# PCB Grounding Mistakes Your Datasheet Taught You

- Show: [OnTrack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack)
- Published: 2026-09-23
- Length: 50m
- Episode: 355
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-09-23-pcb-grounding-mistakes-your-datasheet-taught-you
- Listen: https://podcast.altium.com/e/pcb-grounding-mistakes-your-datasheet-taught-you/

## Summary

Dan Beeker, president of System Solution Specialists and former Technical Director at NXP, explains why PCB grounding mistakes originate in datasheets and reference designs rather than the designer. He argues that the industry wastes hundreds of millions annually by blindly copying evaluation board shortcuts, such as split grounds and unnecessary ferrites, instead of applying field-based physics to manage energy in the dielectric. Beeker highlights critical missing data in datasheets, such as switching speeds and core geometry, and advocates for a shift from traditional circuit theory to 3D electromagnetic field analysis to achieve first-time compliance.

## Chapters

- [0:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-09-23-pcb-grounding-mistakes-your-datasheet-taught-you#t=57) Introduction and Dan Beeker's Background
- [8:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-09-23-pcb-grounding-mistakes-your-datasheet-taught-you#t=515) The Cost of Ignoring Physics and Field-Based Design
- [12:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-09-23-pcb-grounding-mistakes-your-datasheet-taught-you#t=776) Datasheet Failures: Split Grounds and Ferrites
- [29:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-09-23-pcb-grounding-mistakes-your-datasheet-taught-you#t=1789) The 'Kitchen Sink' Approach to EMC Fixes
- [40:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-09-23-pcb-grounding-mistakes-your-datasheet-taught-you#t=2435) Missing Datasheet Details and Critical Switching Speeds
- [44:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-09-23-pcb-grounding-mistakes-your-datasheet-taught-you#t=2651) PCB West 2026 Classes and Upcoming Events

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- System Solution Specialists (company)
- NXP (company)
- Motorola (company)
- Freescale (company)
- Rick Hartley (other)
- Ralph Morrison (other)
- PCB West (other)
- Karen Burnham (other)
- Wayne State (company)
- Arizona State University (company)
- University of Michigan (company)
- Cal Tech (company)
- Eric Bogotin (other)
- Lee Richie (other)
- Maxim (company)
- Mirado (company)
- Sears Circuits (company)
- Ford (company)
- NASA (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Layout Review with Zachariah Peterson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-03-11-layout-review-with-zachariah-peterson) (The Amp Hour)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-02-25-the-spark-gap-episode-27) (The Spark Gap)
- [Top 10 Product Design Mistakes You Must Avoid](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-07-05-top-10-product-design-mistakes-you-must-avoid) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [Your Mind Is The Tool](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-11-06-your-mind-is-the-tool) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Eric Bogatin - Tilded Thumb Tenets](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-06-04-an-interview-with-eric-bogatin-tilded-thumb-tenets) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-09-23-pcb-grounding-mistakes-your-datasheet-taught-you. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to OnTrack.