PCB Trace Width Calculator

Trace CurrentCEDATABLE RANGE :- 0 to 30 Amps, 0 to 400 mils[10mm] of trace width, 10 to 100 degrees C of temperature rise, 0.5 to 3 ounces copper per square foot.USER INPUTS :-Required TraceWidthCurrent:3[Amps]Temperature Rise:45[Degrees C]CopperHeightCu Thickness:1[oz. per sq. ft.]Oz(Oounce)(1oz = 36 Microns)SIMULATE : Resistance, Voltage Drop, and Power LossLaminateAmbient Temperature:25[Degrees C]Trace Length:5[Inches]RESULTSInternal Layer Results:Required Trace Width:58.2286473356[Mils]1.4790076423[mm]Copper Area:80.2390760285[Square Mils]0.0481434456[sq.mm]Track Resistance:0.0506237135[Ohms]Voltage Drop:0.1518711406[Volts]CEDA TRACE-CURRENT CalculatorPower Loss:0.4556134219[Watts]Designed by Probir DebnathExternal Layer Results:Required Trace Width:19.2536449316[Mils]0.4890425813[mm]Copper Area:26.5315227157[Square Mils]0.0159189136[sq.mm]Track Resistance:0.1531008998[Ohms]Voltage Drop:0.4593026993[Volts]Power Loss:1.3779080979[Watts]Disclaimer:This table is provided as a guide only and CEDA cannot be heldliable in any form, for any loss, damage or costs resulting from the useof this CalculatorIPC FAQs1. I would say the required internal trace width would be less than the external case since the external trace can peal off; the opposite is true according to the calculator?? Why?In air, the external layers have better heat transfer due to convection. A good heat insulator blankets the internal layers, so they get hotter for a given width and current. Since theTrace Width Calculator tries to control the temperature rise of the traces, it makes the internal traces wider. In vacuum, or in a potted assembly, you should use theinternal layer guidelines even for the external layers.2.What does temperature rise mean and how does it apply?Temperature rise means how much hotter the trace will get with current flowing in it compared to without. You have to decide how much temperature rise your board can handlebased on the operating environment and the type of PWB material used. Ten degrees is a very safe number to use for just about any application. If you can live with thetrace width required for a ten-degree rise, you are good to go. If you want to try to skinny up the traces, ask for 20 degrees of temperature or more.The trace width is calculated as follows:First, the Area is calculated:Area = (Current/(k*(Temp_Rise)^b))^(1/c)Then, the Width is calculated:Width = Area/(Thickness*1.378)For IPC-D-275 internal layers: k = 0.0150, b = 0.5453, c = 0.7349For IPC-D-275 external layers: k = 0.0647, b = 0.4281, c = 0.6732(All units are as noted above.)

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