PCB Trace Width Calculator - Trace Width vs. Current Table
PCB Trace Width Calculator - Trace Width vs. Current Table
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Whether you use PCBs to sustain medical equipment, lighting technology or computers, they should operate
using the proper trace width. With our trace size calculator, you can ensure your printed circuit boards are safe and
functional at all times.
Trace thickness calculators determine the maximum allowable current that can flow through a PCB without damaging
it.
You can use our calculator to determine various trace components, such as trace temperature, maximum current,
resistance, voltage drop and power dissipation. You can better understand your calculator results by becoming familiar
with the following formulas.
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Max Current
You can calculate maximum current by using the formula A = (T x W x 1.378 [mils/oz/ft2]).
A: Cross-section area.
Once you’ve worked through the previous equation, you’ll determine the maximum current using IMAX = (k x TRISEb) x
Ac .
Trace Temperature
Trace temperature is another important element in calculating trace width. The formula for determining trace
temperature is TTEMP = TRISE + TAMB.
Assessing trace temperature requires nothing more than three total parameters. The values read as follows and are
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calculated in Celsius:
Resistance Calculation
When calculating trace resistance in your PCB, you’ll begin by converting the cross-section area from [mils2] to [cm2]
following the formula A’ = A * 2.54 * 2.54 * 10-6.
After working through the equation, you’ll quantify the trace resistance using R = (ρ * L / A’) * (1 + α * (TTEMP – 25 °C)).
T: Trace thickness.
V
DROP: Voltage drop.
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Power dissipation occurs when an electrical device generates heat, resulting in energy loss or waste. It is calculated
using the formula PLOSS = R * I2.
[W] R: Resistance.
What unit of measurement is mils? “Mil” gets its name from the Latin term, “mille,” meaning “thousand.” A mil is
one one-thousandth of an inch.
What is temperature rise in this context? Temperature rise is the difference between your PCB’s maximum safe
operating temperature and its usual operating temperature.
Does this calculator have a limit to the amount of current for which it can calculate width? Yes. Based on the
formulas, the tool can only calculate trace width of up to 400 mils, 35 amps, copper of 0.5 to 3 ounces per square
foot and a temperature rise between 10 and 100 degrees Celsius. The calculator will extrapolate the data when
used outside these ranges.
Why does the calculator show that internal trace widths should be higher than external traces? External trace
layers have a high heat transfer, while internal layers do not conduct heat as well, meaning internal traces can
store more heat.
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