PCB Track width

No, but try google:

Trace Width Javascript calculator:

Which is the best?

Scott

First you need to find the maximum current density that the board can carry. Then find out the thickness of the copper. Then you can (trivially) calculate the required width.

Dwayne

A soldermask is some plastic to cover the copper tracks such that there won't be any tin. It has no influence on the current handling capability.

for the individual LEDs I'd use 20mil tracks and for the combined perhaps a 60mil one.

Rene

google on: "temperature pcb" in the All words field, and "track width" in the exact phrase field.

Regards Ian

Now do the calculation when you have peak currents of over 50 Amps such as in high power audio ! 20A rms isn't uncommon on a pcb and it's nice to know you don't need a track 20mm wide ( and what the temp rise will be ).

I have a similar guide somewhere based on a British Standard IIRC. Thankfully it's in metric ( none of that US 'square mils' nonsence ).

Graham

Thanks Ian, I was aware of these calculations. Why should a track be made as thin as possible to have maximum temperature rise ? From my selfetching days, I still try to avoid tracks and distances below 15mils when the space is there. Actually since doing precision analog, I calculate the microVolts lost over a few inches of tracks when passing milliAmps.

Rene

In practice 2 oz is widely used ( 70 um ). The 20A rms is not a continuous figure thankfully with audio.

Graham

True. That would be a case for 3 to 10 ounce copper then. Equivalent to 100 to 300um thickness.

Rene

Hi Rene:

I was sure you would know these resources, I was giving a pointer to the OP, and wanted to keep your response as the alternative engineering "this works" approach.

Regards Ian

and by precluding plating, it delivers a higher resistance_per_unit_length than unmasked/plated tracks.