I have a schematic with a bridge rectifier, when I layout the pcb can I use 4 diodes instead of one bridge rectifier ic?
I don’t think so. There is a netlist… that assigned each individual pin in schematic and map it to a footprint.
Why cannot you just add 4 diodes?
You can create a footprint containing the pads, silkscreen notations, etc, for all four diodes and link that to the schematic symbol using CVPCB.
But . . . you’ll have to deal with the fact that the footprint contains eight pads, while the schematic symbol probably has only four electrical connections.
And you’ll be stuck with the physical arrangement you choose for the four diodes (in a square shape, parallel to each other, etc).
In PCBNew, you’ll be able to move and orient the four diodes as a group, but not individually.
And the group of four diodes will have a single reference designator (“FWB1”, or whatever) - you won’t be able to refer to the parts individually (e.g., “D1”, “D2”, “D3”, “D4”). (At every place I’ve ever worked, this alone would subject me to public humiliation by the Configuration Control folks.)
Are you mainly interested in saving the 60 seconds of drafting time it takes to place a single bridge rectifier symbol in the schematic, versus placing and connecting four diodes; or is there another reason?
Dale
Not looking to save time, just learning what is possible. I think I will stick with using 4 diodes in my schematic. Thanks for the answers.
Not to forget, the BOM will only know 1 symbol… needs extra care when ordering, as this needs to translate into 4 diodes to make it work.
PS: for bridge rectifiers - LED light bulbs (the ones all people are using to replace their incandescent/cfl lights with) use all those tiny (B)M10S bridge rectifiers… housing size is ~5x5 mm, they’re pretty common and cheap.
A friend recently pointed out that compact flourescent (CFL) bulbs contain a high-voltage power switch transistor that should be useful in some hardware hacking projects.
Dale