1. Use a block diagram.
This may seem to be an obvious tip but is often ignored by overconfident people who think that they have it all figured out. A block diagram that represents your circuit exactly as you need it to be is crucial to the successful design of a circuit. A block diagram provides an outline for you before you start your work, and it also provides excellent reference material for anyone who is going to look at and examine your circuit.
2. Divide and conquer.
In a lot of cases, you might not be working alone when it comes to designing circuits, so taking your time to divide the design into functional blocks, each with defined interfaces, can allow for a divide-and-conquer strategy wherein the designers working on the circuit can focus on individual blocks. These blocks can be worked on in isolation for the project that you are currently working on, and they can be reused for different circuit designs in the future. With such an approach, you can also troubleshoot easily when things do not go your way because you will be able to identify which block is causing you trouble.
3. Name your nets.
This step is a dubious task, indeed, but making sure to name each net on the board and stating what purpose each of those nets has can go a long way when you find yourself in a pinch. It can also be helpful when you must debug or when you’re running simulations. Naming the nets lets you know where to focus when trouble arises. Remember to make the names easy to recognize and to be meaningful to what you’re assigning them to.
4. Always take notes.
When it comes to electronic design, your notes are your Holy Grail. It is important to take notes every step of the way, documenting each misstep you take, every solution you find, and anything else related to your design. Make sure to write down why you chose certain components for your model, what your logic table looks like, and also any special considerations when designing your circuit. Your notes serve several purposes:
- By clearly writing every step of the way, you can “rewind” and look at where things might have gone wrong or where you can make changes for more efficient results.
- Notes from previous projects can be used and cross-referenced for better understanding, better solutions, and more ideas on your current work.
- You can help other people with their design issues and later read their notes when or if you need to do so.
5. Be consistent in your placement of text.
If you assign certain names or write down over your diagram, you will find it extremely hard to figure out what everything is on a second viewing. When you are placing symbols and names on your schematics, make sure to be consistent with your naming process. Do not write one part of the circuit vertically while all of the others are written horizontally. Try to make sure that there is some space between names, so readers, including you, will not get confused. Do not be afraid to have blank spaces. In fact, blank spaces can help reduce the clutter of mixing your drawings with your writing. The same applies for shorthand names. If you are going to shorten anything, try adding anecdotes below that explain them or make sure that they are easy to recognize.
6. Let it flow.
Do not try to compress your plans and notes to fit a specific number of pages. It does not matter how many it takes; do not compromise on the quality of your schematics. Make sure the circuit designs flow consistently. This helps for better readability and better application. There are no shortcuts when it comes to electronic circuit design; it is all about the effort and the results of that effort.
7. Keep titles.
Making titles for each page of your schematics can benefit you by providing additional information about each page. Along with higher readability, doing so makes it easier to index your pages. This is advantageous during debugging when you need to reference a certain part of your circuit, but you are too busy flipping through pages, connecting the circuit in your head, and trying to figure out where the necessary diagram is located.
8. Make your connectors visible.
You need to be able to immediately distinguish all of the connectors. The best option for this is to use pins for the connectors in the schematics. With the easy identification of connectors, you will be able to follow your circuit properly and you will not get lost with the connections. The choice of pins is beneficial because it will stay firm in its place. Unlike stickers or colors, pins will stand out better without taking up too much space in the diagrams and notes.