Scribd
Upload
39 views

Using Ipc Temp Charts

This document provides instructions for using IPC temperature charts to determine the temperature rise of printed circuit board traces based on their dimensions, thickness, and current. The charts contain three figures - Figure A for external traces, Figure B relating trace dimensions to cross-sectional area, and Figure C for internal traces. Users can determine trace temperature by looking up cross-sectional area on Figure B, then following that value to the corresponding curve on Figure A or C based on whether the trace is internal or external.

Uploaded by

hex0x1
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
39 views

Using Ipc Temp Charts

This document provides instructions for using IPC temperature charts to determine the temperature rise of printed circuit board traces based on their dimensions, thickness, and current. The charts contain three figures - Figure A for external traces, Figure B relating trace dimensions to cross-sectional area, and Figure C for internal traces. Users can determine trace temperature by looking up cross-sectional area on Figure B, then following that value to the corresponding curve on Figure A or C based on whether the trace is internal or external.

Uploaded by

hex0x1
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Using the IPC Temperature Charts

This data is being offered here as a public service. UltraCAD Design Inc. makes no repre-
sentation whatsoever as to the accuracy and/or validity of this data and accepts no respon-
sibility whatsoever for anyones use of it. See other UltraCAD publications, available on
our web site, for limitations associated with this data.
The IPC temperature charts are published as Figure 6-4 in IPC 2221, General Standard on Printed
Board Design. The Figure is reprinted on page 2.

The first observation to be made is that the curves and axes do not line up exactly. This is not a prob-
lem in scanning the charts or in reproducing them here! It is a result of the now recognized fact that the
originals have been long lost and these copies have been recopied, rescanned, and redrawn countless
times during the last 40+ years! It is remarkable (and a testimony to the care that has always been
taken) that they are still as faithful to the originals as they are! There is a renewed effort underway by
the IPC and interested parties in updating the charts. UltraCAD is proud to be making a small contribu-
tion in this effort.

The figure is organized as three separate, but coordinated charts. The middle one (Figure B) relates to
the dimensions of the trace. You use this chart to determine the cross-sectional area of the trace. The
other two charts (Figure A for external traces and Figure C for internal traces) provide the trace/
temperature relationship as a function of the cross sectional area (either already known or as deter-
mined from Figure B.)

For example, using Figure B (page 3), if the trace is 100 mils wide (left axis) and 2 Oz. thick, you can
move right from the left axis from 100 mils to the line labeled 2 Oz., then at that intersection drop the
line from there to the horizontal axis to find the cross-sectional area. In this illustration, the cross-
sectional area is 250 sq. mils.

Continuing the illustration on page 3, extend the line up to Figure A where it crosses the curves. You
can now determine the temperature rise of the trace (the individual curves) as a function of the current
through the trace (left axis.) For example, if the current through the trace is 7 Amps, the temperature of
the trace is expected to rise about 10
o
C above the ambient temperature. If the current through the trace
is (almost, not quite) 20 Amps, the temperature of the trace is estimated to rise 100
o
C above the ambi-
ent temperature. If, for example, we wanted to know what current would cause a 20
o
rise in tempera-
ture (above the ambient temperature) for this 100 mil wide, 2 Oz. trace, draw a line (green, in this illus-
tration) from the intersection to the left axis to find approximately 10 Amps.

If you want to determine the required trace dimensions for a given temperature rise, proceed in the op-
posite manner. For example, suppose you wanted to know the required trace width for an external 1
Oz. trace carrying 5 Amps with an allowable 30
o
temperature rise above the ambient temperature. Find
the intersection of 5 Amps and the 30
o
C curve on Figure A (blue line), drop that down to the 1 Oz.
trace curve on Figure B, and determine that you need a trace with an approximate 60 mil width ( or an
approximate 80 square mil cross-sectional area.)

This illustrates the general approach to using these charts. For internal traces, use the identical proce-
dures but drop the line to Figure C (instead of Figure A).

Clean, expanded charts are provided on pages 4 and 5.
UltraCAD Design, Inc. www.ultracad.com January, 2001

You might also like