Heavy Copper Power PCB
Heavy Copper Power PCB
Heavy copper power PCB is a printed circuit board with 3 or more ounces of thicker copper on inner and outer layers. These boards are used in high current applications such as EV-chargers, electronic trucks and industry equipment.
The thickness of the copper conductors is a significant factor in the current-carrying capacity of the board. To determine the appropriate trace width, designers gauge how much current the PCB can carry and calculate the maximum temperature rise.
High-Current Carrying Capacity
Compared to standard PCBs, Heavy Copper power PCBs offer a higher current carrying capacity. This is due to the increased thickness of the copper layer on the circuit board. In addition, these PCBs have thicker plating for the vias and plated through holes to improve their electrical conductivity. This helps prevent failures caused by excess heat in the electronic system and provides better electrical performance.
Moreover, the high current handling capability of these circuit boards is also enhanced by their ability to dissipate heat efficiently. This allows for a more reliable system that can operate under high-temperature and harsh conditions.
However, the high-current capacity of these PCBs comes with some drawbacks. For example, the thicker copper layer can increase the weight of the circuit board. This can be an issue for some applications, such as those in aerospace or portable devices. In addition, the high-current PCBs may require special dielectric materials to ensure stability in a wide range of temperatures and environmental conditions.
When using a Heavy Copper PCB, the designer should carefully consider the copper part size and positioning. This is because the circuit board fabrication process will involve significant copper thicknesses, which will affect trace separation and pad size. It is recommended to contact the fabricator early in the design process to discuss manufacturing tolerances and abilities.
Heat Dissipation Capacity
With a copper weight of 3 or 6 ounces per square foot, heavy copper power PCBs can dissipate significant amounts of heat. This feature makes them ideal for PCBs that are populated with components that generate a lot of heat and need to disperse it quickly.
When current flows along a copper trace, the lost energy in the form of heat has to be dissipated or else the circuit might overheat and fail. This is why it is important to use the right dielectric material for your board, based on its operating temperature and your component’s maximum current requirement.
A thicker layer of copper also allows you to reduce the number Heavy copper power PCB of copper traces, which results in less thermal stress. In turn, this can reduce or eliminate failures caused by thermal cycling, which is a common source of failure in PCBs.
Heavy copper PCBs also offer a better ability to control high-heat signals, which is an essential feature for electronic devices. This capability enables them to deliver a consistent level of performance for an extended period of time.
The increased heat-dissipating capacity of a heavy copper power PCB also helps protect it from damage during assembly and repair. During these operations, thermal strains can cause the metal layers to expand and contract at different rates, which can lead to crack nucleation and growth that ultimately leads to a failed circuit board. A heavy copper PCB can withstand these strains by offering a higher resistance to thermal expansion and contraction, making it ideal for use in aerospace applications where reliability is crucial.
Thermal Conductivity Capacity
Heavy copper power PCBs are able to transfer more electricity than standard circuit boards. They also have reduced thermal strain, allowing them to run devices for longer periods of time without shutting off. This is especially important in high-end jobs, where the equipment requires a lot of current to work correctly.
The increased current-carrying capacity of heavy copper PCBs is due to the thickness of their copper traces. The increased thickness allows for a lower trace width, which leads to more current capacity. Additionally, it increases the conductivity of the copper, reducing heat generation and power loss. Choosing the right thickness of copper is critical for a high-quality board, and it can help you design a more reliable electrical system.
When current passes through a copper trace, it generates heat that dissipates into the surrounding environment through convection and conduction. The amount of heat generated is proportional to the current passing through the trace. To avoid causing damage, the designer must calculate the maximum current that the trace can carry before it reaches a safe temperature rise.
Specialized etching and plating techniques are needed to manufacture heavy copper circuit boards. These processes enable the etched layers to have straight edges and good margins. They also add thickness to the walls of the plated through holes, which helps to maintain a durable wire platform. Moreover, the plating process enables the copper to withstand high mechanical stress, which is an essential consideration for heavy-duty applications.
Temperature Tolerance
The high currents produced by heavy copper power PCBs generate a lot of heat, which needs to be dissipated in order to prevent the circuit from overheating. This can be achieved by using a special dielectric material or adding copper plating to the via sidewalls. These features allow the board to withstand higher temperatures and extreme special environments, which would normally damage a regular FR-4-based PCB.
Heavy copper PCBs are also more durable than standard circuit boards, which makes them suitable for high-speed applications that require greater resistance to thermal stress. These circuits are also ideal for use in corrosive environments, where they can stand up to the high heat generated by welding and other processes.
These advantages make heavy copper power PCBs ideal for a variety of applications in the automotive industry, such as battery packs and Heavy Copper Power PCB Supplier power modules. They are also used in military equipment, such as radar and weapon control systems.
Due to their increased current-carrying capacity, heavy copper circuits are generally designed with thicker traces. This requires a different manufacturing process to ensure the quality of the resulting board. To do this, the manufacturer must use a differential etching method and step plating to achieve straight edges on the plated holes. In addition, the copper thickness must be matched to the maximum current required by the design and the board’s temperature rise tolerance. A trace width calculator is an excellent tool for calculating these three parameters.