FEDEVEL
Platform forum

jotaro , 04-21-2026, 07:25 PM

i usually see people set the bottom blue layer as the ground plane, so there needs to be vias for gnd connections, but wouldnt it be more efficient if the top layer is ground plane so there is less distance of copper? doesnt the surrounding ground also help at attenuating crosstalk?

should an ideal design have gnd plane on both top and bottom?

QDrives , 04-21-2026, 09:13 PM

Ideal design....
That has a reference plance above and below a signal.
With tiny dielectric thickness between then. With over 7xH and 7xW to the next trace.
Ideal, yes.

Your components are on the top, so you cannot have a continues gnd for the signals on the bottom.

, 04-21-2026, 09:38 PM

There's a non-unitutive reason this isn't a good practice.

Assuming you have routed the majority of your signals and power on the top layer, then you'll end up with many ground islands on top. And while you can connect them to the bottom layer with vias, those pours aren't really providing much value.

In fact, they can cause slight voltage differences, which is bad for ground.

jotaro , 04-22-2026, 06:30 AM

i don't understand

QDrives , 04-22-2026, 11:00 PM

What did you not understand?

If you do not know what you are doing, it is best not to just pour copper on the top layer.

jotaro , 04-22-2026, 11:02 PM

everything about your message