Can I make a PCB without a ground plane?

Recently we are developing a portable device which should be very tiny and light. In terms of PCB design, I am thinking whether it is a good idea to exclude ground plane to minimize the product size.

September 25, 2023

It depends. For high-speed logic or RF circuits, a ground plane is necessary. For others, ground or power plane is not required.

You should, however,

Make sure that the traces are as wide as possible, particularly for the power, ground or other high-current connections.
Ensure fatter traces are more reliable.

#PCB Design

Oliver Smith

Oliver is an experienced electronics engineer skilled in PCB design, analog circuits, embedded systems, and prototyping. His deep knowledge spans schematic capture, firmware coding, simulation, layout, testing, and troubleshooting. Oliver excels at taking projects from concept to mass production using his electrical design talents and mechanical aptitude.

Oliver Smith

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