# Use The Protection Circuit

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2019-03-18
- Length: 1h 04m
- Episode: 434
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-03-18-use-the-protection-circuit
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/434-use-the-protection-circuit/

## Summary

Dave Jones of EEV Blog and Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics discuss the technical and logistical challenges of hardware development. They detail a Gerber file compatibility issue with JLC PCB when using Altium's plane layers, the high cost of prototyping with custom components like transformers and connectors, and the critical safety implications of using unprotected 18650 lithium cells. The conversation also touches on the cancellation of the Open Source Hardware Summit in China, the rise of USB 4, and the precision required for home-milled PCBs.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-03-18-use-the-protection-circuit#t=0) Introduction and Altium/JLC PCB Gerber Issues
- [15:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-03-18-use-the-protection-circuit#t=938) Prototyping Costs and Custom Components
- [22:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-03-18-use-the-protection-circuit#t=1342) Open Source Hardware Summit Cancellation
- [40:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-03-18-use-the-protection-circuit#t=2404) Unprotected 18650 Battery Safety
- [55:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-03-18-use-the-protection-circuit#t=3305) USB 4, KiCad Updates, and Home-Milled PCBs

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- JLC PCB (company)
- Altium (tool)
- KiCad (tool)
- EEV Blog (company)
- Contextual Electronics (company)
- SparkFun (company)
- DigiKey (company)
- AliExpress (company)
- Panasonic (company)
- USB 4 (other)
- Thunderbolt (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep047: Prusa Controversy, Bottle Organ Breakdown, PCBs Bending Backwards, and Listen to Your LED](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-12-20-ep047-prusa-controversy-bottle-organ-breakdown-pcbs-bending-backwards-and-listen) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 333: Nightmare Whiffletrees, 18650 Safety, and a Telephone Twofer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-08-15-ep-333-nightmare-whiffletrees-18650-safety-and-a-telephone-twofer) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-12-25-the-spark-gap-episode-44) (The Spark Gap)
- [Hardware Startup Horror Stories and How to Avoid Them with Dave Millman of BizDev.Global](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-03-23-hardware-startup-horror-stories-and-how-to-avoid-them-with-dave-millman-of-bizde) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [Ep 313: Capacitor Plague, Wireless Power, and Tiny Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-03-21-ep-313-capacitor-plague-wireless-power-and-tiny-everything-cb8186ab) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-03-18-use-the-protection-circuit. 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 The Amp Hour.