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trace width ?

@xi@g@me

Hello all,

I'm currently routing a project I made using eagle, but I'm worrying about the trace sizes I can use.

For DC power transport (I use a Myrra 240 - 5V transformer, with maximum of 900mA, which shall be largely sufficient) I use 10mil width and 12mil clearance traces.

For signal (basically the PCB I'm making is a SCART switch, so no much power is involved here, except perhaps for the 4 LEDs at the corners), I use only 2 mil (and 4 mil clearance, 5 mil via holes)

 

According to this web site, even 0.5 mil is large enough to transport up to 100 mA (again, the frequencies will be low, this is SCART), so I guess I'm OK by far.

 

By using default copper thickness in outer layers :

image

The site gives me this info :

image

 

But according to other threads I saw here and there, seems like I shall use 10mil thick (or 8 mils in certain conditions) instead.

 

So what are your thoughts about that  ? I have nothing against 10 mil traces, but 2 mils would be a lot better for me as I have 8 SCART inputs, which can make up to 64 parallel traces onto the PCB, which makes a huge difference...

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  • 0

    Greetings,

     

    The trace width calculator is a helpful tool to make sure that your traces can carry enough current, but as far as trace widths go there are over considerations.  First most PCB manufactures have a limit on the minimum width having to do with their processes and making sure that they can reliably build the boards.  Most PCB houses that I have used place this minimum between 6 and 10 mils.  Some PCB houses will charge a premium to build boards with trace below their posted minimums.

     

    Check with whoever will be producing your boards to see what their specifications are.

     

    Gene

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  • 0

    Greetings,

     

    The trace width calculator is a helpful tool to make sure that your traces can carry enough current, but as far as trace widths go there are over considerations.  First most PCB manufactures have a limit on the minimum width having to do with their processes and making sure that they can reliably build the boards.  Most PCB houses that I have used place this minimum between 6 and 10 mils.  Some PCB houses will charge a premium to build boards with trace below their posted minimums.

     

    Check with whoever will be producing your boards to see what their specifications are.

     

    Gene

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