Questions tagged [trace]

Lanes of copper on a printed circuit board, for carrying current or signals between pads

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1 answer
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LED PWM traces splitting reference power plane adjacent to bottom 5V DC supply ground zone on 4-layer PCB

I have almost finished my first 4-layer PCB design using Signal(Top)-Ground-Power-Signal(Bottom) stack-up and have some questions before sending it to production. Due to the very tight space on the ...
24 votes
1 answer
2k views

Why is there a difference between pad-to-trace and trace-to-trace clearance?

I am looking to have a PCB produced for a personal project of mine. I have to use very thin traces and tight clearances to escape pads on a BGA chip on my board. I was looking at the capabilities of ...
0 votes
0 answers
44 views

Frequency limit for routing <32MHz digital signals adjacent to one another on different layers, 4 layer PCB

I'm running an 3.3V SPI device with an SPI clock frequency rated up to 10 MHz, with some additional digital outputs/inputs to/from a microcontroller that is clocked at 32 MHz. Due to some space ...
0 votes
3 answers
84 views

Running traces across THT footprints

Will this work, knowing that I'm running traces across THT footprints? Kicad lets me do it, but will PCB manufacturers be able to print the board? On the other hand I had no other choice as I might ...
1 vote
0 answers
38 views

Proper bending of trace in high frequency coupler question

A coupler 32-38 GHz was designed. I need to bend the legs in an optimal way so I won't get reflections. My bend is 45 degrees. Is there a logic I could use to find the optimal distance of the bended ...
1 vote
2 answers
515 views

Altium trace symmetry

I am designing a board and the traces look like this: Is there any hotkey to make the traces be similar? I.e. the vertical lengths are uniformly varying, the distance between the diagonal tracks is ...
1 vote
1 answer
53 views

Ghost line/barrier showing in Altium deginer

I am having a problem where there's an area (line) that appears only while running traces and on the draftsman document. the ghost line/region does not show up on any of the layers, I toggled all the ...
1 vote
1 answer
59 views

PCB trace impedance test measure

I have PCBA for which I want to measure the loop impedance between the power connector and gnd ones. How can I do this test if the passive elements, IC and other elements already attached on the PCB?
2 votes
1 answer
113 views

Custom game controller - button trace conductive coating

I'm attempting to make a custom controller for an old game console, and I'm looking for a way to replicate the conductive coating on the traces for the button pads: I'm harvesting the silicone pads ...
1 vote
0 answers
42 views

Impedance adaptation for two frequencies

I just received my first custom RF board that use 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz with a diplexer. Unfortunately, it appears that the used PCB stack-up wasn't really what I expected so my traces are not 50 Ω, but ...
1 vote
1 answer
74 views

How do I handle a component with pin spacings smaller than the necessary trace width?

I'm designing a board using a TPS2113 power mux in a TTSOP package to deliver ~1A from plug power or a battery to my board. My calculated trace width for this current is 25-30 mil, however the pins of ...
0 votes
1 answer
78 views

Kicad telling me to connect pads together when I feel it's incorrect

Hey all I am wondering if this is the correct way to trace a fuse holder on my pcb. I would imagine that the top 2 pads connected to each other and the bottom 2 pads connected to each other. Running a ...
8 votes
2 answers
974 views

Maximum current through PCB traces

I am currently looking at a layout and I have a trace which has to sustain this current waveform (single pulse) according to the simulation: As you can see, the current is passing through the trace ...
0 votes
2 answers
75 views

Layout- Should the output and input traces of this hex inverter be superposed

I am using this hex inverter in one of my pcbs; the inputs are TTLs, so fast switching signals going from 0 to 5V very fast ( I don't know yet the rise time of these signals, maybe 10 us ?). Both ...
0 votes
0 answers
101 views

Can parasitic capacitances be decoupled?

I was working with some IC that has a bus that is really sensitive to trace capacitance and cannot be loaded with more than 8.5 pF. I have to bifurcate the trace to an ADC because I need to see what ...
0 votes
1 answer
125 views

Power traces in a 2 layer PCB

I have a two layer PCB, with signal traces and power traces on the top layer and a ground plane on the bottom layer. The top layer also has a ground plane extending over the space where there are no ...
0 votes
1 answer
163 views

Kicad 7 - Automatically change all traces widths

In my pcb layout, I have two different trace widths. Both of these have to be changed. Is there a way to do this automatically? Meaning, all trace widths of size X should become Y, while all trace ...
0 votes
3 answers
345 views

Ideal track width

I created a failed PCB. One of the reasons could be that I had tight track widths. I was advised to create larger track widths, where high {voltages, current} exists. I placed the two values in ...
2 votes
1 answer
56 views

Temperature rise for multiple layers of PCB

I'd like to better understand what to expect when carrying current on multiple layers of a PCB. I've used trace width calculators to determine how wide a trace needs to be to carry a given amount of ...
0 votes
2 answers
84 views

Trace widths and current capability Altium

I was working on a PCB where there was a single DC input with two traces +ve and -ve. At one end there was a connection to a motor which requires 40A. The traces of the DC input were 100mil and 1oz. ...
0 votes
3 answers
147 views

Changing trace width on a PCB after reaching component pad

People advise not to change trace widths on a PCB because of the change in impedance of the trace and possible signal reflections for example. Does that still hold true when the trace reaches a ...
1 vote
4 answers
514 views

Why polygon pour size and trace width don't influence each other in altium

Im using some thin traces in certain areas of the board that I want to have beefed up with a polygon pour. However, when I run the rule check it just ignores that the width of the traces is now ...
0 votes
4 answers
233 views

Altium Designer: Is there anything similar to trim in AutoCAD? Is there a better alternative method to remove stubs?

Let's say I have the track/trace below. I want to remove the track stub so it ends at the via. I could click on the end vertex of the track and drag the stub into the via until its gone, but with much ...
0 votes
1 answer
311 views

FR4, 1 oz. copper, PCB trace width for 48V/8A, pulsed (8 ms pulse length, up to 20Hz)?

I would like to determine suitable trace width for the pulses shown. Other details: The application is to pulse a solenoid; board size is 100mm x 100mm. An LM317 charges a 1000uF cap and the cap is ...
0 votes
0 answers
40 views

Matching micro-strip line to load and generator

I have the following system. I need to add stubs/ reactive components to the trace (L2) to match the generator to the load. I understand that due to Z_trace being a micro-strip that its consists of ...
2 votes
1 answer
2k views

Serpentine PCB heater size calculation

So, I'm kinda new to the field and the time has come to design my first PCB heater. The main concept is to drive it using a Raspberry Pi and a temperature sensor as feedback. Here is the whole ...
2 votes
3 answers
598 views

How do I jump from trace here?

I've been asked to reattach the positive cable that got ripped with the pad from a board given that I own a soldering iron. It seems simple enough to just jump it from a trace. Scraped a bit of the ...
1 vote
1 answer
125 views

Tracing to see if IC is TM1650 or something else

I am tying to determine where the PCB traces are going in order to figure out if this is using the TM1650 or something else. Most of these (this is from a pool pump) uses the TM1650 but there are some ...
2 votes
5 answers
9k views

Understanding USB Differential and Single Ended Impedance Requirements

The USB IF spec mentions the following for USB 3.0: This has me scratching my head. In my experience, \$Z_{diff} < 2 Z_0\$ -- typically around 1.6-1.8. So how is it possible to meet both the ...
0 votes
0 answers
66 views

High current traces (up to 60 A) routing problem

I need to design a power inverter that might have up to 60 A of current flowing through the leg IGBTs and still could not figure out the best way out for that amount of current. The DC bus voltage may ...
1 vote
1 answer
182 views

How to change the trace width in an accordian object in alitum 22 without deleting the trace first?

I have several accordion objects in altium. I need to change the trace width. If the trace is selected it won't show up the properties window to change the width. The only way I have found to change ...
0 votes
3 answers
128 views

How can I determine the dimensions of a spiral trace on a PCB?

I was designing a circuit that contains some analog signals along with signals of relatively low frequency (2.5 kHz) and I was reading a bit about norms, standards, and good practices for the design ...
0 votes
2 answers
682 views

PCB trace width : Common (LINE) trace for two relays

I am designing a simple switch-controlled relay board. On the board I have two 5 VDC, 10 A Sugar Cube relays which will receive 230 VAC from a terminal block connector and will be controlled with 5 ...
7 votes
6 answers
3k views

How do high current paths work in PCB design?

Using a calculator like this one I see that the trace width required for 10 A is 9.36 mm at 2 oz (highest JLCPCB offers). My IRLZ44N transistor has 2.54 mm spaced legs, so how does putting two 10 mm ...
1 vote
1 answer
381 views

How to design PCB traces for high-current applications

I am trying to make a WiFi switch using the ESP32 MCU. The PCB I am building will be switching high-power applicances, such as a kettle (which can draw around 14 A @ 230 VAC). The relay I chose is the ...
2 votes
1 answer
70 views

How to size track width for AC application

I want to run AC volatge through my relay shown below: My track width is 2mm for the COM, N/O, and N/C pins. These tracks go from the relay to the 3-pin connector. The relay (G5LE-14-12DC) is found ...
1 vote
2 answers
447 views

Is it possible to route USB 2.0 using regular traces?

In the future I will be faced to design a system that includes USB 2.0 connectivity. I've seen that there are many trace calculators, but as far as I can see, they refer to microstrip lines. So, is it ...
1 vote
1 answer
3k views

Altium Design, can't change track width

I have hit 3 while tracing, I have hit shift w to open my favorites and it shows me favorites, but for some reason the program will not change the width of traces. It is stuck at 10mil. Anyone know ...
10 votes
4 answers
1k views

Connecting pads with the same functionality belonging to one chip

I have a question about routing style of pads with the same functionality belonging to one chip. I draw a picture in Paint (fictional IC; let it be the SOIC8 footprint). GND is only as example (it can ...
1 vote
3 answers
340 views

PCB track width considerations based on starting current draw

I am making a PCB for which I need advice on widths of power traces. I am powering a 3A pump and a 1A solenoid valve through this PCB. I am drawing widths based on the table below. 3A + 1A = 4A. So ...
5 votes
3 answers
613 views

Splitting and rejoining a trace to reduce resistance

I'm teaching an embedded systems class and a question came up I've never considered. We were discussing the idea of "necking down" a trace to get through a tight spot and someone asked if ...
8 votes
5 answers
25k views

STM32 (SWD) printf not working

I'm new using STM32 microcontrollers. I have been trying to use the printf tracing in my code without success, nothing is printed on the console. I can start a debug session, I can place breakpoints ...
4 votes
5 answers
798 views

PCB design for air quality measurements

I want to make a simple PCB with the following components: 1x CO₂, humidity and temperature sensor - SCD40 (Qwiic) from Sparkfun 1x 1.3 inch OLED display I2C SSH1106 from AZDelivery 1x TinyS3 (ESP32-...
0 votes
2 answers
478 views

What's the spacings specification between traces on a printed-wiring board

According to a UL/ULC standard, the spacings between traces of the PCB is specified as below table I am quite curious about the spacings. Because there are many IC circuit components with very short ...
0 votes
0 answers
1k views

How to map equivalent AWG wire gauge to PCB trace width?

There are some online calculators that let you calculate trace width based on PCB trace characteristics e.g. this one from digikey. If there is a terminal connector on the PCB that connects solid AWG ...
0 votes
3 answers
273 views

PCB power plane copper and lamination thickness

One of the boards I have has these surface traces that run a lot of current through. I believe they are called power planes. Does anyone know a typical copper thickness (35 um?) ? Also, what is the ...
-1 votes
1 answer
159 views

How to import wiring csv into cad?

I have a .csv file which contains the (complicated) points of the paths that I need my wires to trace. I would normally use EasyEda for making grbl files, but I don't think it is capable. Is there a ...
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

How can I repair peeled through-hole solder pads and trace?

The top and bottom through-pads were torn off in a botched desoldering. The bottom pad’s trace was peeled to the solder joint.
0 votes
5 answers
1k views

Is voltage important for calculating PCB trace width? If not, why?

As per the IPC 2221A the formula for calculating PCB trace width follow the process given below; First, the area is calculated: Area[mils²] = (Current[Amps]/(k*(Temp_Rise[°C])b))^(1/c) Then, the width ...
-1 votes
1 answer
66 views

Instrumentation Tools for Collecting Data in DRAM accesses

We can use instrumentation tools, such as Pin tool, to collect memory accesses of an application running on a system. The type (read or write) and memory address can be collected. How about data? Can ...

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