Current Capacity of 2 traces.

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smithn1

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When using a two layer board can I double the current carrying capacity of a trace by using another trace the same size?
 

Yes, Require nominal current density of a track is 5A/mm2 (track length x Copper layer height)
 

Only if they are spaced wide apart. There are plenty of online current carrying calculators which will give the correct width against IPC rules.

Keith
 

keith1200rs said:
Only if they are spaced wide apart. There are plenty of online current carrying calculators which will give the correct width against IPC rules.

Keith
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How wide apart Typically?

I am making a very simple board, it has two through hole screw type terminal connectors. They are spaced 25mm apart and the traces are run straight through. I need the traces to carry 14 amps @24VDC.


I downloaded the Saturn calculator suggested in the post below. Using the Conductor Properties Tab and the Solving for Conductor width with a know length of 25mm and 14 amps with 1oz. copper board. I get a conductor width of 9.84mm. Now if I run traces back to back, 1 on each side of the board can I make each trace 4.92mm?
 
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Yes, in principle you could, but I think there could be two problems:

1) the upper side track will dissipate more than the back side track
2) the dissipation of each track could be decreased do to the fact that the other one is heating the PCB

So it could be better to overdimension each track with respect to the calculated value. I've no enough experience to say how much to increase the size of the two tracks.
 

Yes, You can split the track width (1/2) to both side of the PCB for the same current.

Your calculation showing 9.84mm track width of 1oz copper for 14A current. For this thickness around 0.8W power dissipate as heat on the PCB. It would be better if you select 2oz copper with same track width.
 

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