Using power and ground planes. Is the layout up to the mark?

[Aditya_Pandurang]

Hi everyone, I’m currently working on my first project and I’ve finished designing the PCB layout.
My PCB has 4 layers. First layer has all the signal traces. Second layer is the ground plane. Third layer is the power plane. Fourth layer does not have any traces.

1. Am I wasting the fourth layer?
2. I’m using filled zones for the ground and power planes. Is this fine(filled zones for planes)?

Above is the ground plane.

3. Is the layout good?

Approximately 5amperes of current passes through the screw terminals to the header pin connectors.
The traces are 0.2mm.

Layers of the PCB are as follows:

1. First layer (has all traces)
2. GND plane
3. PWR plane
4. Fourth layer

Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you

[Aditya_Pandurang]

Above is the power plane.

It did not allow more than 1 attachment in the main topic, so here is the PWR plane

[Aditya_Pandurang]

Above is the first layer.

It did not allow more than 1 attachment in the main topic, so here is the first layer.

[jmk]

@Aditya_Pandurang

It did not allow more than 1 attachment in the main topic

To self promote to a level where you may post more than one attachment, please read this FAQ.

[nickmBY]

Just by the “complexity” of the circuit, that should be easily doable in two layers. Or just one.

[jmk]

@Aditya_Pandurang

This forum is for helping people to use the Kicad program.
Opinions on project layouts and circuit design are outside the scope of this forum. It would be best for you to try “allaboutcircuits”, “stackexchange” or “EEVblog” for design opinions.

[nickmBY]

Here is a different version of your response:

Use Board setup to change to a 2 layer or even single layer PCB.

[Piotr]

@Aditya_Pandurang

Approximately 5amperes of current passes through the screw terminals to the header pin connectors.
The traces are 0.2mm.

Layers of the PCB are as follows:

1. First layer (has all traces)
2. GND plane
3. PWR plane
4. Fourth layer

Any help would be appreciated.

If you really have to pass 5A through these PCB than 4 layers can be helpful. I don’t understand were from 5A here, but this is not KiCad related subject.
My example of 2 layer PCB with all signal and power tracks at top and whole bottom being GND zone (free space at top also filled with GND) you can see here:

Approaching PCB track routing for a newbie

Positioning for me is the main work in designing PCB. If each element is where it is needed than routing is simple. Till now all my PCBs are 2 layers and all of them have GND plane taking 100% of bottom layer. So except GND I design my PCBs as 1 layer. I use microcontrollers in QFP packages without thermal pad at bottom. This allows me to go with VCC under the microcontroller and go out through all corners and all VCC pins. That way GND and VCC don’t disturb my signal connections. At all digi…

All vias you see are GND.

[Aditya_Pandurang]

Considering the 5A current flowing through the circuit (from J2 to J1), is it possible to create wide enough traces to accomplish that? if that’s possible, then I guess the PCB can just be a 2-layered PCB.

[Aditya_Pandurang]

Yes sure, Thanks for the info

[nickmBY]

@Aditya_Pandurang

is it possible to create wide enough traces to accomplish that?

At 12 Amps per square mm through your header pin, I wouldn’t be too concerned about a 4 layer board.
If you go to the calculator tools, you will see (in case you look for it) that a 3 mm track width would be sufficient. Plenty of room on a single sided PCB.

BTW:
This is already completely offtopic. You didn’t ask a single question about KiCad

[Naib]

I’m locking this thread as it isn’t associated with help with Kicad. There are plenty of board to assist with general electronic design.

If you require specific Kicad help (ie the rules needed to ensure consistent trackwidth for those traces carrying 5A) please open a specific thread