is not on that grid, or an option “always align pins to 50mil grid”
I do not mean editing the KiCad provided libraries. What I did: I opened the resistor array that comes with KiCad, made a capacitor array from it, exported it as KiCad symbol to the symbols folder of my project, included it in the project. Added it to the schematic, noticed the pin issue, deleted it on the schematic and went back to symbol editor and tried to open the file: Doesn’t seem to be possible to open a kicad_sym file. But then I added the symbol again in the schematic, edited from there, exported it again and reloaded it in the schematic. Works, but not really obvious. Why cannot KiCad open a kicad_sym file?
Of course, I know that, but they take up place in the schematic and smaller components make it easier to have a clean schematic