Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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The boards are here! This is a short video to show the initial impressions, and it covers why I chose JLCPCB, and why I chose S1000H fiberglass as the substrate.

-=] Patreon:
- patreon.com/c/TheDigitalMermaid

-=] Channels that have Helped Me;
* @ProjectBrupeg
* @OffGridGarageAustralia
* @AcornToArabella
* @BillCarlson

-=] References;
KiCAD Discord and IRC;
- kicad.org/community/chat
@RobertFeranec - Walking Through a Big PCB Factory in China | PCB Manufacturing | JLCPCB
- youtube.com/watch?v=jTBOSob5MLg
S1000H TG-155 Spec Sheet
- pcbwayfile.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/web/231212/Shengyi_S1000H.pdf
FR-4 (Laminated Plastics) Spec Sheet
- laminatedplastics.com/fr-4.pdf
ENIG (Electroless nickel immersion gold)
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroless_nickel_immersion_go
Big Clive's Youtube Channel (@bigclivedotcom)
- youtube.com/user/bigclivedotcom

-=] Chapters
0:00 - The PCBs And Parts Are Here
0:28 - Three Options; NextPCB, PCBWay, and JLCPCB
1:33 - PCB Substrate Options; FR4 vs S1000H
2:17 - ENIG; Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold
3:22 - The NextPCB's Experience Was ... A Thing
4:10 - PCBWay; Great Checks, But Expensive
5:24 - Why I Chose JLCPCB
5:53 - Unboxing the PCBs
7:21 - First Look At The Battery Display Board / Silkscreen Quality
10:00 - First Look At The Relay Board
11:55 - First Look At The Compass Rose / Helm Cabinet Plans
13:31 - First Look At The MCU Board / Space Efficiency
15:02 - Trials Of Reworking Through-Hole Parts
16:46 - What's Next?