The Ultimate Guide to Picking The Right PCB Trace Width
Posted On: April 14, 2020
At Avanti Circuits, we know it’s imperative that you pick the right trace width for your next PCB design. You need to correct trace width so that you can route your PCB. The following rules need to be applied to your printed circuit board. Please note, there are a few exceptions for these rules and these include high-power applications and high-frequency signaling.
The rules/characteristics you need to follow are:
- The spacing between the traces
- The capacity of the trace and how much current is going to flow through it
- The pitch and the size of the pads that will be connected to the trace
The Trace Ampere Capacity
When it comes to trace on a printed circuit board you should be aware that there is a maximum current that can be handled. If the current is exceeded it will fail. This is because heat will dissipate and the trace will be burned or broken.
All traces have resistance and it’s vital that this is considered when you are choosing the widths. The good news is there are a lot of trace width calculators online and they can help you achieve the correct current.
Trace Spacing
The cost of your new printed circuit board will be connected to its size. This is why it’s essential you keep the PCB as small as possible. However, if your PCB is too small there will be a limited amount of space for your route tracers. It is usually advised that you have traces that are as small as possible if you are using low power traces. This is so you have plenty of room for routing.
If your traces are large they might take up too much space while they also offer less than perfect returns.
Trace Termination
The width of a trace can be informed by the point where the trace meets the pad. In many cases, the width of the trace is the same width as the pad. This can help with routing the traces away from a component that they connect to. In addition to this, it will also ensure space between the adjacent traces is not used up.
What We Do
If you are looking for a trusted manufacturer of printed circuit boards, we can help. Here at Avanti Circuits, we have been manufacturing printed circuit boards for more than 37 years. We have manufactured PCBs for NASA, GE, and Boeing to name but a few. We are trusted by some of the world’s biggest companies and we use fabrication techniques that set us apart.
Contact Us Today
Contact us today if you have any questions or queries about our printed circuit boards. We are here to help you. We stand behind all of our work and we have honesty and integrity. We’re here to help you get the right printed circuit boards for your business. Talk to us today. We look forward to hearing from you.
