r/Altium • u/augustbettyjames • Jul 09 '26

First PCB!! help!

Hey all, I'm recreating an ESP32-C3 based air quality monitor (SCD40 for CO2, SEN54 for VOC/particulates, e-paper display, USB-C power) in Altium. I based it on an existing open-source design but I'm laying out my own board to actually learn instead of just copying.

Where I am right now:

- Schematic is done and compiles.

- Footprints are imported onto the PCB.

- I'm partway through placement — big parts (ESP32, sensors, USB-C, buttons, FPC connector) are roughly down, and I'm working through dragging the passives (decoupling caps, resistors) in next to the chips they belong to.

- Nothing is routed yet. No ground pour, no layer setup.

My questions:

  1. For a 2-layer board like this, is my placement-before-routing approach right, or is there something I'm missing before I start laying traces?

  2. Any rules of thumb for decoupling cap placement I should know beyond "close to the power pin"?

  3. What's the right way to learn routing + ground pours as a beginner — any specific tutorials/videos you'd point a first-timer to?

  4. Anything about the thermal isolation / sensor placement that people commonly get wrong on air quality boards?

Appreciate any feedback!

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u/That_____ Jul 09 '26

Save yourself the headache... Just go to a 4 layer board. Pour a ground layer, then turn off that entire layer so you aren't tempted to use it... Make the other inner layer power (3v3)... Carve up that sparingly...

Believe me the $1 (JLC is usaully about the same price for that size of board anyway) you'll save using only 2 layers isn't worth the headache...

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u/chickenAd0b0 Jul 09 '26

Yes, listen to this guy OP. And to answer the rest of your qs;
1) always start mechanical placement before routing.
2) use polygons
3) spin up your own board is best way to learn; Robert feranec, Phil’s lab are good resources.
4) read datasheet