Custom PCBs and Assembly Costs

I normally use JLPCB, but I just get the boards made from them, I don’t get components supplied/installed by them. If I had to guess, that might be where a lot of your cost is coming from.

My last order for 10 boards was like $50 shipped if I remember right.

Shipping takes a while though

Thanks for the responses. I'm using ESP32-C6s to drive LEDs in various patterns/animations. I'm also using its USB-C to charge a 3.7V LiPo battery. I don't think the D1 Mini can do that, but its footprint is also larger than what I'd like as well. I have a lot to learn about what's available, but I think I've got what I need.

Thanks for the WLED reference. I wasn't familiar. I think for now I'll stick with what I have, though, because it achieves the result.

Thanks again, all.

I ordered 20 95mm x 95mm from JLC for $30 plus whatever tariff fees I’ll have to pay once it gets here. Estimated at $8, so $40ish.

The idea was to make lighted Mardi Gras throws (or actually just nicer custom ones for friends). I've spent the last year learning how to make things on my 3D printer and so it kind of naturally turned to digital electronics. It's been decades since I've done anything in that field, so I bought some breadboards, power supply circuits, etc. and just developed some simple arrays of LEDs using Arduino to program patterns. I had it in my mind that I would just manually solder components and design 3d printed supports for the various components. I decided I didn't want to solder that much so I figured I'd give PCB development a go. This is my first PCB so there's a greater than zero percent that I've somehow screwed something up, but it was cheap enough that I didn't care. So, we'll see how it goes.

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That's it? 53 thru hole pins? That's a 10 min solder job. TOPS. (close to 5 mins)

Gotta crawl before you can walk, Lonnie. I hate soldering and the prospect of wiring component to component (as in wire to wire or wire to pad) is more of a pain in the arse than a simple thru-hole solder connection. I've got 20 boards. A PCB solves a lot of that issue.

But thanks for the support.

An esp32 with WLED to blink 8 single color LEDs in a mardi gras throw seems like massive overkill.

ws2812c pixels should work 3.5-4.3v range. That allows use of maybe 75-80% of the charge before things might turn orange or get wonky. Esp32 works in that with a shottky diode.

5050 is just a size usu max like 35mA. 2020 is smaller and maybe 5mA max but WLED handles all config.

Can have up to 4 momentary buttons with long and short press doing different things. Prob want a toggle power button.

Esp32 boards come with through holes.

Not sure if ws2812c come prewired/housed. The individual pixel strings that I have or have even seen are ws2811 based.

Edit ws2812b comes in 50 pixel strings and shows Vdd 3.5-5.3v so should work. $10 for a whole string so no risk. Easy to cut and modify. Pixels already housed.

Ali express has an esp32 dev board with an 18650 holder/manager already on it for $6.50. Prob need to read up on it but should work. Would need to de-solder the on/off toggle and move it probably.

Actually maybe think of liability. I’m not familiar with “throws” but I was thinking something along the lines of a music festival totem. I’m probably wrong.

If it’s something people will wear or even store at home, maybe stick to UL, CE, etc stamped power pack and definitely not DIY LiPo as that needs engineered enclosure tolerance.

Yes, I thought I said that. I got the PCB board so soldering would be easy. I wanted to avoid non-through-hole soldering.

I'll watch the video. I appreciate all Boy Scout Merit Badge Counselors as I used to be one!