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What Is PCB Current Calculator, its Importance, And How To Use?

The PCB standard of IPC-2221 contains various requirements and

specifications for the manufacture and design of circuit boards. Today,

there are various web-based calculators that follow this standard. Apart

from calculating the annular ring and impedance, it also focuses on

the trace width, temperature rise, and trace current. Both standards,

IPC-2152 and IPC-2221, include guidelines regarding designing the PCB for

thermal tolerance. Both standards have a distinctly detailed debate over

the applicability and usage of both standards.

If you decide to choose the IPC-2221 standard, then don’t be afraid. We

have made a very simple and easy-to-use PCB calculator that helps to

determine the limits of trace width in a given limit of heat. If you

use Altium Designer, you can find these features in the Circuit Board

Editor while working on the PCB routing.

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Table of Contents

Types Of PCB Current Calculators and Trace Width

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The trace width of PCB can be determined through various distinct

calculators. All these PCB calculators follow the standard of the PCB

industry. These PCB industry standards follow the guidelines for

calculations. Both the IPC-2221 and IPC-2152 standards are widely used in

commercial and industrial applications.

1. IPC 2221 PCB Trace Width

The calculator IPC-2221 uses a graph and an equation to calculate the

current of the PCB track. The formula stands for I=kΔTbAc.

In this formula, the Visible traces represent the K which has a value of

0.0048, and internal traces also represent the K which has a value of 0.024.

ΔT represents the change in temperature in Celsius. The B value equals

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0.44, and the C value equals 0.725. Whereas, A represents the area of

cross-section.

The IPC-2221 calculator only uses a specific range of all values to calculate

the PCB trace width. The range of current falls between 35 and 0 amperes,

track width between 10.16 to 0 mm, the width of copper between 3 to 0.5

oz, and the rise in temperature between 100 to 10 oC. It does not give

accurate results if the value changes from these specific ranges.

2. IPC 2152 PCB Trace Width

The Calculator IPC-2152 uses an advanced and recent standard type for

the calculation. This gives a more precise and accurate calculation of Max

capacity of trace current. It uses advanced technical methods. The formula

of this calculator does not seem simple as compared to the calculator

IPC-2221. To determine the unorganized area of the cross-section, it uses

a universal graph.

However, this IPC-2152 calculator uses various types of parameters to

create a number of modifiers. Therefore, the parameters include the

thickness of the trace for passing, the distance between the tracks and

copper planes, as well as the thermal conductivity of the PCB.

What’s In IPC-2221 in Electronics Industry?

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An IPC-2221 is a type of standard for the acceptance and qualification of

PCBAs and PCBs. The standards demand some requirements and

specifications to design a PCB, which ensure the manufacturability,

reliability, and safety of a PCB. These standards come in generic standards.

At the same time, you can specify a certain type of standard that applies to

the PCB used in the whole series of 2220.

The IPC-2221 calculator uses the above formula to calculate the width of

the PCB trace, which is needed to keep the level of temperature below a

certain range. In simple words, you just have to enter the weight of the

copper in the calculator. As a result, it gives you the value of trace width,

which is required within the given temperature rise and current.

Does the IPC-2221 calculator exist in an online system of CAD? Well, yes,

the user of Altium Designer can avail of this tool in the tools

of routing present in the window of PCB Editor. To analyze the trace width,

just select the trace and then expand the information in the NEt Data area

present in the Panel of Properties.

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PCB Current Calculator: IPC-2221 Formula

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The formulas mentioned above have some things to note to find which

show precise and accurate results.

1. The formula is chart-based.

2. The formula predicts that the PCB lies at STP in an open

environment with air.

3. The prototypes before using a trace of only thick PCBs and no extra

copper planes to disperse heat.

4. They treat multiple parallel closer traces as one bug trace to pass

the current.

5. If the thinness of the board falls below 30 mils, it recommends to

derate it by 15% rather than 10%.

6. Higher thermal capability substrates have distinct limits of trace and

current width than a conventional laminate of epoxy-fiberglass.

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This means that the IPC-2221 calculator does not give accurate results

when it comes to modern PCBs. In simple words, the value of current

capacity changes if you put an additional plane and copper around the

trace, and it gives an underestimated value. On the other hand, it gets

reversed with a minimum width of trace and gives an overestimated value.

Remember these points, as it helps in calculating an accurate trace width.

Because of the nuisance of this standard with modern PCBs, designers

and engineers were forced to create an advanced standard that gives

higher efficiency, accuracy, and specificity. And then comes the IPC-2152

standard.

IPC-2221 Vs. IPC2152: Which is the Best to Use?

All online calculators have some limitations. The calculator IPC-2221 also

falls in this category. It’s the fact that the IPC-2221 calculator gives an

overestimated value of minimum trace width. Therefore, the

standard IPC-2152 calculator expands the data to add numerous

nomographs which determine the current limits, temperature rise, and

trace width.

Currents a PCB Trace Carry and its Importance

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The PCB trace current capacity limitation is one of the main problems

which arise in various electronic projects. In many home projects, the

value never exceeds the maximum limit, which seems better.

The calculator helps greatly in determining the current capacity of PCB

trace yet gives a hard time in handling the charts. As the max PCB trace,

the current capacity is linked with the operational temperature and width.

Importance of Using the PCB Current Calculator Trace Width

The current calculator of PCB trace is an easy-to-use tool. It is divided into

Output and Input sections which makes it easy to put data and obtain the

results. The fields in this calculator include the following:

1. The Internal and External trace location according to the substrate

of PCB.

2. The width of the trace represents the distance.

3. The thickness of the trace represents the horizontal length of the

PCB trace.

4. The Max temperature rise represents the maximum value of a

difference between the ambient temperature and PCB trace.

However, in advanced features:

1. The surrounding temperature.

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2. The trace length from start to end.

3. The Max PCB traces current capacity.

4. The trace cross-sectional area.

5. The temperature of trace while operation.

6. The trace resistance at Max PCB traces current capacity.

7. The drop of voltage for the max current and calculated resistance

value.

8. The dissipation of power at the max rate of current capacity.

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Guidelines and Tips for Using the PCB Current Calculator

high current pcb

The current that flows through the track and the specification of design

determines the trace width of the PCB. However, it follows a specific rule.

The minimum value of the traceroute ranges from 10 mm/A. This goes

well for a 1.0 oz/ft2 thickness of copper.

The calculation of trace width is a complex process. That is why it requires

some rules to understand for calculating the trace width of PCB. The

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circuit works well on max current with ambient temperature, the thickness

of the trace, and the trace measurement unit. These values depict the

input range of trace width.

When you add these values inside the calculator of trace width, it gives

back some output values. This output value represents the PCB trace

width. The datasheet shows all the figures of input. It does not work with

guess figures. All PCB requires this information to calculate the trace

width.

The calculator does not work well and gives no output if the input value is

wrong. You may also need a magnifying glass so that you can see the

exact values on the PCB.

Confirming the Efficient Trace Width with PCB Calculator

· Standard Track Width

First, decide the track size for the PCB in your design. Too thin, narrow,

and close tracks lead to short circuits. At the same time, too much spacing

between the tracks must need some restriction on the track number. In

such scenarios, incorporate extra plane layers in the PCB to make sure the

routing of the PCB.

· Circuit Pad Shapes

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The libraries of components typically possess PCB libraries for

the schematic and footprint of different electrical components. Although,

it depends on the process of PCB manufacturing. Therefore, you have to

select the process of manufacturing before beginning the design process.

This way, you can select the appropriate size of pads and later on

incorporate it over the CAD system of PCB.

· Track the Size of Lines

PCBs Possess a thin track of line which limits the carrying capacity of

current. That is why we must consider the size of the trace for any route

that carries a power current instead of lesser signal levels.

· Dimensions Of Hole & Pad

It’s important to decide on the pad and the hole dimension once you begin

the design of the PCB. It may vary according to various situations.

Sometimes, the ratio of pad-to-hole falls to 1:8. Sometimes, it measures

when the pad is bigger than the hole. The manufacturers of PCBs have

their own set of standards according to the usage of the application. The

ratio gets more crucial as the size of the pads, and the hole decreases.

Factors to Think about When Developing PCB Trace Width

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The trace width of a PCB directly affects the functionality of a PCB in many

ways. However, we have a few factors to take into account while

determining the value of trace width.

· Signal Integrity & Electrical Performance

The majority of PCB digital routing possesses the default trace width value,

yet some may need distinct sizes. For instance, the steady impedance net

of traces needs the evaluation of trace width on the basis of the stack up

of PCB layer consideration.

In most cases, analog routing requires the PCB trace width according to

the circuitry usage. Well, in some cases, one can also decrease the default

width of traces in compact spaces. You only need to make sure that it will

not extend the surface of the PCB.

· PCB Fabrication

Wider traces fabricate easily on the PCB. The process of etching traces

leaves a greater effect on the isolated and long traces. That is why make

sure to create wider traces. For example, a trace of 20 mils has a greater

current tolerance capacity than a trace of 3 mils. Moreover, the weight of

the copper determines the width of the traces in a PCB.

· Power & Grounding Routing

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The trace of ground and power routing should have enough space to lead

to a greater amount of amperes. As thin traces get hot easily, it leads to

burning. Moreover, the internal layers of the PCB must have wider and

broader traces so that heat disperses easily. Furthermore, the power

traces on the outer layers of the PCB have better exposure to the outer air,

which helps the traces to chill.

Therefore, outer sheets don’t require wide and broader traces. Traces

incorporated in the circuitry of the power supply must have wide but short

traces so that the current flows evenly. Make sure for greater spacing

between the traces, which also helps in greater current flow.

Conclusion

A Circuit board trace calculator helps you to evaluate various aspects of

trace. This includes trace temperature, dissipation of power, voltage drop,

resistance, and max current capacity. You can also evaluate the width of

the trace following the current capacity it holds while using the calculator.

This article explains in detail the PCB calculator of trace width. I hope this

information helps you in your endeavor to trace the width of the PCB

calculator.

Related Posts:

1. Importance and Applications of the PCB Calculator Trace Width

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2. Taitien NA-100M-6822 – A Simple Yet Effective Direct

Current-To-Amplifying Current Converter

3. How To Do PCB Trace Width Calculator ?

4. What is an Inductor Impedance Calculator?

https://www.raypcb.com/pcb-current-calculator/

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