The prototype PCBs for PowerControlHub were kindly supported by PCBWay.
From initial upload through to delivery, the process was smooth and well handled. The engineering review helped catch potential manufacturing issues early, and communication throughout was clear and responsive.
The boards arrived well packaged and the overall build quality is excellent — clean silkscreen, solid solder mask, and consistent alignment across all layers. Assembly was completed accurately, with components correctly placed and ready for bring-up and testing.
This support has made it possible to move quickly from design to real-world validation, which is a significant step forward for the project.
These boards will be used for real-world testing, including:
- Relay control under load (12V devices: lighting, radio, horn, etc.)
- ESP32 integration and communication
- Sensor inputs and external component support
- Thermal behaviour inside an enclosed fuse box environment
Updates and findings will be added here as testing progresses.
The current design is based around an 8-relay configuration, with full KiCad source files available in the repository:
If you're interested in adapting the design:
A 4-relay variant could be a useful smaller/cheaper option — if you’d like to design one, feel free to fork the project or submit a PR.
A custom 3D-printed enclosure is currently being developed to house the board and associated components.
- Designed for real-world installation (e.g. marine / vehicle use)
- Integrated mounting and cable management
- Thermal considerations (including airflow / fan support)
Preview images and STL files will be added soon.
PCB prototyping and assembly support for this project was provided by PCBWay, enabling rapid iteration from concept to physical hardware.
If you're working on your own hardware project and need PCB fabrication or assembly, PCBWay is well worth considering: https://www.pcbway.com