Accurately determine the electrical resistance of your PCB traces with our free online PCB Trace Resistance Calculator. This essential tool helps engineers and hobbyists predict voltage drop and power loss, ensuring optimal performance and reliability for critical signal paths and power delivery networks on circuit boards. Use it to design for better signal integrity and thermal management.
Formula:
The calculator uses the following formula to determine trace resistance, considering temperature effects:
R = ρcu * (L / (W * T)) * (1 + α * (Top - Tref))
- R: Final Trace Resistance (Ohms)
- ρcu: Copper Resistivity at reference temperature (e.g., 1.724 x 10-8 Ω·m at 20°C)
- L: Trace Length (m)
- W: Trace Width (m)
- T: Trace Thickness (m, derived from copper weight)
- α: Temperature Coefficient of Copper (e.g., 0.00393 /°C)
- Top: Operating Temperature (°C)
- Tref: Reference Temperature (e.g., 20°C)
This formula accounts for the material properties of copper, the physical dimensions of the trace, and the operating temperature to provide a realistic resistance value.