ESP32-S3-N8R8 Development Board

A custom ESP32-S3 development board designed in KiCad, based on the ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N8R8 module.

The project includes the complete hardware design workflow, from schematic capture and component selection to PCB layout and fabrication-ready files.

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Overview

This project is a custom development board built around the ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N8R8, providing a flexible platform for embedded systems, IoT, wireless communication, and general-purpose microcontroller applications.

The board was designed from the ground up in KiCad, with emphasis on:

• Clean schematic organization
• Practical PCB layout
• Component accessibility
• Expandability
• Design-for-manufacturing considerations
• Reproducible hardware development

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Features

• Microcontroller: ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N8R8
• MCU Architecture: Xtensa® dual-core 32-bit LX7
• Wireless: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy
• PCB Design: KiCad
• Custom schematic and PCB layout
• Custom component/library integration
• Designed for embedded and IoT applications
• Fabrication-ready PCB design

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Project Structure

ESP32-S3-N8R8-Development-Board/
│
├── hardware/
│   ├── schematic/
│   │   └── ESP32-S3-Board.kicad_sch
│   │
│   ├── pcb/
│   │   └── ESP32-S3-Board.kicad_pcb
│   │
│   ├── libraries/
│   │   └── Morten_library.kicad_sym
│   │
│   └── fabrication/
│       ├── gerbers/
│       ├── drill/
│       └── BOM.csv
│
├── docs/
│   ├── schematic.pdf
│   ├── pcb.pdf
│   └── images/
│
├── 3d/
│   └──
│
├── firmware/
│   └──
│
├── README.md
├── LICENSE
└── .gitignore

File and folder names may differ slightly depending on the final project organization.

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Hardware Design

Schematic

The schematic was developed in KiCad and contains the electrical connections required for the ESP32-S3-based development board.

The design includes the ESP32-S3 module together with the supporting circuitry required for reliable operation and external interfacing.

PCB Layout

The PCB was designed in KiCad with consideration for:

• Component placement
• Signal routing
• Power distribution
• Grounding
• Connector accessibility
• Board manufacturability
• Physical component clearances

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Main Component

ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N8R8

The central component of the board is the ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N8R8 module.

The N8R8 configuration provides:

• 8 MB Quad SPI flash
• 8 MB Octal PSRAM
• Integrated Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth Low Energy
• Dual-core processing
• Extensive GPIO and peripheral interfaces

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Design Tools

Tool	Purpose
KiCad	Schematic and PCB design
Git	Version control
GitHub	Project hosting and collaboration

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Repository Contents

This repository is intended to contain the complete hardware design files required to inspect, modify, and manufacture the board.

Schematic Files

KiCad schematic files containing the complete electrical design.

PCB Files

KiCad PCB layout files containing component placement, routing, board outline, copper layers, and other PCB design information.

Libraries

Custom and third-party KiCad symbol/footprint libraries required by the project.

Fabrication Files

Manufacturing outputs such as Gerber files, drill files, and BOM data can be found in the hardware/fabrication/ directory.

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Getting Started

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/AMIFEX-IT/ESP32-S3-SMALL.git

2. Open the Project

Open the KiCad project file in KiCad.

From there, the schematic and PCB layout can be inspected or modified.

3. Libraries

If KiCad reports missing symbols or footprints, make sure the custom libraries included in the repository are correctly added to the project.

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Design Status

Status: Completed

The current repository contains the completed schematic and PCB design.

Future revisions may include:

• Hardware testing
• PCB fabrication
• Bring-up and validation
• Firmware development
• Design revisions based on testing

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Applications

This development board can serve as a platform for:

• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Embedded systems
• Wireless communication
• Sensor interfaces
• Automation
• Robotics
• Prototyping
• ESP32-S3 firmware development

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Future Improvements

Potential improvements for future revisions include:

• Additional power-management features
• Expanded peripheral interfaces
• Improved connector selection
• Hardware debugging interface
• Additional protection circuitry
• Board revision based on prototype testing

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License

This project is provided for educational, development, and hardware-design purposes.

See the LICENSE file for the specific licensing terms.

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Author

ICON

Custom ESP32-S3 hardware development project designed using KiCad.

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Acknowledgements

• Espressif Systems for the ESP32-S3 platform
• KiCad for the open-source electronic design automation tools
• Morten's Lab for the referenced KiCad component library