KiCad Do’s & Don’ts - Episode 3: Net Classes & Electrical Rules
One of the biggest differences between a hobby‑grade PCB and a production‑ready design is how you treat your nets. KiCad gives you powerful tools to define exactly how each signal should behave… but many users never touch them.
Net Classes aren’t just “nice to have.” They encode engineering intent:
• High‑current nets need wider traces and larger clearances.
• High‑speed nets require controlled impedance and matched lengths.
• Sensitive analog nets benefit from isolation and stricter spacing.
• Power rails demand predictable thermal and electrical behavior.
When you skip Net Classes, you’re not just skipping settings, you’re skipping discipline.
When you configure them properly, KiCad becomes a design partner instead of a drawing tool.
Electrical Rules (ERC/DRC) then enforce your decisions. They’re not warnings to ignore; they’re the guardrails that keep your design manufacturable, safe, and electrically sound.
Good PCB design isn’t about drawing lines. It’s about encoding constraints.
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