I'm looking for some assistance with designing a PCB. I don't have any experience in PCB design, and I recently got a quote from PCBway that was around $1650 for them to design a simple board that could charge an 18650 battery and output a constant 12V. My project is to create a fan meant for law enforcement and security personnel to help cool them down under their vests. Right now, I'm using a TP4056 board with a variable step-up component and a USB-C connector for power, but I'm hoping to simplify my setup with a single board that can directly output 12V without needing manual adjustments. If anyone has schematics for something similar or suggestions for boards that could work, I would really appreciate your help!
1 Answer
Honestly, the price you're being quoted isn't too outrageous for engineering services. If you're not planning to learn PCB design yourself, you'll likely have to pay someone. While you might find cheaper options on Fiverr, take caution there—especially when dealing with something like a Li-Ion battery. For simple circuits, you can often find existing designs online and modify them. Just know that your first design will likely need some revisions, so it's a process! Don't be discouraged; with practice, your designs will improve.
I didn't realize the costs could be so high for design! I guess I need to consider learning PCB myself eventually since I’m not in a rush. Thanks for the insights!