# The Two Person Rule

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2020-06-01
- Length: 1h 13m
- Episode: 494
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-06-01-the-two-person-rule
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/494-the-two-person-rule/

## Summary

Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the critical importance of PCB stackups, sharing a story where Chris wasted two days troubleshooting controlled impedance issues caused by a board house using the wrong material. They explore the 'two-person rule' for powering up expensive prototypes, the nuances of writing C vs. C++ for hardware projects, and the industry shift toward onshore manufacturing exemplified by TSMC's new Arizona fab.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-06-01-the-two-person-rule#t=0) Introduction and Vintage Hardware
- [7:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-06-01-the-two-person-rule#t=462) PCB Stackup Errors and Test Coupons
- [18:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-06-01-the-two-person-rule#t=1136) High-Stakes Prototyping and the Two-Person Rule
- [26:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-06-01-the-two-person-rule#t=1580) Engineering Failures and Checklist Culture
- [44:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-06-01-the-two-person-rule#t=2671) Troubleshooting Relief and Software Extensibility
- [53:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-06-01-the-two-person-rule#t=3204) TSMC Arizona Fab and Supply Chain Reshoring
- [1:01:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-06-01-the-two-person-rule#t=3699) Polaroid Teardown and Power Topology Handbook

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Intel (company)
- Amazon Prime (other)
- VNA (tool)
- Oshpark (company)
- JLCPCB (company)
- TSMC (company)
- Microchip (company)
- RCS Radio (company)
- Polaroid (product)
- Matt Parker (other)
- Eric Bogatin (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [PCB Assembly Mistakes Designers Keep Making: PCB West 2026 Preview](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-09-09-pcb-assembly-mistakes-designers-keep-making-pcb-west-2026-preview) (OnTrack)
- [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)
- [PCB Assembly and Design for Manufacturing with Duane Benson of Screaming Circuits](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-03-03-pcb-assembly-and-design-for-manufacturing-with-duane-benson-of-screaming-circuit) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-12-03-the-spark-gap-episode-22) (The Spark Gap)
- [Chris Denney | PCB Design, Fabrication, & Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2022-12-16-chris-denney-pcb-design-fabrication-manufacturing) (Being an Engineer)

## 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/2020-06-01-the-two-person-rule. 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.