FEDEVEL
Platform forum

The Chosen One , 01-08-2024, 04:20 PM

I am new to Altium designer and I am Unsure of what these errors mean/why they appear. Can I potentially recieve some guidance on this?

QDrives , 01-08-2024, 10:24 PM

This may show the reason I never use pin types (ie. input, output, power, etc.). All I use is passive. I think it gives more problems than that it solves.

Could it be that the output if the LDO is set to "output" and the power in of the ADC and MCU are set to "power"?
In a sense that is correct. However, the thought is that the output will clash with the power. Using these types the inputs and outputs of the LDO would both need to be power.

My advise: do not assign any other type than passive.
Your solution can be either:
- Change the type of the pins and update.
- Change the connection matrix to not report an error (Project / Project Options / Connection matrix).

Robert Feranec , 01-09-2024, 09:18 AM

I do it the same way as @QDrives

The Chosen One , 01-09-2024, 09:41 PM

Heres my schematics, I am getting the errors for the power supply an the MCU. Any chance you can see what the problem may be/any suggestions for the design as a whole

QDrives , 01-09-2024, 11:04 PM

I already mentioned what your problem is and how to solve it.
The pin type of the output pin of your LDO is set to "output" and the power pins of your MCU are set to "power".
By default Altium (and every other EDA tool) will give an error when an output is connected to power.

So either change all pin types to "passive" or change the connection matrix.

The Chosen One , 01-10-2024, 11:15 AM

Ok, what is the difference between a passive pin type and active pin type and what is the connection matrix? Sorry if these are basic questions, like I said I am still fairly new to PCB design.

QDrives , 01-10-2024, 09:06 PM

In my first comment:
"Change the connection matrix to not report an error (Project / Project Options / Connection matrix)."
The type is just what you give it. The connection matrix tells you if it is a warning, error, or fatal error is given when you connect one type to another.
https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/project-options-connection-matrix?version=21
https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/creating-schematic-symbol
https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/673793/altium-correct-pin-electrical-type-for-vin-and-vout-pins-on-schematic-symbol

Roomi#0787 , 01-16-2024, 06:33 AM

I prefer to use pin types as per datasheet, supply and ground pins as power etc. this way I can catch if there was an unknown mistake. making everything passive will not allow me to do so. What I do is that i go through the error/warning messages and see which one is acceptable.

QDrives , 01-16-2024, 10:01 PM

I do not want "errors" that are "acceptable". It may look helpfull, but in my opinion it is giving more problems than that it solves - as shown in the case.
A good schematic review catches more errors than the pin type.

Robert Feranec , 01-17-2024, 05:18 AM

initially this looks like a good way to go. however it will become a problem if you have to go back to your project after some time (or if someone else have to go back to your project) do some changes and then release it again. in this case, any warnings and errors from previous versions may cause headaches and confusion (was this error there before or it is a new one ??? ... or ... you will be talking to yourself like: this warning was there before and for some reason it was fine, but I can't remember why). Also don't forget, you may go through your project compilation multiple times and checking all the warnings and errors again and again will take you a lot of time. It's much faster and easier to see - No errors, No warnings

QDrives , 01-17-2024, 09:06 PM

And to extend to the excellent list of Robert, spend time on error that truly do cause problems!